AFL boss hits back at ex coach's scathing tirade ahead of State of Origin

AFL chief Andrew Dillon has hit back at Ken Hinkley's criticism of a key aspect of the upcoming State of Origin game.

The former Port Adelaide coach believes the AFL has overlooked the advantage they have handed to the coaches involved in State of Origin's return.

The league on Saturday will attempt to revive the concept, after 27 years on the shelf, and they have rolled out the top coaches to helm it.

READ MORE: Aussie superstars fly into Olympic halfpipe final

READ MORE: Devastation as Aussie flag bearer crashes out of medals

READ MORE: Hynes floats Super Bowl-style shake up to save All Stars

Geelong coach Chris Scott is running the Victorian team, alongside Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and Gold Coast assistant Shaun Grigg.

While on the West Australia side, Sydney coach Dean Cox is running the show alongside Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir and Adelaide assistant Nathan van Berlo.

The NRL uses coaches from outside clubland for its Origin series to take that conflict of interest out of the equation completely.

And Hinkley believes the AFL should have done similar, saying it was an easy mistake to avoid.

"One hundred per cent they have (given these coaches an advantage)," the ex Power coach told SEN.

"It is an absolute advantage to those coaches and these clubs. Connection is the word we all look for.

"If you get a four or five day opportunity to create a connection with a potential new player (that's an advantage).

"There's enough discrepancies in the game, this is another one the AFL didn't need to add to it. This was a simple AFL decision they have not thought about in any way shape or form about the advantages.

"The AFL have not given any thought to what should have happened here."

Dillon however feels the use of current coaches was the best way to get top players buying into representative football.

"It was a conversation we had but we thought the way to get the best buy-in from the players and clubs was to have current coaches," Dillon said on WA radio.

"To have 'Coxy' with Justin Longmuir for WA and 'Mitch' and Chris Scott for Victoria — all incredible coaches — (and) I think the clubs would feel more comfortable.

"That doesn't mean into the future a recently retired coach like Hinkley couldn't do it or pay a role as well.

"But I think having the current coaches gives the clubs a bit."

Hinkley believes there were a number of coaching options outside of the 18 clubs who would have thrived in the role.

"There's so many others that could have coached the sides. Adam Simpson, Paul Roos, the list goes on," he said.

"I'll go back in time and back to international rules. Chad Wingard played for Australia and was coached by (Alastair Clarkson) at the time and we (Port Adelaide) lost him to Hawthorn.

"Part of that conversation was he enjoyed playing under Clarko and then thought he wanted to play for him (at club level). He had never had an opportunity to connect with Clarko before that.

"Those relationships can stick and can make a decision (to move clubs) a little bit easier. They can talk to players anytime but this can make it easier.

"The AFL might rethink this if they sat back and look at it. There's so many options for them. This is a great opportunity for a coach to create a relationship with a player they may or may not be looking at.

"We don't need to cloud the judgement for anyone. This is one example of something the AFL has not put enough thought into."

Port Adelaide star Zak Butters will line up for Victoria, with Hawthorn and Geelong two teams already strongly linked to the out of contract midfielder.

Hinkley said he would be furious if he was still at the Power at the access Scott and Mitchell have to Butters this week.

"If I was coaching Zak - and I've read every article about who is into him - I'd be a little bit nervous and I would be calling (Andrew Dillon) and saying 'mate how the hell did you make this decision'?"

"The AFL have messed this up."

Who are the teams taking part in AFL State of Origin?

There will only be one match, featuring Victoria and Western Australia.

The league is yet to make a call on whether they will expand to include South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland or New South Wales in future iterations.

What time is AFL State of Origin starting?

The game will begin at 4:40pm AWST from Perth, Australia on Saturday.

Melbourne, Sydney: 7:40pm

Queensland: 6:40pm

Adelaide: 7:10pm

Where is the State of Origin game taking place?

The match is being played at Perth's Optus Stadium, which holds a capacity of 62,000.

AFL State of Origin 2026 odds

Sportsbet odds correct 10:30am, Thursday February 12:

Victoria: $1.40 | Western Australia: $2.99

When was the last AFL State of Origin game?

The AFL's version of State of Origin has been on the shelf since 1999. The final game featured Victoria and South Australia on the MCG in front of 26,000 fans.

The concept was a staple of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, largely featuring Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, but also Tasmania and the Allies (New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, international players and sometimes Tasmania).

The AFL has run multiple All-Star representative games with Victoria taking on the rest of the country in the 21st century, including the bushfire relief game in 2020, and 2008's Hall of Fame Tribute Match.

These were one-off games not labelled State of Origin.

Who is playing for Victoria?

Victorian 25-man squad: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs, captain), Bailey Smith (Geelong), Ben King (Gold Coast), Blake Hardwick (Hawthorn), Caleb Serong (Fremantle), Ed Richards (Western Bulldogs), Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane), Jack Gunston (Hawthorn), Jack Sinclair (St Kilda), Jacob Weitering (Carlton), Josh Battle (Hawthorn), Lachie Ash (GWS), Matt Rowell (Gold Coast), Max Gawn (Melbourne), Max Holmes (Geelong), Nick Daicos (Collingwood), Noah Anderson (Gold Coast), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong), Sam Collins (Gold Coast), Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs), Toby Greene (GWS), Tom Stewart, Geelong), Tristan Xerri (North Melbourne), Zach Merrett (Essendon), Zak Butters (Port Adelaide).

Who is playing for Western Australia?

WA 25-man squad: Patrick Cripps (Carlton, captain), Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs), Brad Hill (St Kilda), Callum Ah Chee (Adelaide), Chad Warner (Sydney), Charlie Cameron (Brisbane), Darcy Cameron (Collingwood), Jaeger O'Meara (Fremantle), Jake Waterman (West Coast), Jesse Hogan (GWS), Jordan Clark (Fremantle), Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne), Lawson Humphries (Geelong), Liam Baker (West Coast), Luke Jackson (Fremantle), Mitch Georgiades (Port Adelaide), Nathan Broad (Richmond), Rory Lobb (Western Bulldogs), Sam Taylor (GWS), Shai Bolton (Fremantle), Stephen Coniglio (GWS), Tim English (Western Bulldogs), Tom Barrass (Hawthorn), Trent Rivers (Melbourne), Wil Powell (Gold Coast).

Who is coaching Victoria and Western Australia?

Victoria: Chris Scott (Geelong), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Shaun Grigg (Gold Coast)

Western Australia: Dean Cox (Sydney), Justin Longmuir (Fremantle), Nathan van Berlo (Adelaide)

Are tickets available for AFL State of Origin?

No, Optus Stadium has been officially sold out for the game.

What is the winner awarded for AFL State of Origin?

After the game, The Graham Moss Medal will be presented to the best player on the ground for Western Australia. Moss will present the medal himself.

The medal was first awarded in 1995 and honours Claremont WAFL and Essendon VFL star Graham Moss.

The best player on the ground for Victoria will receive the E.J. Whitten Medal. The medal will be presented by his son, Ted Whitten Jnr.

E.J. Whitten is widely regarded as the main driver of the State of Origin concept, as well as being one of the all-time champions of the Western Bulldogs/Footscray.

The captain of the winning team will be presented the Graham 'Polly' Farmer Cup, which has historically been the trophy awarded in State of Origin clashes between Victoria and Western Australia.

The trophy will be presented by Kim Farmer, the daughter of the late Polly Farmer.