Two-time premiership coach Chris Scott will lead the Big V in February of next year, while proud West Australian and Eagles premiership stalwart Dean Cox will take charge of the Sandgropers for AFL Origin.
Scott's record as head coach of the Geelong Cats is an exemplary one. The proud Victorian boasts the highest winning percentage of all coaches in V/AFL history among those to coach over 100 matches.
Scott has previously coached Australia in the now-defunct International Rules series, and was an assistant under Alastair Clarkson in the same series prior to leading the side himself.
Cox fulfilled a long and storied apprenticeship under John Longmire at the Sydney Swans before taking the reins ahead of the 2025 season.
Originally from Dampier, an arid, industrial outpost in the northwest of the state, Cox is a Western Australian footballing great, having played 290 games for the West Coast Eagles from 2001-2014.
A 2006 premiership player and Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee, the 44-year-old said it is a great honour to be named WA coach.
“I'm a proud Western Australian and grew up watching State of Origin footy, so this is a real privilege to lead the team in February against the Vics,” Cox said.
“We have a very strong contingent of WA boys playing at the top level so it's not going to be easy to pick a side, but we feel we will take it right up to Victoria.
“I love the fact the concept is back, and I can't wait for the game.”
Both men will now select three assistant coaches and a high-performance manager each, with selection committees, and a Chairman of Selectors, to be named in the coming days.
State squads will be selected from the best available players, with the location of the junior club where a player was drafted from, dictating eligibility.
Such criteria could very well dish up quirks. The Ashcroft brothers, for example, were drafted from the Sandringham Dragons in Victoria, despite being proud Queenslanders, plying their trade and winning premierships for the Brisbane Lions.
Presumably, their allegiance would lie with the Allies, should the amalgamation of 'other' states one day reform.
The State of Origin clash between Victoria and Western Australia is slated for February 14th, 2026, at Optus Stadium.
