West Australian key defender Tom Barrass says Saturday’s AFL Origin clash with Victoria at Optus Stadium won’t be won and lost in the coach’s box.
The premiership Eagle, now plying his craft at Hawthorn, said the calibre of players on both teams would dictate the style of play in the first Origin game in more than a quarter of a century in front of a sell-out crowd.
“I think Coxy (WA coach Dean Cox) will have his hands off the wheel, to be honest,” Barrass said.
“I think with this calibre of players and such little preparation, it’ll be a lot of common sense playing.
“I imagine there’ll be some structures and some philosophies around how we want to play as a team.
“I don’t really know if we’d tag anyone, but who are you picking to tag, right?
“Like, there’s, there’s guns everywhere on both sides. So I think the brand of footy will probably be a bit more simple, a bit more contested, probably a finals type style of footy, like it is when you have this many good players on the field.”
The two squads assembled for the first time on Wednesday night after the bulk of the Victorian players and a handful of West Australians arrived at Perth Airport.
Barrass joined the Hawks for the start of last season after 10 years as a West Coast player.
“I’m a very proud West Australian. It hurt me a lot to leave, and I’ve loved my time in Victoria, but to be able to come back here with my kids, share this experience … it’s an honour to be able to represent Western Australia as a footballer, like I did at 18, play with some of my mates who we’ve not played together for 12 or 13 years.”
He was most looking forward to reuniting with WA 18s teammates Darcy Cameron (Collingwood) and dual Brownlow medallist and WA captain Patrick Cripps (Carlton).
He tipped Cameron would be a handful for Victorian ruckman Max Gawn.
“I can’t wait to play with my boy, Darcy Cameron, who’s going to give Maxi a touch up and Paddy Cripps as well,” he said.
“We played together under 18s and I’ve admired those guys and the way they’ve gone about it. We’ve lived on opposite sides of the country for a long time, so I think it’s great to play with my friends, but I’ve admired all the players that have made both the terms for a long time, and so it’s just gonna be great to get out there and strap the boots on and compete. “
Silken Sydney speedster Chad Warner was similarly excited about playing alongside old WA junior teammates Trent Rivers (Melbourne), Luke Jackson (Fremantle) and Mitch Georgiades.
“I’m very keen to play with them again and hopefully hit Mitch up a few times in the forward line,” he said.
