Cox, Scott to Coach 2026 State of Origin

The AFL confirmed the return of the men's State of Origin, with Dean Cox appointed to coach Western Australia and Chris Scott to coach Victoria for a standalone match at Optus Stadium in Perth on February 14, 2026. It will be the first official AFL State of Origin since 1999 and the first WA–Victoria Origin meeting since 1992. Players will be selected based on the location of the junior club from which they were drafted, and squads are expected to be announced in the coming months, with reports saying player lists will begin to be revealed around November. Each coach will appoint three assistant coaches and a selection/high-performance team that will include a chairman of selectors. Cox, a Dampier native and six-time All-Australian who has just completed his first season as Sydney's senior coach, and Scott, a two-time Geelong premiership coach, both welcomed the concept's revival.