Garry Lyon has quelled any suggestion that the return of the Origin concept to the AFL landscape will not be fiercely competitive.
Speaking at the unveiling of Collingwood talisman Nick Daicos as the fifth member of the Big V side for February's date with Western Australia, Lyon went to great lengths to point out that the commitment of the competition's elite adds credence to the concept's comeback.
"We're delighted to announce Nick Daicos is the fifth name added to this mighty, mighty Victorian team. We're excited about it. This is a great story," Lyon said.
"When this idea was floated, (it was clear that) the whole notion of AFL Origin will rise and fall on the back of the commitment of the players.
"There'll be a detractor or two out there, of course, but the significance of what we've been able to announce with Western Australia in the past week, shouldn't be understated.
"These are the best players in the game, prepared to put themselves on the line, to play for Victoria. Bontempelli and Daicos and the Brownlow Medallist Rowell. Jeremy Cameron at this stage in his career. These are really significant announcements.
"Hopefully, it sends a really clear message. I know the question always comes up – 'is it going to be fair dinkum?'. There was a bit of an exhibition element to the bushfire game. Well, this is not going to be that."
Daicos himself allayed fears of an apathetic encounter, with pride sure to be a driving force for all of those who take the field late in the Summer.
"It's a huge honour to play for Victoria," Daicos said.
"We want to do them (Vics) proud. We want to get the win. You're also two weeks out from starting your own (club) season, so I don't think anyone will be running around at half speed. I think it's going to be quite full on and I'm excited for that...I think it'll be full noise."
Lyon recalled watching a very young Daicos tear apart games as a Greythorn Falcon in the Yarra Junior Football League, adding that a Big V guernsey rounds out an already-impressive resume for the 22-year-old.
"He's a young Victorian boy, who I watched play under 10's and under 12's - he used to smash my boys," Lyon said.
"A young Victorian boy who's now if not the best, then one of the two or three best players in the competition. He's done almost everything in footy, and now he's going to represent Victoria, and that's why I'm so excited about the concept coming back.
"I think it's a really significant announcement this morning to have this guy join the group, and we'll keep adding to it, and the West Aussies will as well."
Tickets for the Valentine's Day clash go on sale on Tuesday, with Lyon confident a large contingent of travelling Victorians will add to the atmosphere at Optus Stadium for the watershed moment that is the format's return.
