27 years after it was last played in a fully competitive format, State of Origin will return on February 14 next year at Perth's Optus Stadium, which saw 37,865 fans attend this year's pre-season match between Fremantle and the Indigenous All-Stars in a test run whilst the AFL was in talks with the Western Australia state government about an Origin revival.
Preparations for the contest have been in full swing since it was announced on September 14, with the head coaches of both teams confirmed on Tuesday morning.
Melbourne-born Chris Scott, who has been at the helm of Geelong since 2011 and only forged his 14-year career Brisbane as a result of Collingwood trading their first round draft pick to the Bears for Nathan Buckley in 1993, will join some VFL/AFL greats such as Ted Whitten, Leigh Matthews and Robert Walls in leading the 'Big V'.
Sydney boss Dean Cox is a most-fitting pick to lead Western Australia, having grown up in Perth before playing for East Perth in the WAFL followed by 290 AFL games for West Coast, where he won a Premiership as well as six All-Australian ruckman selections.
Western Australia last met Victoria in a State of Origin match in 1992.
The AFL also confirmed on Tuesday morning the selection criteria for the match.
Players will be eligible for Origin selection based on the junior club from which they were drafted to the league, which should see Brownlow Medal winner Matt Rowell join his Gold Coast Suns captain Noah Anderson in a star-studded Victorian midfield also including Nick Daicos, Marcus Bontempelli and potentially Port Adelaide's Zak Butters, who hails from the regional Victorian town of Bacchus Marsh.
Potential forwards for the Vics include Jeremy Cameron, Patrick Dangerfield, Toby Greene, Sam Darcy and new Sydney Swan Charlie Curnow.
High profile players who are eligible for Western Australia but play for clubs outside the state include Patrick Cripps, Jesse Hogan, Aaron Naughton and Mitch Georgiades.
