AFL Origin Makes Historic Return After 25-Year Hiatus
The Seven Network is poised to deliver a landmark sporting event as AFL Origin returns to Australian screens for the first time in over a quarter of a century. This highly anticipated clash will see Victoria take on Western Australia at a sold-out Optus Stadium on Saturday, February 14, with live and free coverage available across Seven and 7plus Sport.
Star-Studded Lineup and Commentary Team
Featuring the biggest superstars from both states, this match revives a storied rivalry that last played out in 1999, when Victoria faced South Australia at the MCG. Seven has assembled an exceptional commentary team to capture every moment of this historic occasion.
The play-by-play commentary will be handled by the iconic voices of Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw. They will be joined by expert commentators Kane Cornes, Luke Hodge, and Abbey Holmes, ensuring comprehensive analysis throughout the broadcast.
Adding local flavour to the coverage, West Australian favourite and former AFL superstar Nic Naitanui will provide boundary-line insights. Naitanui expressed his excitement about joining the Seven team for this special event.
Nic Naitanui's Enthusiastic Perspective
"I'm pumped to be joining the Seven team as an expert commentator for the return of AFL Origin," Naitanui said. "Like many others who played throughout the 2010s, I would have loved the chance to represent my state at the highest level, so I can't wait to see the two states battle it out at Optus Stadium in front of a roaring crowd."
Naitanui challenged predictions about the match outcome, suggesting Western Australia could leverage home ground advantage. "There has been a lot of chatter about how Victoria will be the easy winners of the match, but I wouldn't be so sure. I think the WA boys will be absolutely raring to go and the home ground advantage will be a massive factor," he said.
He highlighted specific players who could make a difference: "I don't think the Vics will be able to control the speed and agility of the WA boys. Kozzy (Pickett), Charlie Cameron, Shai Bolton, Chad Warner and others are going to run riot and prove a nightmare for defenders, that's why I think WA will win the match."
"I can't wait to get among the atmosphere on the boundary line for the Seven broadcast and hopefully see WA pull off a huge win against the Vics. It will be a must watch," Naitanui added.
Team Lineups and Broadcast Details
Victoria's Origin team features standout players including Nick Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli, and Jeremy Cameron. Western Australia counters with stars such as Patrick Cripps, Chad Warner, Sam Taylor, and Jesse Hogan.
Gary O'Keeffe, Seven's head of AFL and innovation, emphasized the network's historical connection to AFL Origin. "It's extremely exciting to be welcoming AFL Origin, an event which has such a rich history in Australia, back to Seven," he said.
"Seven was the host broadcaster for the very first Origin match in 1977 and also the most recent match in 1999, so it feels right for us to continue the tradition and welcome the state-based rivalry to our screens again in 2026," O'Keeffe explained.
He added: "We feel we have compiled an all-star commentary team for the match, so viewers on Seven and 7plus Sport are in for a real treat. It's exciting to be kicking off the season in February and it will give fans a great taste of what to expect for Seven's AFL coverage for the 2026 season."
Comprehensive Broadcast Schedule
Seven's AFL Origin coverage begins on Saturday, February 14, at 7pm AEDT across Seven, 7mate, and 7plus Sport, with the match commencing at 7.40pm AEDT. The broadcast schedule varies by location:
- Melbourne: 7pm live on Seven and 7plus Sport
- Sydney: 7pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Brisbane: 6pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Adelaide: 6.30pm live on Seven, 7mate and 7plus Sport
- Perth: 4pm live on 7mate and 7plus Sport
Post-Game Programming: No Holds Barred Docuseries
Immediately following the AFL Origin post-game coverage, Seven will premiere the first episode of No Holds Barred, a compelling docuseries offering an inside look at the GWS Giants' 2025 season.
This eight-part series provides unprecedented access to the inner sanctum of the Giants' campaign, featuring superstar players Toby Greene, Sam Taylor, Finn Callaghan, and retiree Callan Ward, along with head coach Adam Kingsley.
The docuseries continues Seven's commitment to documentary-style programming about AFL clubs, following Hawthorn's Full Sweat in 2025 and preceding upcoming series with St Kilda and Collingwood scheduled for 2026.
This comprehensive broadcast offering ensures Australian football fans receive exceptional coverage of both historic rivalry and behind-the-scenes insights as the 2026 AFL season approaches.
