Coaches named for AFL State of Origin return
Chris Scott will coach Victoria in opposition to a West Australian facet coached by Dean Cox within the AFL’s first State of Origin recreation in nearly 27 years.
The 2 coaches have been introduced on Tuesday forward of the Origin recreation to be performed in Perth on February 14 subsequent yr.
The AFL’s final Origin fixture was in Could 1999 when Victoria defeated South Australia on the MCG.
Melbourne-born Scott, who has coached Geelong since 2011, and WA-born Cox, who took over as Sydney’s head coach for the 2025 season, will choose groups primarily based on the place the gamers have been drafted from to the AFL, somewhat than birthplace.
“I’m a proud Western Australian and grew up watching State of Origin footy so this can be a actual privilege to steer the workforce in February in opposition to the Vics,” Cox stated in an announcement on Tuesday.
“We now have a really sturdy contingent of WA boys enjoying on the high degree so it’s not going to be straightforward to choose a facet, however we really feel we’ll take it proper as much as Victoria.
“I like the actual fact the idea is again and I can’t await the sport.”
Geelong chief govt Steve Hocking stated Scott’s appointment was simply reward for his “exceptional file as a coach”.
“It’s nice to see him recognised with the honour,” Hocking stated.
“As a membership, we’re excited to see State of Origin return to the soccer calendar in its new type and stay up for seeing a few of the greatest soccer expertise within the nation gathered for the sport.”
Scott and Cox will every quickly select three assistant coaches and a high-performance supervisor for his or her squads.
Respective choice committees, led by a md of selectors, will likely be introduced shortly, the AFL stated.
