The support acts in the coaches' box for next year's State of Origin game between Victoria and Western Australia have been announced by the AFL.
Alongside Geelong coach Chris Scott in the Victorian coaching box will be his preliminary final opponent Sam Mitchell from Hawthorn, while Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir will coach alongside Sydney coach Dean Cox for Western Australia.
The decision means Mitchell will coach against his star defender Tom Barrass, while Longmuir will remain coaching his electric forward Shai Bolton.
Both coaches expressed their excitement to be part of next year's game.
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"Having spent most of my playing and coaching career in Western Australia, representing WA means a great deal to me," Longmuir said.
"We’re a proud football state, and working alongside Dean (Cox) is an exciting opportunity to help bring Origin footy back — and hopefully knock off the Vics."
Meanwhile, Mitchell was similarly excited to join Chris Scott in the coaches' box.
“I am honoured to have the chance to work alongside Chris," he said.
"He is a highly respected and credentialled coach, and to help build and coach a team that reflects the pride and tradition of Victorian football is a really exciting proposition.”
Scott and Mitchell will be coaching a wealth of Victorian talent, which includes Marcus Bontempelli, Matt Rowell, Zak Butters, Jeremy Cameron and Nick Daicos.
Their opponents meanwhile will be led by both Barrass and Bolton, as well as fellow stars of the competition Patrick Cripps, Aaron Naughton and Chad Warner. Melbourne superstar Kysaiah Pickett has also reportedly been granted eligibility by the AFL to represent Western Australia, despite playing his junior football in South Australia.
More players are expected to be announced over the coming weeks.
The game is set to be played on February 14 next year at Optus Stadium.