A STAR-STUDDED midfield would be the feature of a possible South Australia side for its return to Origin football next year.
The AFL has confirmed SA's first Origin game in 28 years will be on Saturday February 27, 2027 against Western Australia in Perth, before the Croweaters host Victoria at Adelaide Oval in 2028.
As the SA selectors prepare to meet to pick their side to face WA, what could it look like?
The defence would be held up by St Kilda co-captain Cal Wilkie and Gold Coast's Charlie Ballard alongside Fremantle's Brennan Cox, with Wayne Milera and John Noble to provide the dash off half-back.
The midfield group is led by Jordan Dawson, Lachie Neale and Connor Rozee (if fit), with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and Will Day to rotate through, with Brodie Grundy and Sam Draper providing a strong dual ruck pairing.
And there's plenty of goals in the forward line, with Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty the tall options alongside the likes of Izak Rankine, Jason Horne-Francis and Will Hayward, while Rankine and Horne-Francis could also make a big impact on the ball.
We've picked seven players on the bench, as was the case with the WA v Victoria game earlier this year, while the strength of the side is highlighted by those who miss the cut, including the likes of Alex Neal-Bullen, Matt Roberts and Harrison Petty.
Brisbane star Zac Bailey has strong ties to South Australia but has not been selected here as he played his junior football for the Allies, given his roots in the Northern Territory.
Melbourne star Kysaiah Pickett has also not been considered as he played for Western Australia this year.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
B: Brennan Cox, Callum Wilkie, Mason Redman
HB: Wayne Milera, Charlie Ballard, John Noble
C: Will Day, Jordan Dawson, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera
HF: Jason Horne-Francis, Riley Thilthorpe, Will Hayward
F: Kade Chandler, Darcy Fogarty, Izak Rankine
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Lachie Neale, Connor Rozee
I/C: Tom Sparrow, Jase Burgoyne, Sam Draper, Michael Frederick, Caleb Daniel, Beau McCreery, Max Michalanney
Notable absentees: George Hewett, Alex Neal-Bullen, Matt Roberts, Bailey Williams, Brayden Cook, Rory Laird, James Borlase, Oscar Steene, Isaiah Dudley, Harrison Petty, Dylan Stephens, Tom Powell, Jack Lukosius
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
(below is the team that played Victoria in February, 2026)
FB: Jordan Clark, Tom Barrass, Nathan Broad
HB: Lawson Humphries, Sam Taylor, Wil Powell
C: Callum Ah Chee, Chad Warner, Bradley Hill
HF: Shai Bolton, Mitch Georgiades, Kysaiah Pickett
FF: Charlie Cameron, Jesse Hogan, Aaron Naughton
Foll: Luke Jackson, Patrick Cripps, Liam Baker
I/C: Tim English, Rory Lobb, Darcy Cameron, Trent Rivers, Jake Waterman, Jaeger O'Meara, Stephen Coniglio
