Back on the calendar after a 25 year absence, AFL Origin opened the 2026 season in front of a packed Perth crowd last night and healthy audiences across linear and streaming.
The long awaited state v state revival played out before a sell out Optus Stadium, where Victoria defeated Western Australia, with Seven reporting the match reached 1.98 million Australians across broadcast on Seven and 7plus.
The contest delivered an average total TV audience of 843,000, up 34 per cent on last year’s full season average of 630,000, while more than 182,000 streamed via 7plus, up 227 per cent on the 2025 season average and 41 per cent on the Finals average of 1.05 million.
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Notably, the clash went head to head with Olympic coverage on Nine and only aired on Seven’s primary channel in just two capitals, with the other markets on 7mate and additional coverage on Fox Sports and Kayo, delivering a respectable overnight outcome after an extended absence.
Seven’s Head of AFL and Innovation Gary O’Keeffe said the response reflected strong fan engagement and confirmed the concept will return in 2027 as the network works with the AFL on its next iteration.
““This morning’s exclusive announcement on Sunrise confirming Origin will return next year is incredibly exciting.”
“We look forward to working closely with the AFL again to build on this momentum and make it even bigger and better in 2027.”
The fixture marked the first AFL Origin contest since 1999, when Victoria faced South Australia in Melbourne, and the first involving Western Australia since 1998, bringing a long dormant rivalry back into the spotlight.
Seven’s coverage featured Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw calling the action alongside Kane Cornes, Luke Hodge, Abbey Holmes and boundary commentator Nic Naitanui, reinforcing the event status around the one-off clash.
Online, viewer sentiment was largely positive, with fans praising the intensity and atmosphere while also debating how the format could evolve, including calls for multiple February fixtures and broader state representation.
Among those weighing in was Tom Morris, understood to be joining 7’s AFL coverage this year but still gagged by his former employer from speaking about football on air, who took to X to propose a rotating four year Origin model featuring different state match ups and a top two decider.
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Responding to that thread, TV Blackbox’s Kevin Perry suggested a February mini series comprising Victoria v South Australia, Western Australia v an Indigenous All Stars side and an Origin Final between the winners, with a $1 million charity donation attached to the decider.
After more than two decades away, AFL Origin is officially back, with 2027 confirmed and attention likely to turn to how the AFL and Seven refine the concept next year and beyond.
Attention now turns to the 2026 AFL Premiership Season opener between Sydney and Carlton at the SCG on 5 March, which you can catch live and free on Seven – check local guides.
Were you tuned in for the comeback, and how should AFL Origin evolve when it returns in 2027? Let us know in the comments below!
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