State of Origin returns to the AFL for the first time since 1999, with Optus Stadium hosting the clash on February 14.
Former Eagle Chris Waterman represented WA on multiple occasions during the 90s and will now watch his son follow in his footsteps after he was selected a few days ago.
Sport FM spoke to Chris this morning.
“It was every kid’s dream to play for WA and in the State of Origin series, particularly against Victoria and South Australia,” he said.
“A lot of these boys are pretty good mates, they all played in the under 18 competition before they got drafted, and they naturally got drafted to different clubs so they never played together again. If you go back through the under 18 side all these guys came through, a lot of them are mates.”
Waterman said a big part of the reason origin footy died off was the risk it forced coaches to take in potentially jeopardising players’ physical health.
The match used to be played mid season, but now it has changed to a couple weeks before the start of the AFL season in order to reduce the impact minor injuries will have on athletes’ AFL seasons.
“It was really 70s, 80s and 90s, so it was only two or three generations that really got the opportunity, but it was a great thing, particularly in the 80s,” he said.
“Naturally it died off in the 90s when coaches preferred to hold back their players and try and win the flag.”
Waterman’s son’s selection gives him the opportunity to play his first full game of footy since his injury suffered in round 11 of last season.
“I think that’s probably the reason why West Coast is keen for him to have a hit out, it’s been a while and he’s keen to get some footy under his belt.”
“He’s full steam ahead now, he’s ready to go so I kind of got to hold him back a little bit, but a game of footy would be just what he needs right now.”
Former teammate of Waterman and now Sydney Swans coach, Dean Cox, has been appointed as coach of the WA side, marking a second big milestone early on in his coaching career.
“He started around 99, 2000, so that was almost right at the end of the origin series. It’s new for him, but it’s good for him to come back to the same state and put all these guys together.”
“He’ll be excited about having a team that’s got so much talent to it and to meet a lot of the guys he hasn’t met firsthand.”
The 25 man squads have been finalised and the match will take place on February 14.
IMAGE: West Coast Eagles