South Australia appoints McRae as Longmuir takes WA Origin role
The states will meet at Optus Stadium in February, with South Australia returning to AFL representative football for the first time since 1999.
Collingwood’s Craig McRae and Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir will take opposing coaching roles for February’s AFL State of Origin contest at Optus Stadium, leading South Australia and Western Australia respectively.
South Australia has not played an AFL representative match since 1999. McRae described his appointment as an honour, crediting football in the state with giving him his start and saying he wanted the team to reflect its history.
Longmuir takes charge after serving as an assistant to WA coach Dean Cox for the previous clash with Victoria. He said the role meant a great deal because most of his career, both playing and coaching, had been spent in Western Australia.
Fremantle topped the ladder under Longmuir and made its first grand final appearance since 2013. Brisbane won that match by seven points, overturning a 17-point deficit with a little more than four minutes remaining.
