COLLINGWOOD coach Craig McRae has been confirmed as South Australia's coach for the state's return to AAMI AFL Origin football, with Fremantle counterpart Justin Longmuir accepting the offer to lead Western Australia.
McRae will be the Croweaters' first Origin coach since Graham Cornes in 1999 when SA takes on WA at Optus Stadium on February 27, with the premiership coach getting the nod after five seasons with the Magpies.
A former Glenelg player who launched his career in the SANFL before becoming a triple premiership player with Brisbane, McRae was selected for the role ahead of Adelaide coach and fellow SA native Matthew Nicks.
The 53-year-old featured as a player in South Australia's most recent State of Origin game in 1999 when Victoria beat the Croweaters by 54 points at the MCG in the final Origin match of that era.
"To have the opportunity to coach South Australia is an enormous honour and I am incredibly proud of the role South Australian football has played in giving me my start in the game," McRae said.
"We saw earlier this year the role state football plays in our game and its rich tradition, and I’m looking forward to helping build a South Australian team that represents the history our proud state has."
McRae could team up with his Collingwood recruit Lachie Neale for SA's Origin return, with the dual Brownlow medallist among a star-studded group of midfielders eligible for selection.
Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson, St Kilda superstar Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Port Adelaide pair Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee, Hawthorn's Will Day, and Crows playmaker Izak Rankine are all contenders to play for their state.
Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy could also be reunited with McRae if he puts his hand up to take on WA.
Longmuir has been confirmed as Western Australia's second senior coach in two seasons - as reported by AFL.com.au last month - after taking over from Sydney counterpart Dean Cox, who led WA in this year's Origin return.
The Dockers' Grand Final coach, who was named the AFL Coaches Association coach of the year in 2026, served as an assistant under Cox and will ensure the state has continuity when preparations ramp up in February next year.
Longmuir has led the Dockers for the past seven seasons with a winning rate of 58.3 per cent, driving the team to a record 19-win home and away season in 2026, including a 14-game winning streak.
The 45-year-old hails from WA wheatbelt town Koorda and has strong football ties in WA through his junior playing career at WAFL club West Perth, 139-game AFL career with Fremantle, and subsequent coaching tenures at West Coast and the Dockers.
"Western Australia has a proud football history and the rivalry with South Australia has produced some memorable contests in the past. To be part of renewing that rivalry at Optus Stadium next February is very exciting," Longmuir said.
"After being involved earlier this year for the return of AAMI AFL Origin, to now lead the state that I have spent most of my playing and coaching career means a great deal to me and I can’t wait to select a team that reflects the quality of Western Australian football and a team that will put on a great show in front of a sold out Optus Stadium."
Origin preparations will ramp up on Tuesday, February 23 next year when players and staff will arrive in Perth to begin Origin week, with the first wave of players to be announced later in November.
The AFL wrote to clubs this week to confirm the length of quarters for the 2027 clash would be shortened after the frenetic return of representative football in February had a lasting injury fallout.
Quarter lengths for Origin will be reduced to 18 minutes plus standard time-on, down from 20 minutes plus time-on for regular AFL matches.
WA and SA have met nine times in Origin football since 1980, with SA leading the head-to-head record 5-4 and winning the two states' most recent Origin clash against each other 143-107 in 1998.
The 2027 match will mark 50 years since the first Australian Rules State of Origin match played between Western Australia and Victoria at Subiaco Oval in 1977, while also celebrating 150 years of the SANFL.
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