Origin footy officially returns to the AFL landscape, with Western Australia to host Victoria in Perth.
Here’s everything you need to know about the first AFL Origin match in 27 years.
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WHAT TIME DOES THE AFL ORIGIN MATCH START?
The 2026 AFL Origin match starts at 7.40pm (AEDT) on Saturday February 14 at Optus Stadium, Perth.
It means the game between Western Australia and Victoria will begin in the mid-afternoon timeslot of 4.40pm (AWST) in Perth.
Victoria and Western Australia haven’t faced off in an Origin match since 1992, when the Vics thumped WA by 67 points at the MCG.
It will be Western Australia’s first Origin game since 1998.
The match is officially sold out, with fans set to pack Optus Stadium to witness the blockbuster clash.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE AFL ORIGIN MATCH ON TV AND VIA STREAMING?
The 2026 AFL Origin match will be broadcast live in 4K Ultra HD on Fox Footy, via Kayo Sports and Foxtel (504).
Fox Footy’s coverage of the event from Optus Stadium will begin at 6.30pm (AEDT).
A Fox Footy commentary team has been assembled for the big clash.
Play-by-play commentators: Anthony Hudson and Adam Papalia
Special comments: Jonathan Brown and Jason Dunstall
Host and boundary reporter: Kath Loughnan
WHAT IS THE PERTH WEATHER FORECAST FOR SATURDAY?
The weather forecast for Perth for AFL Origin on Saturday, February 14 is sunny and a top of 33 degrees, with a slight chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening, per the Bureau of Meteorology.
WHEN WAS THE LAST AFL ORIGIN MATCH — AND WHY IS IT BACK IN 2026?
The last ‘official’ AFL Origin match was back in May 1999 — nearly 27 years ago — when Victoria hosted South Australia at the MCG. In wet conditions, the Vics won by 54 points, 17.19 (121) to 10.7 (67), in front of 26,063 in rainy conditions.
Due to the compressed nature of the 2000 AFL season — the season finished before the Sydney Olympic Games — no State of Origin fixtures were scheduled for the next year. But Origin never returned for the 2001 season.
Ultimately, interest in Origin dissipated throughout the 1990s, primarily because the AFL competition became more national, with Fremantle (1995) joining West Coast as WA teams and Port Adelaide (1997) joining Adelaide as the two SA teams. Player availability — due to lack of interest, as well coaches prioritising the premiership season — also became an issue.
A Victorian team has been assembled twice this century for one-off matches. In 2008, Victoria took on a ‘Dream Team’ as part of Australian Football’s 150th anniversary celebrations, with Brendan Fevola kicking six goals for the Vics and Lance Franklin booting 4.5 for the Dream Team in front of nearly 70,000 people at the MCG.
Then in 2020 — before the Covid pandemic — Victoria took on an All-Stars team at Marvel Stadium in a State of Origin Bushfire Relief match, with funds raised going back to Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery fund, as well as Community Relief Fund. Victoria kicked the last 11 goals of the match to claim a 46-point victory over the All-Stars in front of 51,052 supporters. Josh Kelly and Toby Greene were outstanding, each nailing four majors, while Tom Papley’s five majors reaffirmed his status as one of the AFL’s finest small forwards
When the AFL in September last year confirmed Origin would return in 2026, league chief executive Andrew Dillon said in a statement that both fans and players had been “calling for its return for some time and we are thrilled to see it back”. Dillon later told reporters: “Ultimately it’s about us playing games that the fans want and we know that the fans will flock to this game when we get the best players from WA and Victoria on a massive stage.”
The call to reintroduce Origin in Perth comes after the success of the 2025 Indigenous All-Stars clash at Optus Stadium, with 37,865 fans fronting up to watch the representative side play Fremantle.
WHICH PLAYERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE TEAMS AND WHAT ARE THEIR JUMPER NUMBERS?
The 2026 AFL Origin match will be played between Western Australia and Victoria.
The coaches are Sydney Swans boss Dean Cox (Western Australia) and dual premiership Geelong coach Chris Scott (Victoria).
The captains are dual Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps (Western Australia) and seven-time All-Australian Marcus Bontempelli (Victoria).
Cripps and Bontempelli headline a host of stars confirmed to represent their home states.
Bontempelli is set to run out alongside the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Nick Daicos, Zach Merrett, Zak Butters and fellow Bulldog Sam Darcy, while Cripps will link up with fellow stars like Kysaiah Pickett, Luke Jackson and Chad Warner.
All 18 clubs will be represented in the match, with the Western Bulldogs having the most representatives (6), followed by Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast and the Giants (all 5).
The Cats could’ve had six players feature in the match, but superstar Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron was ruled out of Victoria’s line-up as he’s still training on a modified program following his broken arm suffered in the Grand Final loss over four months ago. He’s been replaced by Gold Coast’s Ben King, who finished outright second in the Coleman count behind Cameron with 69 goals.
WA will be without West Coast recruit Brandon Starcevich due to partial ACL tear.
Battle expecting fiery Origin game | 00:50
The banter has started in the lead-up to the match.
Victoria defender Jacob Weitering vowed he wouldn’t let Carlton teammate Cripps kick any goals on him, should the WA skipper be sent forward.
“There’s been a bit of chat, he’s been pretty vocal in team meetings recently,” Weitering told reporters.
“I will try to make that (playing against Cripps) work for maybe five minutes, but he won’t be kicking one on me, that’s for sure.
“It’s just going to be a competitive environment. That first 10 minutes is going to be pretty hot, guys will get a feel for it.”
As for WA ruck Darcy Cameron, he won’t be tolerating any lip from Victoria’s Nick Daicos, should his Collingwood teammate get lippy.
“I’ve told him he’d better not, otherwise he won’t get the ball for the rest of the year,” Cameron told reporters.
“He likes to get a few cheap handballs around the back, so he’d better be careful.”
Ben King earns Victoria call up | 00:32
Western Australia players and jumper numbers
1. Jaeger O’Meara (Fremantle)
2. Luke Jackson (Fremantle)
3. Stephen Coniglio (GWS Giants)
4. Callum Ah Chee (Adelaide Crows)
5. Chad Warner (Sydney Swans)
6. Jordan Clark (Fremantle)
7. Rory Lobb (Western Bulldogs)
8. Shai Bolton (Fremantle)
9. Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
10. Bradley Hill (St Kilda)
14. Darcy Cameron (Collingwood)
15. Samuel Taylor (GWS Giants)
17. Lawson Humphries (Geelong Cats)
19. Mitchell Georgiades (Port Adelaide)
21. Jesse Hogan (GWS Giants)
23. Charlie Cameron (Brisbane Lions)
24. Trent Rivers (Melbourne)
27. Wil Powell (Gold Coast Suns)
33. Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)
35. Nathan Broad (Richmond)
36. Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)
37. Tom Barrass (Hawthorn)
44. Tim English (Western Bulldogs)
45. Jake Waterman (West Coast Eagles)
48. Liam Baker (West Coast Eagles)
WA & Vic gearing up for Origin | 01:50
Victoria players and jumper numbers
1. Toby Greene (GWS Giants)
2. Jack Sinclair (St Kilda)
3. Caleb Serong (Fremantle)
4. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
6. Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions)
7. Zach Merrett (Essendon)
8. Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
9. Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
10. Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
11. Max Gawn (Melbourne)
12. Lachie Ash (GWS Giants)
13. Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn)
14. Max Holmes (Geelong Cats)
15. Noah Anderson (Gold Coast Suns)
18. Matthew Rowell (Gold Coast Suns)
19. Jack Gunston (Hawthorn)
20. Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs)
23. Jacob Weitering (Carlton)
24. Joshua Battle (Hawthorn)
25. Sam Collins (Gold Coast Suns)
33. Bailey Smith (Geelong Cats)
34. Ben King (Gold Coast Suns)
35. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Cats)
38. Tristan Xerri (North Melbourne)
44. Tom Stewart (Geelong Cats)
Vic finalise squad for AFL Origin | 01:16
HOW COULD THE TWO AFL ORIGIN TEAMS LINE-UP?
Western Australia
The Black Swans are well stocked down back, with multiple key-position defenders — Tom Barrass, Sam Taylor and Rory Lobb — while Nathan Broad has the versatility to play on both tall and small forwards.
With the likes of Jordan Clark, Bradley Hill, Wil Powell and Chad Warner on the team, WA will surely look to use its leg speed throughout the game.
There’s a mercurial nature about the forward line too, with crafty trio Shai Bolton, Kysaiah Pickett and Charlie Cameron clear threats for the Vics.
WA has chosen three genuine rucks for the game in Darcy Cameron, Tim English and Luke Jackson. But Jackson could be the home team’s wildcard as a 199cm midfield option. Not only could Jackson’s transformation from a versatile ruck-forward hybrid into a pure ball-winning midfielderprove a pivotal point of difference as the Dockers plot a premiership push, it could give WA an edge over Victoria’s star-studded midfield.
B: Lawson Humphries, Tom Barrass, Nathan Broad
HB: Liam Baker, Sam Taylor, Jordan Clark
C: Bradley Hill, Patrick Cripps, Wil Powell
HF: Shai Bolton, Aaron Naughton, Kysaiah Pickett
F: Mitch Georgiades, Jesse Hogan, Charlie Cameron
FOLL: Darcy Cameron, Luke Jackson, Chad Warner
I/C: Callum Ah Chee, Stephen Coniglio, Tim English, Rory Lobb, Jaeger O’Meara, Trent Rivers, Jake Waterman
Coach: Dean Cox
Assistants: Justin Longmuir, Nathan van Berlo, Joe Brierty
Victoria
My word, this midfield is absolutely stacked. Good luck to Chris Scott and his coaching staff choosing the first three centre-bounce midfielders.
We’ve gone for captain Marcus Bontempelli, Pies superstar Nick Daicos and reigning Brownlow Medallist Matthew Rowell to team up with ruck Max Gawn.
But waiting on the wings are triple All-Australian Caleb Serong and dual premiership Lion Hugh McCluggage, while triple best and fairest winner Zak Butters and star Suns captain Noah Anderson are on the half-forward flanks,
Stuck on the bench? Dual Cats best and fairest Max Holmes, six-time Bombers club champion Zach Merrett and 2025 All-Australian duo Ed Richards and Bailey Smith.
Clearly, the midfield minutes will be shared between these stars, but many of them will have to play wing and forward roles throughout the match.
Jacob Weitering and Sam Collins are two mighty key defensive posts, while you sense versatile duo Tom Stewart and Josh Battle will work together well.
And while the Vics will be without Jeremy Cameron, it’s hard to think of a more hyped AFL player this off-season than prodigious key forward Sam Darcy. He’s already shown ominous signs he’s gearing up for a massive campaign, having booted eight goals in one January match simulation then six goals in a half in Queensland late last month.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Victoria starts all of Patrick Dangerfield, Jack Gunston and Toby Greene on the field.
B: Tom Stewart, Sam Collins, Josh Battle
HB: Lachie Ash, Jacob Weitering, Jack Sinclair
C: Caleb Serong, Matthew Rowell, Hugh McCluggage
HF: Zak Butters, Ben King, Noah Anderson
F: Jack Gunston, Sam Darcy, Patrick Dangerfield
FOLL: Max Gawn, Marcus Bontempelli, Nick Daicos
I/C: Toby Greene, Max Holmes, Zach Merrett, Ed Richards, Tristan Xerri, Blake Hardwick, Bailey Smith
Coach: Chris Scott
Assistants: Sam Mitchell, Shaun Grigg, Danny Daly
WHO IS PRESENTING THE MEDALS AND TROPHY?
The Graham Moss Medal will be awarded to the best on ground player for Western Australia. Graham Moss, a WA footy great and Brownlow Medallist, will present the medal himself.
The EJ Whitten Medal will be presented to the best on ground player for Victoria. Ted Whitten Jnr — the son of Bulldogs legend, football icon and representative footy pioneer EJ Whitten — will present the EJ Whitten Medal.
Each teams’ chair of selectors, senior coach and assistant coach will vote on their respective medal winners. WA’s voting panel will be made up of Dean Cox (coach), Justin Longmuir (assistant coach) and Glen Jakovich (chair of selectors), while Chris Scott (coach), Sam Mitchell (assistant coach) and Garry Lyon (chair of selectors) are on Victoria’s voting panel.
The winning team on Saturday will be awarded the Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer Cup — the perpetual trophy contested between Victoria and Western Australia.
The trophy will be presented by Kim Farmer — the daughter of Australian Football Hall of Fame legend Polly Farmer, who passed away in August 2019.
Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson has provided the following predictions …
Winner: Victoria by 18 points — “The Vics’ midfield depth will be too strong for WA.”
Graham Moss Medal (WA): Shai Bolton
EJ Whitten Medal (Victoria): Nick Daicos
WHAT ARE THE ODDS FOR THE MATCH?
* Odds correct as of 12pm Wednesday February 11
AFL Origin Winner
$2.90 Western Australia
$1.40 Victoria
Graham Moss Medal
$5 Kysaiah Pickett, Chad Warner
$7.50 Patrick Cripps
$8 Luke Jackson
EJ Whitten Medal
$7.50 Nick Daicos
$8 Marcus Bontempelli
$9.50 Sam Darcy
$10 Hugh McCluggage
First goalkicker
$9 Sam Darcy
$11 Ben King
$13 Marcus Bontempelli, Toby Greene
$15 Mitch Georgiades, Jesse Hogan, Aaron Naughton, Kysaiah Pickett, Jake Waterman, Patrick Dangerfield
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