Dual premiership player and three-time All-Australian Nigel Smart would love to see State of Origin remain a regular fixture on the AFL calendar.

Twenty-one years since the last true State of Origin clash was played, Smart said the League’s evolution has made it more difficult for representative football.

“I think what’s happened over the journey is as the professional nature of the all AFL clubs has increased, the ability for the best players to play in that environment has waned,” Smart told AFC Media.

“Bringing it back for a cause like bushfire relief is a brilliant outcome and a great opportunity for the players to build the storyline about State of Origin again.

“I really hope they can do a good job in maybe bringing back State of Origin in some way, that’ll be good to see.”

Looking back more than 25 years, Smart recalls one of his favourite State of Origin matches - a two-point win over Victoria at Football Park.

The margin never extended past three goals and when Victoria closed the gap to two points with the final two goals of the game, four frantic minutes followed.

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Dogged determination from South Australia’s defense denied the Victorians, with Smart finding himself in a pivotal play with less than 30 seconds on the clock.

“I was playing full-back on Gary Ablett Snr and the one thing you start to worry about is the ball coming down to your area and getting to him,” he said.

“Late in the game I was pulled across the shoulder and thrown out of the way.

“I got the free kick, luckily enough, because he did kick the goal and it was disallowed, before we were able to get the ball out of the forward line.

“All along it was just an intense game with all the big names from the 90s playing; Stephen Kernahan, John Platten, Gavin Wanganeen and Tony Modra in one team.”

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South Australia’s star-studded squad matched up against a Victorian side led by captain Garry Lyon, Stephen Silvagni, Jim Stynes and Smart’s direct opponent, Gary Ablett Snr.

“It was a fantastic experience to be able to represent your state because there was a lot of passion around the game,” Smart said.

“Victoria were the dominant state at the time but when South Australia played them, especially at Football Park, it just brought everyone together.

“The comradery between the players selected from the Crows and the South Australians who came over from Victorian clubs was special.

“John Platten comes to mind as one of those guys really enjoyed playing together in our state team and it was a good feeling to see us together.”

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