Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is tipped to replace Sydney's Dean Cox as the coach of the Western Australian side for the upcoming AFL Origin match slated for February next year.
Cox was given first dibs on the return of the exhibition match against Victoria, which was a raging success at Optus Stadium.
It's understood the AFL is keen on rotating senior coaches through the role, with AFL Media suggesting Longmuir could have the opportunity to lead the state against South Australia.
The Dockers coach came agonisingly close to delivering a maiden AFL premiership to the club after going down to Brisbane in a thrilling Grand Final by nine points.
Longmuir took the club to a maiden premiership in 2026, and was named the AFLCA Senior Coach of the Year.
He originally hails from Western Australia and was drafted by Fremantle in 1998 after growing up in Koorda (rural Western Australia).
Longmuir has coached the Dockers since 2020.
South Australia is also tipped to appoint Collingwood premiership coach Craig McRae as its coach for the Origin clash next year.
McRae became the hot favourite once it was confirmed that South Australia would be playing in the 2027 edition of the contest.
The Brisbane premiership player represented the Crow Eaters in 1999.
"I'd be honoured if that was the case. I'm a proud South Australian. I spent time with Mum when I stayed over in Adelaide over the weekend," McRae said in July this year.
"I'd be honoured, growing up watching South Australia play as a young lad, a footy buff on the silver seats, Kernahan kicking 10 goals; all those memories are vivid for me and something I aspired to do as a player and was lucky enough to do that, and if I was asked to do it, I'd jump at it."
McRae was drafted out of Glenelg in the 1993 pre-season draft by the Brisbane Bears. He played in all three premierships in the early 2000s and has been leading the Pies since 2022.
The coaching appointments for the 2027 Origin game between Western Australia and South Australia are set to be confirmed in November, with player announcements to follow, leading up to the game on February 27.
The 2028 Origin clash will feature South Australia and Victoria.
