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AFL State of Origin

Ben Cousins and Stephen Coniglio chat ahead of the Origin clash on Saturday.

AFLCommentsCousins the coach? Eagles great boosts WA brains trust

Western Australia have turned to one of their favourite footy sons for inspiration in Saturday night’s Origin epic. 

Jackson Barrett

Caleb and Neil Handasyde outside Optus Stadium before the game.

AFLCommentsFan frenzy! Optus BUZZING for Origin return

Footy fans have defied the sweltering conditions in Perth to flock to the return of AFL Origin. SEE THE PICS

Jackson Barrett

Mitch Georgiades of Western Australia tackles Nick Daicos.

live
live
AFL Comments
live
AFL ORIGIN LIVE: WA look to mount comeback against Vics

Any doubt about how hard players would go was quickly cast aside as WA and Victoria produced a scintillating start to their Origin battle. Follow all the action live!

Jake Santa Maria

Dalwalinu’s Mia Carlshausen, Albany’s Elijah Williams and Narrogin’s Alexis Edgley.

AFLCommentsPremiumWA footy programs receive massive windfall from Origin

More than $1 million of the windfall from AFL Origin will be put towards the game’s grassroots in WA, with a focus to be placed on bolstering programs focused on Indigenous, multicultural and regional juniors.

Josh Kempton

SPT AFL State of Origin. WA coach Dean Cox and captain Patrick Cripps will be joined by VIC coach Chris Scott and captain Marcus Bontempelli for a joint press conference at Burswood.

AFLCommentsPremiumOur experts’ predictions for historic Origin return

Does anyone give Western Australia a chance? And who’s set to tear up Optus as our experts predict what we can expect from AFL State of Origin’s historic return?

The West Australian

The WA and Victorian AFL Origin teams train at Optus Stadium. PIctured - Luke Jackson

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
AFL ORIGINCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
‘All-in’: Players hungry for Origin battle, says Goyder

Outgoing AFL chair Richard Goyder believes there is a hunger from players and fans to turn Saturday’s Origin blockbuster at Optus Stadium into an annual event.

Glen Quartermain

Luke Jackson and Patrick Cripps will lead WA’s midfield against Victoria.

analysis
analysis
AFLCommentsPremium
analysis
RYAN DANIELS: A David-v-Goliath battle we can all get behind

Here we are, our beloved WA - AFL Origin’s David - pitted against this colossal beast in a Big V. On paper, we’re screwed - but luckily for us Sandgropers, footy’s not played on paper, writes Ryan Daniels.

Ryan Daniels

Every Origin player ranked ahead of Saturday's clash

analysis
analysis
AFL OriginCommentsPremium
analysis
Ultimate Origin Depth Chart: Who is the best in the game?

The West Australian’s football writer Mitchell Woodcock ranks every player ahead of Saturday’s historic AFL Origin clash based on their ability to impact the game.

Mitchell Woodcock

Meet the AFL partners behind WA's star-studded Origin team.

AFL ORIGINCommentsThe women behind WA’s star-studded outfit taking on the Vics

With the historic AFL State of Origin game being played on Valentine’s Day, we profile the wives and girlfriends behind the WA team who have helped make their partners’ dreams come true.

Kellie Balaam and Zach Margolius

WA and Victoria have hit Optus Stadium ahead of AFL Origin.

AFLCamera IconPremiumSEE THE PICTURES: WA, Victoria gear up on Origin eve

WA and Victoria have had their first look at Optus Stadium ahead of tomorrow’s blockbuster AFL Origin clash, going through training in front of a few hundred fans. SEE THE PICTURES

Josh Kempton

Patrick Cripps and Marcus Bontempelli with the Graham 'Polly" Farmer Cup.

opinion
opinion
AFLCommentsPremium
opinion
Time to show Origin stars respect. They’ll have a huge crack

Too many people have cast doubt on whether AFL Origin will be a tough affair that will be taken seriously by the players. These are the biggest names in the competition. Of course they’ll have a crack.

Craig O'Donoghue

AFL Chairman Richard Goyder AO has announced Hall of Famer Bill Walker as the man who will toss the coin for Saturday’s AAMI AFL Origin match. Pictured is Richard with Bill and Bill's wife Glenyce at Optus Stadium Justin Benson-Cooper

AFLCommentsPremiumWA football icon made a Legend ahead of Origin coin toss

WA football icon Bill Walker will become just the third West Australian to be elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame later this year.

Josh Kempton

Luke Jackson is set to play as a permanent midfielder.

AFL ORIGINCommentsPremiumDockers fans to get early look at midfielder Jackson

Fremantle fans will get a first-hand look at Luke Jackson’s reinvention as a permanent midfielder in Saturday’s Origin clash at Optus Stadium.

Glen Quartermain

Western Australia and Victoria’s stars hit the tees and seas ahead of Saturday’s AFL Origin, with players from both camps exploring the best of the west coast.

AFL ORIGINCamera IconPremiumSEE THE PICS: WA, Vic stars out and about ahead of Origin

Western Australia and Victoria’s stars hit the tees and seas ahead of Saturday’s AFL Origin, with players from both camps exploring the best of the west coast. SEE THE PICS.

Samantha Rogers

Marcus Bontempelli and Toby Greene have buried the hatchet ahead of AFL Origin.

AFLCommentsNo bad blood between Bont and Toby ahead of Origin

Victoria captain Marcus Bontempelli has played down any suggestion of an ongoing feud with his State teammate Toby Greene ahead of the pair lining up alongside each other in AFL Origin.

Josh Kempton

Origin of the Vics

AFL State of OriginPremiumOrigin of our stars: See where each Vic player comes from

We’ve mapped out where Victoria’s Origin players originate from, ranging from the metro area to the regions. Check out the map here!

WA captain Patrick Cripps and coach Dean Cox at Burswood.

AFL ORIGINCommentsPremiumCox says don’t sleep on WA talent despite underdog status

Western Australia coach Dean Cox says his team will start as underdogs in Saturday’s AFL Origin clash against a talent-rich Victorian team at Optus Stadium.

Glen Quartermain

Every WA v Victorian clash revisited

AFL OriginPremiumOrigin Rewind: Every clash between WA and Vic revisited

The two proud football states have met 19 times under Origin rules, between 1977 and 1992, with Victoria holding a 12-7 advantage.

Glen Quartermain

Chris Scott believes he can accommodate all his stars into the same midfield.

AFLCommentsPremiumToo many cooks? Scott says his stars can play nice together

Victoria coach Chris Scott has declared he holds no doubt his array of midfield stars will be able to successfully share the same area of the ground for their blockbuster clash with WA.

Josh Kempton

Brent Harvey after Victoria’s win in 1999.

AFLCommentsPremium‘The making of me’: Harvey’s career-shaping Origin outing

Origin matches don’t just exist in isolation - they can help launch or define an AFL career. Brent Harvey reflects on the 1999 clash that ultimately set him on a path to being the league’s games record holder.

Brent Harvey

A talented local Noongar artist will have his work displayed to a sellout Optus Stadium crowd when Origin footy returns on Saturday.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
AFL OriginCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Heated rivalry between WA and Vics inspires stadium mural

A talented local Noongar artist will have his work displayed to a sell-out Optus Stadium crowd when Origin footy returns on Saturday. Kambarni drawing on the fierce rivalry of WA vs Victoria for inspiration.

James Palumbo

StreetX founder Daniel Bradshaw has revealed why a State of Origin collection was a perfect fit for the iconic WA streetwear brand.

AFL ORIGINCommentsStreetX drops exclusive AFL Origin collection for Perth game

StreetX founder Daniel Bradshaw has revealed why a State of Origin collection was a perfect fit for the iconic WA streetwear brand.

Samantha Rogers

WA produced arguably the State's most famous Origin win in 1986.

AFLCommentsHow you can re-live WA’s famous 1986 Origin win this weekend

It’s considered by many to be the greatest Origin match ever played. So what better time to re-live the 1986 epic - or watch it for the first time - than in the lead-up to Saturday’s bout between WA & Victoria?

Chris Robinson

The Victorian team celebrates after winning the 1989 VFL State of Origin match between Victoria and South Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

AFL OriginCommentsPremiumOur top Origin moments ahead of blockbuster return

From the greatest team of all time to the greatest game of all time, relive the top State of Origin moments ahead of its return on Saturday.

Jake Santa Maria