AFL State of Origin live scores: Western Australia and Victoria reignite historic rivalry
Any doubt about how hard players would go was quickly cast aside as WA and Victoria produced a scintillating start to their Origin battle. Follow all the action live!
AFL : It’s state against state as AFL Origin returns for the first time in more than 20 years as Western Australia and Victoria reignite a historic rivalry at Optus Stadium.
Victoria, led by Marcus Bontempelli are heavy favourites with a midfield stuffed full of premiership winners and All-Australians, including the likes of Nick Daicos, Matt Rowell and Bailey Smith.
But don’t discount Patrick Cripps and his WA counterparts who will be desperate to spring an upset in front of a parochial sell-out crowd.
Follow all the action live!
Jake Santa Maria is reporting live.
King has three
Broad flattened him off the ball, but he gets up in time as Patirck Dangerfield gets the handball away despite two tacklers
Keeps WA at bay.
VIC 8.7 (55) WA 6.4 (40)
WA are coming
Cameron snaps and squeezes it through after Warner burst through the middle of the ground.
Three in a row and it’s a nine-point game.
VIC 7.6 (48) WA 6.3 (39)
Waterman makes it two in a row
Beyond 50 on the boudnary Waterman works it back through the middle to cut the margin back to 15.
It was build off the back of Mitch Georgiades who ran down Nick Daicos of all people to win the ball back in the middle.
VIC 7.6 (48) WA 5.3 (33)
An update on Weitering
He’s been sent to hospital for precautionary scans on ribs and shoulders
Jackson stops the bleeding
A free kick in the middle gives WA a break.
Rivers goes to Cameron who hits Nuaghton.
He sends it inside 50 where Luke Jackson breaks his man to take an uncontested mark.
Much needed for WA.
VIC 7.4 (46) WA 4.1 (25)
Daicos makes it five in a row
Georgiades with a horror turnover in the middle of the ground.
WA caught in transition and Daicos has the set shot. He makes no mistake and it’s five straight for the Vics.
VIC 7.4 (46) WA 3.1 (19)
END OF Q1 VIC 6.3 (39) WA 3.1 (19)
The end of a marathon quarter due to Jacob Weitering’s injury.
WA got off to a dream start before Victoria’s guns came to the fore with Nick Daicos, Caleb Serong and the Bont turning it on.
Ed Richards has been elite off half back and while WA have had to do all the defending after that early burst.
Can they turn it around after the break?
Vics get another
Victoria’s defenders are just sitting behind the ball with WA’s forwards trying to get involved up the ground.
It means if WA do win the ball they have nowhere to go and McCluggage is on the end of this entry with a lovely snap for goal.
VIC 6.3 (39) WA 3.1 (19)
Merrett off the deck
Rory Lobb’s not had a great day so far and his kick from defence is touched and falls to Sam Collins.
Victoria reload and Merrett soccers the ball of the deck to make it a 13-point game.
Third goal from turnover for the Vics.
VIC 5.2 (32) WA 3.1 (19)
Play back underway
WA have it locked in their forward 50 but a holding free kick to Xerri from English releases the pressure.
Victoria nearly go end to end in a matter of seconds but Sam Darcy just can’t pull off a miracle one handed mark.
Originally published on The West Australian
