The AFL is deciding between four options when it comes to what format the much-anticipated return of state of origin will take next year.

As the AFL launched its 150th anniversary celebration year of 2008 on Tuesday - the day which marked the 149th anniversary of the first recorded game of Australian Rules Football in 1858 - AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou outlined to Sportal the options for the return of origin football, which has not been played since 1999.

These options are:

*matches involving all states and territories.

*a one-off game involving Victoria against either South Australia or Western Australia at the MCG.

*a match between Victoria and an All-Stars team featuring players from the rest of Australia at the MCG.

*or two matches with one featuring Victoria against either South Australia or Western Australia with the other team to then play the Allies - the team made up of players from Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales, the ACT and the Northern Territory.

"They are the four options and the games will either be played in pre-season or during the middle of the season," Demetriou told Sportal on Tuesday.

Earlier at a press conference announcing the appointment of departing Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy as the ambassador for next year's 150th celebrations - Demetriou said the league was still mulling over what form origin football should take.

"We have four options which we are considering and hopefully we are in a position to make a decision at the end of August," he said.

Already West Coast skipper Chris Judd - who along with Brisbane powerhouse Jonathan Brown would be the star attraction of any Victorian line-up - has indicated his preference for any origin game to be played in pre-season saying he would be reluctant to play if it was held during the middle of the season.

And his high-profile teammate Daniel Kerr - who would be one of the first players picked in the Western Australian line-up - has urged the league not to choose the option of playing an All-Star team against the Vics saying those players outside Victoria would much prefer to play for their own state.

The return of origin football, particularly if it is played during the middle of the season, is also likely to lead to the introduction of a second break during the season meaning 2008 could begin a week earlier.

While the return of origin shapes as the highlight of the 150th anniversary celebrations, Demetriou said the focus would also be on football across all levels.

"In 2008, we want to celebrate at every level of our game – from the children first kicking a ball in the park through to the elite level," Demetriou said.

"We will celebrate our great heroes and our great stories but we want every level of football in Australia to celebrate with us as we consolidate our game for the next 150 years."

And Demetriou said Sheedy was the ideal front man for the AFL's big plans for next year - regardless of whether or not he gets offered another coaching job following his shock departure from Essendon.

"Kevin is universally known across the Australian football community and both respected for his achievements and loved for his passion for our game," Demetriou said.

"He has worked tirelessly to promote our game and has helped build our game to the position it holds today with his constant thinking on how we may improve and go forward."