Overview

• The league set the fixture as a standalone pre-season exhibition at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
• Key settings are still to be finalised, including player eligibility, squad sizes and event arrangements.
• The AFL Commission is expected to consider trials such as last-disposal out of bounds, larger squads and unlimited interchanges for the match.
• The game is being positioned to count toward players’ pre-season workloads, potentially replacing a separate club hit-out.
• South Australia has opened talks to stage a 2027 Origin in the same February window, and the AFL has flagged representative football for AFLW next season.