As a sports enthusiast (aka nuffy) it’s funny how moments in time are cemented into one’s memory. Landmarks in a life journey.

Like the historic victory by Australia II to win the 1983 America’s Cup. Having been to the VFL Grand Final I was with a couple of colleagues driving to Adelaide to take in the SANFL Grand Final.

It was early in the morning, we were staying at a tiny motel in Victor Harbour, when Australia II wrenched the Cup away from USA for the first time in the 137-year history of the event. The Aussies beat Liberty in the final race to clinch a series victory 4-3, having trailed 1-3 in the initial stages of the showdown.

The sun might have barely been up, but the occasion was marked with a glass or two of bubbly (not usually a drink of choice, but a toast is a toast).

I was fortunate enough to be working in a media role at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and was privileged to witness two events that will forever remain at the forefront of my recollections.

The victory by Cathy Freeman in the 400 metres was inspirational. Nothing comes close in a national sense to that moment when an entire stadium rose as one to salute an iconic achievement.

It creates goose bumps even re-living it in my mind’s eye 24 years later, recanting the smooth, purposeful strides as she rounded the bend into the home straight. She had already won it with more than 100 metres to run.

Days before that, at the pool, another legendary Australian athlete anchored the 4x100m relay against the mighty American team that had Gary Hall Jr swimming the last leg.

Humility is not generally a part of the DNA of USA athletes and Hall had famously boasted his team would smash the Australian quartet of Michael Klim, Chris Fydler, Ashley Callus and Thorpe like guitars.

At the final turn Hall held a sizeable advantage, around a body length over Thorpe and he would need a herculean effort over the last 50 metres to claim gold. The Thorpedo found it, taking water from his opponent with every stroke,  and the Aussies famously celebrated by standing on the blocks playing air guitars.

Another watershed occasion came on October 8, 1977 at Subiaco Oval. It might not have registered on the international scale, but on a State and national level it helped shape the future of two pre-eminent Australia’s football codes.

Western Australia played Victoria in the first ever State-of-Origin match. Sick of playing against our own in so-called ‘State’ matches, WA administrator Leon Larkin was the mastermind of a contest between the Black Swan and Big V on the basis of where they first played senior footy.

Again, there is great clarity around where I viewed that match; front and centre at the Weld Hotel in Albany, the home pub of local footy club Royals. It was a deliriously enjoyable  afternoon washing down a momentous 23.13 (151) to 8.9 (57) victory with a couple of coldies surrounded by other proud West Aussies.

It was the genesis of some great moments in State footy where local superstars like Ross Glendinning, Robert Wiley, Brian Peake, Graham Moss, Gary Buckenara, Maurice Rioli (there was no Allies team back then), Bruce Monteath Garry Sidebottom returned for the regular showdown.

Victories in 1983, 1984 and 1986 inspired the entry of a WA team in the expanded VFL in 1987.

Sadly, State of Origin on the AFL landscape has gone the same way as the Weld, which is now a remnant of history. And around this time every year it is irksome to see an Australian football concept adapted so successfully to rugby league.

Listening to a NSW broadcaster trumpet the rivalry of game two in the 2024 series leading into the clash with Queensland at the MCG on Wednesday night was actually galling. But it prompted thoughts of what a current WA might look like based on 2024 form.

This line-up would be pretty handy.

Australian football appears unlikely to reacquaint itself with this concept, but an old man can dream…can’t he?