The Australian Football League’s (AFL) marquee State of Origin fixture will kick off again next year after a 27-year hiatus.
The Guardian said Western Australia will host Victoria in Perth on Valentine’s Day.
After a clamour from fans and players for the state-based rivalry’s return, the 2026 game will be played at Optus Stadium.
Australian football, also called Australian Rules football or Aussie Rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground.
The 61,266-capacity Perth Stadium, currently known as the Optus Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a multipurpose stadium in Perth, Western Australia, located in the suburb of Burswood. It was completed in late 2017 and officially opened on January 21st, 2018.
The Guardian further stated that the last time an Origin game was contested between state teams was in 1999, when Victoria beat South Australia by 54 points at the MCG, but South Australia was overlooked this time after strong lobbying from the Western Australian government.
It follows a successful Indigenous All-Stars clash at Optus Stadium earlier this year, when 37,865 fans turned out to watch the representative side beat the Fremantle Dockers.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said, “We’ve been talking with the clubs over a period and if the players buy in, the clubs buy in.
“Ultimately it’s about us playing games that the fans want and we know that the fans will flock to this game when we get the best players from WA and Victoria on a massive stage.”
The very first State of Origin match was played in Perth in 1977 and the last time Western Australia lined up against Victoria was in 1992 when “the Big V” were victorious, defeating the visitors by 67 points.
In 2020, the AFL held what was billed as a State of Origin clash for bushfire relief, though it featured an All-Stars side against Victoria.
Dillon said, “State football is one of the great traditions of our game, with fans and players alike calling for its return for some time and we are thrilled to see it back.
“Origin inspires passion, state pride and draws upon years old rivalries that are central to the history of our game and our very greatest players. It will be a special moment to see a Big V and a Sandgroper jumper back on the field before we start our 2026 AFL premiership season.”
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