STATE-OF-ORIGIN football looms as the most likely candidate to fill next year's mid-season void, with the AFL considering a Victoria-South Australia blockbuster and, in any event, unlikely to repeat this year's five-three split.

While the league's executive in charge of fixturing last night defended the 2007 mid-season game split, Gillon McLachlan conceded "we will have a look at the split round in the context of the fixture next year and state-of-origin could come into play".

The AFL has called on all 16 clubs for responses within a fortnight over its increasingly likely plans for a state-based competition next season. The league has also written to all state football leagues, the 16 AFL coaches and the AFL Players Association, as well as its free-to-air TV networks.

One popular scenario being strongly considered at headquarters would see every traditional football state, and potentially Queensland and NSW, competing in a pre-season state-of-origin competition following a shortened NAB Cup series with the play-offs to be contested in June over the split round.

The deadline for responses is July 2, with McLachlan and Andrew Demetriou to reach a decision later next month. But it seems increasingly likely that the clubs will call for caution and, in the main, support only a one-off competition in line with the 150th anniversary to be celebrated in Victoria next year.

Should the mid-season state-of-origin clash not eventuate, the league is more likely to revert to a four-four or six-two game split in the belief that this year's break-up of games has disadvantaged too many of the game's stakeholders, notably those fans unable to afford or gain access to pay television.

While McLachlan defended this year's fixture in terms of crowds and said he had no complaints from broadcasters, the lack of any free-to-air football on Saturday and Sunday afternoons over the weekend appeared clumsy and short-changed football fans in Melbourne, who had the option of only one AFL game of five — at Telstra Dome on Friday.

The AFL will also investigate the Dome's decision to sell an estimated 5000 standing-room tickets for the Carlton-Hawthorn clash four nights ago, along with the stadium's treatment of Carlton members, some of whom were physically removed from their customary seats upon being told those places had been sold off elsewhere.

McLachlan conceded that the AFL's determination to find a suitable state-of-origin outcome for 2007 was proving complicated and he welcomed strong input from the clubs, which at this stage have largely voiced their support for the concept. The AFL has still not ruled out banning players from competing for their clubs the week after state-of-origin football should they withdraw from their state teams without reasonable medical evidence.

The mid-season clash, should it eventuate, would probably take place at the MCG and form a major platform for the 150th celebrations. The concept is likely to be unofficially canvassed at Friday's commission meeting, which is also expected to decide the fate of Channel Ten's bid to televise the 2007 grand final two hours later than normal.