The AFL has announced that Chris Scott will coach Victoria and Dean Cox will lead Western Australia in the first State of Origin match in nearly 27 years, scheduled for February 14, 2025, in Perth.
The coaches were revealed on Tuesday, with Scott, the Geelong coach since 2011, and Cox, who will take over as Sydney head coach in 2025, set to select teams based on where players were drafted, not their birthplace.
The last State of Origin fixture was in May 1999, when Victoria defeated South Australia at the MCG. Cox expressed pride in representing his home state, saying, 'I’m a proud Western Australian and grew up watching State of Origin footy so this is a real privilege.'
Geelong CEO Steve Hocking praised Scott's appointment, calling it recognition of his 'remarkable record as a coach.' Both coaches will soon appoint three assistant coaches and a high-performance manager, with selection committees to be announced shortly.
Possible lineups include stars like Patrick Dangerfield, Caleb Serong, and Bailey Smith for Victoria, while Western Australia could feature Cam Zurhaar, Charlie Cameron, and Jake Waterman.
