The AFL is pleased to announce Sydney Swans Senior Coach Dean Cox will lead the WA state team, and Geelong Cats Premiership Coach Chris Scott will lead the Vics in the 2026 AAMI AFL Origin match at Optus Stadium on February 14.  

Cox enjoyed a 290-game playing career with the West Coast Eagles. Originally from Dampier, Western Australia, he debuted with East Perth in the WAFL in 2000. Cox was recruited to West Coast with the 28th pick in the 2000 Rookie Draft and went on to win the Simpson medal as the best player in the 2000 WAFL grand final before being upgraded to the senior West Coast list.  

He made his AFL debut during the 2001 season and played in West Coast's 2006 premiership side.

Cox was named in the All-Australian team six times, including four seasons consecutively from 2005 to 2008, he won West Coast's best and fairest award in 2008, and finished in the top three on four other occasions.  

Cox retired at the end of the 2014 season, finishing his AFL career with 290 games, a then club record, and 169 goals. Cox joined the Swans as an assistant coach in 2017, and succeeded John Longmire as senior men's coach in November 2024.

Dean Cox looks on during the R18 match between Sydney and St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on July 13, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

Chris Scott, born and raised in Melbourne, was picked by the Brisbane Bears in the 1993 AFL Draft with the 12th draft pick, he made his AFL debut in 1994, winning the AFL Rising Star award.

Scott marked himself as one of Brisbane’s greats during the golden era of the Lions, playing 215 games, winning the clubs 1998 Best and Fairest and was member of two premiership teams, 2001 and 2002 and retired following the 2007 season.

In 2008, Scott joined the Fremantle Dockers as an Assistant Coach, before being selected as Geelong’s Senior Coach for the 2011 season and led them to a Premiership in his first year.

Scott led the Cats to his second Premiership in 2022, and became the quickest coach to 350 games in 2025. His Geelong sides have sat inside the top eight for 286 of the 344 home and away rounds since his coaching debut.

Chris Scott speaks to his players during the 2025 Grand Final between Geelong and Brisbane. Picture: AFL Photos

The two senior coaches will now select three assistant coaches and a high-performance manager each, ahead of the match in February. 
 
Each coach and their selection committee, led by a Chairman of Selectors to be named shortly, will meet to pick relevant state squads of the best available players, based on their junior club location from where they were drafted.

Player announcements will begin next month as tickets for 2026 AAMI AFL Origin go on sale.

The AFL is also pleased to confirm that valued partner AAMI will support the event, with excitement building for the 2026 AAMI AFL Origin.  

“AAMI is incredibly proud to be the naming rights sponsor of the 2026 AAMI AFL Origin game in Perth. The clash promises to be an iconic event on the AFL calendar which is expected to be not only a thrilling contest between Western Australia and Victoria, but a celebration of the passion, pride and community spirit that defines footy in Australia,” said Mim Haysom, Executive General Manager, Brand and Customer Experience.

“We’re delighted to be part of such a landmark moment for WA, and to deepen our commitment to supporting local football and the communities that make it great.”  

In 2026, AAMI AFL Origin will be delivered with the support of the Western Australian Government, through Tourism WA, and showcase the best of the state to fans all over the country.  

The 2026 AAMI AFL Origin game will be broadcast on Channel 7 and Fox, as well as 7Plus and Kayo streaming platforms, spotlighting Perth and its world-class sporting facilities to the rest of the nation.  

The match will begin at 4.40pm AWST / 7.40pm AEDT.