Australian Football League (AFL) has officially confirmed a three-year fixture plan for its revived State of Origin series, bringing both long-awaited clarity for fans and disappointing news for supporters based in Victoria, who will be locked out of hosting the showcase match for the entire three-year cycle. The announcement, made Monday, marks the next chapter of the event’s comeback after a nearly 30-year hiatus that concluded earlier this year with an electric opening clash.
The 2023 return of State of Origin saw Western Australia play host to Victoria at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where a sellout crowd of more than 58,000 spectators turned out to watch the inter-state showdown. Victoria claimed victory in the high-stakes match, with Greater Western Sydney defender Lachie Ash taking home the best afield honors, while Jesse Hogan earned the top player title for Western Australia.
Under the newly locked-in three-year arrangement, South Australia will rejoin the series starting next season (2027). The 2027 matchup will pit Western Australia against South Australia at Perth Stadium, with Perth retaining hosting duties for that fixture. In 2028, South Australia will step into the host role, welcoming Victoria to the iconic Adelaide Oval for the annual Origin clash. The cycle will reset in 2029, when Western Australia will once again host Victoria back at Perth Stadium.
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon noted that the multi-year scheduling agreement brings much-needed certainty for all stakeholders of the series, a feature he says will let supporters lean into the long-held inter-state rivalries that define the event. “State football is one of the great traditions of our game, and we are pleased to see it continue in 2027 and beyond after the huge success of its return earlier this year,” Dillon said in a statement following the announcement.
“Origin inspires passion, State pride and draws upon decades of rivalries that are central to the history of our game and our greatest players,” he added. “Locking in the structure for the next three years provides fans, clubs, players and stakeholders certainty on Origin, allowing them to embrace the state rivalry and celebrate our great game.”
Dillon also extended gratitude to the state governments that have partnered to support the series over the coming three years, acknowledging Western Australian Premier Roger Cook and his government for supporting the 2027 and 2029 matches, as well as South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and his administration for their partnership to bring elite state-level football back to Adelaide in 2028.
For Victorian fans disappointed by the three-year hosting gap, a scheduling conflict provides context for the decision: Victoria was always seen as an unlikely candidate to host the 2027 match due to a pre-scheduled Ashes Test cricket match between Australia and England that will occupy the state’s major sporting venues during the same window.