Chief Victorian selector Garry Lyon has Harley Reid on his mind for AFL’s State of Origin return

Melbourne legend Garry Lyon has been named the chief selector of Victoria ahead of the AFL’s State of Origin return in February next year.

For the first time since 1999, a serious State of Origin battle will be played with Victoria heading to Perth to taken on Western Australia on February 14.

Lyon wants to cement Victoria’s reign as the AFL’s premier state when the representative match, but he also wants to see emerging superstar Harley Reid in the Big V.

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If the selectors choose players based on 2025 form, it’s hard to see Reid making the top 20 or so Victorian players.

However, Lyon says there are other things to take into account.

“Can you imagine how much (Reid) would benefit from walking into that four-day camp and training and preparing and sitting at breakfast and talking to the best players in the competition,” Lyon said on his SEN program.

“It would be the best thing that ever happened to him.

“Without pre-empting anything, I could see how that would be a great thing for Harley and the game and the promotion of the game.”

Lyon recalled the time when former North Melbourne superstar Brent Harvey played his first game for Victoria when he was just 21 years old in 1999.

Harvey booted five goals for the Vics … and of course went on to become a North Melbourne champion, play a record 432 games, and a four-time All-Australian.

With that in mind, Lyon is hopeful coach Chris Scott will be open to including some rising talent.

“I don’t think there’ll be any time where I walk in and slam the table and say, ‘you’re not getting your way’. I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Lyon said.

“It’ll be very consultative, and we’ll sit down – there’s obvious players that we all want to be able to play, and there might be a stage where we debate over a few, and that’ll be good.

“Scotty’s one of the great coaches of the modern era, so I’ll fall in line and I’m sure we’ll come up with a great squad.”

Lyon rated his own experiences in the Big V — alongside legends such as Gary Ablett Sr and Jason Dunstall — among some of the “great thrills” of his AFL career.

“I want that for these players, if it’s Caleb Serong coming back from Western Australia to walk in, or it’s Noah Anderson and Matt (Rowell) to walk in and sit alongside our modern day greats, that’s what I want them to be able to experience, because I know what it meant for me,” he said.

The Melbourne great has been somewhat of an ambassador for the return of State of Origin football for many a year.

During his career in the late 80s and 90s, State of Origin was at its peak before gradually fizzing out as clubs became more protective of their players and stars became reluctant to feature.

“There is genuine hatred,” Lyon said.

“The Victorians are always looked upon as being arrogant and full of themselves.

“We think we are the home of football and we want to demonstrate that on the 14th of February to West Australia.”

Two-time premiership Eagle Glen Jakovich was named Western Australia’s selector, setting up a fierce battle between the states.

The return of State of Origin after a 25-year absence promises to reignite one of Australian football’s most passionate rivalries.

– With The West Australian