{"id":269434,"date":"2025-11-07T19:26:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T19:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/269434\/"},"modified":"2025-11-07T19:26:28","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T19:26:28","slug":"chief-victorian-selector-garry-lyon-has-harley-reid-on-his-mind-for-afls-state-of-origin-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/269434\/","title":{"rendered":"Chief Victorian selector Garry Lyon has Harley Reid on his mind for AFL\u2019s State of Origin return"},"content":{"rendered":"

Melbourne<\/a> legend Garry Lyon has been named the chief selector of Victoria ahead of the AFL\u2019s State of Origin<\/a> return in February next year.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Lyon wants to cement Victoria\u2019s reign as the AFL\u2019s premier state when the representative match, but he also wants to see emerging superstar Harley Reid in the Big V.<\/p>\n

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If the selectors choose players based on 2025 form, it\u2019s hard to see Reid making the top 20 or so Victorian players.<\/p>\n

However, Lyon says there are other things to take into account.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan 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,\u201d Lyon said on his SEN program.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be the best thing that ever happened to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout pre-empting anything, I could see how that would be a great thing for Harley and the game and the promotion of the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, Lyon is hopeful coach Chris Scott will be open to including some rising talent.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think there\u2019ll be any time where I walk in and slam the table and say, \u2018you\u2019re not getting your way\u2019. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Lyon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be very consultative, and we\u2019ll sit down \u2013 there\u2019s 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\u2019ll be good.<\/p>\n

\u201cScotty\u2019s one of the great coaches of the modern era, so I\u2019ll fall in line and I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll come up with a great squad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lyon rated his own experiences in the Big V \u2014 alongside legends such as Gary Ablett Sr and Jason Dunstall \u2014 among some of the \u201cgreat thrills\u201d of his AFL career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want that for these players, if it\u2019s Caleb Serong coming back from Western Australia to walk in, or it\u2019s Noah Anderson and Matt (Rowell) to walk in and sit alongside our modern day greats, that\u2019s what I want them to be able to experience, because I know what it meant for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Melbourne great has been somewhat of an ambassador for the return of State of Origin football for many a year.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is genuine hatred,\u201d Lyon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Victorians are always looked upon as being arrogant and full of themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think we are the home of football and we want to demonstrate that on the 14th of February to West Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two-time premiership Eagle Glen Jakovich was named Western Australia\u2019s selector, setting up a fierce battle between the states.<\/p>\n

The return of State of Origin after a 25-year absence promises to reignite one of Australian football\u2019s most passionate rivalries.<\/p>\n

– With The West Australian<\/p>\n

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