Star forward ‘front and centre’ as Swan ‘sparks’ gallant Origin effort — WA Player Ratings

A star spearhead was “front and centre”, while a brilliant Swan was Western Australia’s “spark” in a gallant losing effort on Saturday night.

Foxfooty.com.au rates every Western Australia player out of 10 from the 2026 AFL Origin game against Victoria.

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1. Jaeger O’Meara (Fremantle)

Was busy early but didn’t have much impact as the game went on, finishing with 16 touches. 6

2. Luke Jackson (Fremantle)

Well, we got what we wanted. Dean Cox – with Justin Longmuir assisting – chose to deploy Jackson as a pure midfielder for numerous stints. He kicked two goals, including an important one while WA had the momentum in the third quarter. He had an influence with his touches, finishing with six score involvements from 12 disposals. 7

3. Stephen Coniglio (GWS Giants)

The veteran failed to have a big impact on the match. He had 21 disposals but just one score involvement from them. 6

4. Callum Ah Chee (Adelaide Crows)

The new Crow had a couple of nice moments but was quiet on the large and finished the match with ice on his right hamstring. 5

5. Chad Warner (Sydney Swans)

Always had to play a big part if the Black Swans were to have any chance. He didn’t accumulate an absolute ton of it – finishing with 16 disposals – but when he had the footy, we noticed. Almost half of his possessions wound up score involvements. Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy: “He’s their spark, isn’t he? … He’s the spark for WA, no doubt about it. He was able to come out after quarter-time and just help them get back into the game when it looked a bit vulnerable at quarter-time, but he seems to be the guy who’s dashing out (of the) centre.” He had a team-leading five score involvements and six inside-50s at half-time. He pounced at stoppage to kick the first goal of the game. 8

6. Jordan Clark (Fremantle)

Was his side’s leading disposal-getter with 27 touches and had an equal-team-high nine intercepts. His dash off half-back was eye-catching, notching four intercepts by half-time and continuing his good work into the second half. 8

7. Rory Lobb (Western Bulldogs)

Was no match for Ben King in the early going, getting outmuscled for a mark inside 50 that resulted in a goal. He was able to be taken advantage of throughout the match but had a couple of good moments in defence. 5

8. Shai Bolton (Fremantle)

While he looked at home on Optus Stadium and got on the end of a goal, it was an ‘almost’ night for the gun Docker, who couldn’t finish his work in front of goal and got caught doing too much on a few occasions. He did, however, kick one goal and manage five clearances from his 24 disposals. 6

9. Patrick Cripps (Carlton)

The skipper set the tone around the ball from the get-go, leading Western Australia with nine clearances to go with 20 disposals and seven score involvements. 7

10. Bradley Hill (St Kilda)

The busiest Sandgroper in the first half with 12 touches and a goal, he finished with 26 possessions and seven score involvements. 7

14. Darcy Cameron (Collingwood)

Was always going to have to be at or near his best to contain Max Gawn, and he did more than a respectable job. The Collingwood gun finished with 15 disposals and a team-high nine score involvements to his name. He also dropped back to intercept on multiple occasions, as he’s developed a knack for doing. 8

15. Sam Taylor (GWS Giants)

After Sam Darcy kicked five on him late last year, Taylor had his shot at vengeance – and he kept him quiet as Ben King had the goal spoils for Victoria. But in the third term he became the second Sandgroper to be sidelined with ‘hamstring awareness’. 6

17. Lawson Humphries (Geelong Cats)

Tasked with the Toby Greene matchup, and he conceded an early free kick leading to a shot on goal. Struggled one-on-one against Greene but showed his flair with his run and carry, finishing with 23 disposals at 91 per cent efficiency. 7

19. Mitchell Georgiades (Port Adelaide)

Had a terrible clanger in the second quarter that resulted in a Victoria goal, before being removed from the match at half-time with ‘hamstring awareness’. He finished with eight disposals and four score involvements. 5

21. Jesse Hogan (GWS Giants)

The deserving winner of the Graham Moss Medal as Western Australia’s best on ground. The Giants star got on the board early and was lively inside forward 50 all night long. He came alive late in the second half for a total of five majors to lead all Black Swans. “He’s been front and centre of it all!” Anthony Hudson exclaimed in the fourth quarter. Jonathan Brown added: “He’s looming as the match-winner now.” 9

23. Charlie Cameron (Brisbane Lions)

Streamed inside 50 to kick a lifting goal in the first quarter. Had his second in stellar fashion in the second quarter, and this third was a great snap to get the Black Swans to within 12 points in the last quarter. 7

24. Trent Rivers (Melbourne)

Had a few moments where he was noticeable, playing a part in multiple link-up chains on his way to 24 disposals at almost 80 per cent efficiency. He also notched four intercepts. 7

27. Wil Powell (Gold Coast Suns)

The exciting Sun got better as the game went on, after a stinger early. Jason Dunstall said in the third quarter: “He looks creative when he gets the footy.” 6

33. Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)

The mercurial Bulldog went goalless from his eight touches; unable to have an impact on a night where he needed to, given there was always going to be plenty of firepower at the other end. 5

35. Nathan Broad (Richmond)

Was in charge of handling Patrick Dangerfield and did a solid job. 6

36. Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne)

Started the game in the centre circle but didn’t have a big impact throughout, other than laying a questionable hit from behind on Noah Anderson after he’d kicked the ball. Went goalless but had three score involvements from his 15 touches. 6

37. Tom Barrass (Hawthorn)

Went to Ben King, and while the Victorian was busy, Barrass was among the hosts’ most reliable players. The Hawk had a team-high five intercepts at half-time and finished with an equal-team-high nine. 7

44. Tim English (Western Bulldogs)

Wasn’t incredibly influential but did his job as the second-stringer behind Cameron. 6

45. Jake Waterman (West Coast Eagles)

Set sail from distance for his first of the night in the second quarter and had another in the third. He was another who got better as the night went on, finishing with seven score involvements with his two majors. 7

48. Liam Baker (West Coast Eagles)

Was involved early and among his side’s busier disposal-winners, but his ball use let him down on more than one occasion. Had an equal-team-worst five clangers. 6