Edmund: Clubs requesting compensation from AFL over Origin costs

THE injury fallout from State of Origin continues, with the AFL in talks with some clubs over medical bills and covering match payments for replacement players.

With numerous sides still counting the cost of February’s long and high-octane origin game, some have gone cap in hand to the league wanting compensation in multiple forms.

With several players in the midst of long-term absences, some of their clubs have asked the AFL to foot the cost of their treatment for injuries suffered in the WA-Victoria game.

And while the stars injured might not be on match payments, the argument is those brought in to replace them are, often to the tune of $5000 a game.

Some clubs are also asking the AFL to foot that bill, which would sit outside the cap.

It is unclear how open, if at all, the AFL are to these requests, but they have made it clear they want to work with clubs on the origin concept and its future.

But the view from some clubs is that they are the parties taking all the risk, putting their assets on the line in an event the AFL sold out and had partially funded by the WA government.

The clubs were mindful jumping up and down in the immediate aftermath of the game and wanted the return of the concept to be celebrated, but now they’ve got their hands out.

Some also felt misled over the workload of their players, while unlimited rotations only served to ensure the game was played at breakneck speed.

Sam Taylor, Callum Ah Chee, Mitch Georgiades, Jacob Weitering, Matt Rowell and Patrick Dangerfield all suffered injuries in the match, while several others have gone down with soft tissue strains in the weeks since.