IT WAS nine years ago that I had the pleasure of coaching Victoria in its last state-of-origin game. On a wet, windy Saturday afternoon at the MCG, in front of fewer than 30,000 spectators, the Vics prevailed over a Graham Cornes-coached South Australia.

Back then, there were a few factors that conspired to cause the demise of origin football. Clubs increasingly didn't want their best players to be put at risk by playing in state games, so club officials put out a negative attitude. Because origin games were played yearly, players found it no big deal to strive for selection after they'd represented their states a few times. And with the competition going national, from the VFL to the AFL, it meant the best players were regularly seen playing in all states, so spectators were spoilt by choice, seeing the best in the flesh or on television. Added to that was the AFL's increasing commitment to the Ireland-Australia international rules series.

After a nine-year break from state football, there will be a genuine buzz tonight when we see the Big V for the first time in a long time. Of all the football jumpers I have seen, the navy blue with the big white V stands as the biggest, boldest and best. As a kid, the Vics always seemed to win. The jumper represents the best being successful.

I first wore it as a 20-year-old. Even though at that stage I had played in three grand finals for Carlton, I was as nervous as could be when, with my Blues teammate Vin Waite, we walked into the Richmond change rooms at the MCG to prepare for our first state training session.

Des Tuddenham was captain and Tom Hafey coach. You felt proud to be in with the best, and desperately keen to measure up with them. Each time the coach spoke to me, he called me David, so it was obvious I was yet to arrive. We beat the Croweaters and being able to go home with my Big V jumper in my bag was all that mattered.

But it came at a price. The next week, back with Carlton, I put in a first-half shocker. Coach Ron Barassi used that as the perfect opportunity to launch into his half-time speech, suggesting that I was now a big-time state footballer and that playing for my club was below me.

Two years later, it's 1973 and we are out at Waverley Park wearing the Big V in preparation for the Sandgropers. John Kennedy is the coach. He is taking the warm-up himself. There's lots of jumping, bumping and roaring. I hide from the coach behind a concrete pillar. I'm genuinely concerned that if I spend any more energy in this warm-up, I'll be stuffed before half-time. We win and I get a real taste for what "Kennedy's Commandos" would have been like.

A year later, I'm in Perth sitting on the bench at Subiaco. As 19th man, I'd spent 3½ quarters there and, with Royce Hart starring at centre half-forward, my prospects look bleak. Finally, Collingwood coach Neil Mann gives me a run. No sweat soaks the Big V, but I'm happy to take it home.

In those days, there was no state of origin. Had there been, Hart would not have played for Victoria because he came from Hobart. I guess that's why we always won — we pinched the best from all over the place.

My last game for the state came in 1977. I was captain and it was fantastic to reunite with my old coach Barassi. We were to play Tasmania in Hobart and the game was considered a pushover. So much so that at the team dinner on the eve of the game, it was considered OK to have a few beers. I didn't drink, but sitting alongside me was my Carlton teammate Peter "Percy" Jones. Now "Perc" enjoyed an ale and encouraged me to keep filling my glass because he was happy to drink his and mine. The next morning, the team manager told the players he was disappointed with the Carlton pair who had drunk to excess.

We dominated the first half, which allowed the boys to put the handbrake on for the final two quarters.

So for me, that was the end of the Big V until 22 years later when, in 1999, I was asked to coach the team. It was an honour, and after leaving coaching on a sour note when sacked by the Tigers two years earlier, it was an opportunity to be with the best, to prepare, plan and hopefully triumph. My match committee consisted of Gerard Healy, Simon Madden, Bob Skilton and Robert DiPierdomenico— all proud Victorians.

We were determined to play the committed and let the uncommitted go. So on the Monday night when we first assembled, the 35-man squad was told that anyone who had any doubts was to go and see the team manager and they would be excused. Five minutes later, there were 20 players left, but they were the ones we wanted.

We added five youngsters to the squad, one being a 20-year-old, fresh-faced Kangaroo called Brent Harvey. He would go on to be the best afield, win the E.J. Whitten Medal and force people to realise what a talented footballer he would be.

Training sessions were a combination of skills, tennis and golf. Over a week with lots of meals and meetings, the guys got to know each other. I really enjoyed reuniting with players I had previously coached, such as Stephen Silvagni, Brett Ratten, Nigel Lappin, Justin Leppitsch and Wayne Campbell. The Bulldog boys, Brad Johnson, Scott West, Rohan Smith and Chris Grant, were just so enthusiastic. David Schwarz has said it was the highlight of his career. Geelong's "Buddha" Hocking was aggressive and courageous as captain.

Matty Lloyd went kick chasing as a full-forward. When I asked him what he was doing, he said that "Sheeds" let him do that. I told him it wasn't on.

"Kouta" didn't want to play at centre half-back, but we forced him and he proved he could do it. Trent Croad was just a kid with a big smile on his face. "SOS" was instructed to follow Nick Holland wherever he went.

Holland went to the bench at the end of the first quarter and stayed there. So, too, did SOS. We laugh about it now but at the time, he didn't think it was funny.

Pre-game, all the Victorian coaches and the media personalities who had worn the Big V were invited to the rooms. John Nicholls, who wore the state jumper a record 31 times, spoke to the group about his pride for the jumper. Sam Newman came to the game and into the rooms wearing one of his old Vic jumpers. The players loved it.

So make no mistake. Tonight's game is a special one.

Special for we who will watch it, and even more special for those who play.