GIANTS stars Jesse Hogan and Sam Taylor have been selected to represent Western Australia in the 2026 AAMI Origin game.
Two of the league’s best key position players, Hogan and Taylor are among the latest stars selected to take part in the highly anticipated Origin clash which will see WA and Victoria do battle at Optus Stadium on Saturday, February 14.
The 2026 Origin game will see state-based rivalry return at the elite level for the first time in more than 25 years, having last been played in 1999 when Victoria played South Australia at the MCG.
The GIANTS duo’s selections add to a growing list of accolades for the pair, with Taylor a two-time All Australian, a 2022 Kevin Sheedy Medallist, and seen by many as the league’s best key defender, while Hogan has cemented himself as one of the AFL’s most dominant forwards following his 2024 Coleman Medal win to go along with his 2024 Kevin Sheedy Medal and All-Australian nod.
GIANTS Executive General Manager of Football, Jason McCartney, said it was fantastic to see Taylor and Hogan selected as part of the league’s return to Origin football.
“It’s really exciting to see Origin return and it’s great that both Sam and Jesse have been recognised and chosen to represent Western Australia,” McCartney said.
“It’s a huge honour to represent your home state and both Sam and Jesse certainly deserve this honour after really establishing themselves as stars of the competition.”
Hogan and Taylor were joined by seven other players announced for Western Australia’s side on Wednesday, with Brad Hill (St Kilda), Charlie Cameron (Brisbane Lions), Kysaiah Pickett (Melbourne), Darcy Cameron (Collingwood), Jordan Clark, Luke Jackson (Fremantle) and Liam Baker (West Coast Eagles) rounding out the nine players added to West Australia’s squad.
Tickets for the AAMI AFL Origin are now on sale via Ticketmaster.
The 2026 AAMI AFL Origin game will start at 7:40pm AEDT on Saturday, February 14 at Optus Stadium, with the game to be broadcast on Channel 7 and Fox, as well as 7Plus and Kayo.
