Craig McRae Named South Australia Coach for 2027 AFL Origin
Collingwood's Craig McRae will coach South Australia in its AFL Origin return against Western Australia on February 27 at Optus Stadium. Fremantle's Justin Longmuir leads the Western Australians, and quarters will be shortened to 18 minutes plus time-on.
Collingwood premiership coach Craig McRae has been locked in as South Australia's coach for its return to AFL Origin football, with Fremantle's Justin Longmuir confirmed to lead Western Australia. The two states meet at Optus Stadium on February 27.
McRae becomes the Croweaters' first Origin coach since Graham Cornes in 1999. He got the job after five seasons with the Magpies, ahead of Adelaide coach and fellow South Australian Matthew Nicks.
McRae's South Australian roots
McRae, 53, began his career at Glenelg in the SANFL before winning three premierships as a player with Brisbane. He also played in South Australia's last State of Origin game in 1999, when Victoria won by 54 points at the MCG.
"To have the opportunity to coach South Australia is an enormous honour," McRae said. He called the state's football the place that gave him his start in the game.
He could be reunited with Collingwood recruit Lachie Neale, a dual Brownlow medallist. Adelaide captain Jordan Dawson, St Kilda's Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Port Adelaide's Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee, Hawthorn's Will Day and Crows playmaker Izak Rankine are also contenders.
Longmuir takes over from Cox
Longmuir is Western Australia's second senior coach in two seasons. He follows Sydney's Dean Cox, who led the state in this year's Origin return, and served as an assistant under Cox.
The 45-year-old has coached the Dockers for seven seasons with a winning rate of 58.3 per cent. This year he guided them to a record 19-win home and away season, including a 14-game winning streak, and was named the AFL Coaches Association coach of the year.
He grew up in the wheatbelt town of Koorda and played juniors at West Perth. His 139-game AFL career was with Fremantle, and he later coached West Coast before the Dockers.
"I can't wait to select a team that reflects the quality of Western Australian football," Longmuir said. He promised a great show in front of a sold-out Optus Stadium.
Shorter quarters, head-to-head record
The AFL wrote to clubs this week to confirm shorter quarters for 2027. Origin quarters will run 18 minutes plus standard time-on, down from 20 minutes plus time-on in regular matches, after the frenetic return of representative football in February had a lasting injury fallout.
Western Australia and South Australia have met nine times in Origin football since 1980. South Australia leads the head-to-head record 5-4 and won the most recent clash between the two, 143-107 in 1998.
Players and staff arrive in Perth on Tuesday, February 23 to begin Origin week. The first wave of players will be announced later in November.
