Fremantle Docker Andrew Brayshaw wants to play AFL Origin for Victoria alongside Max Gawn and Nick Daicos

Fremantle star Andrew Brayshaw has thrown up his hand to play for Victoria in next year’s State of Origin match against Western Australia, saying he and excited teammate Caleb Serong had an in-depth discussion about it over dinner on Tuesday night. Victoria will take on WA at Optus Stadium on February 14 in what will be the first AFL Origin game this century. Excitement is building after Dean Cox was announced as WA’s coach and Chris Scott was appointed to lead Victoria. Brayshaw told The West Australian that he was desperate to pull on the Big V jumper. “I had dinner with Caleb and we were talking about it. It would be pretty special. I would love to play,” Brayshaw said. “It might not happen for another couple of years so we might not get the opportunity again. To play alongside the Victorians we play against, would be special. If Chris (Scott) reads this, I want selection and so does Caleb.” Victoria’s midfield will be stacked. The top three placegetters in the Brownlow Medal - Matt Rowell, Nick Daicos and Bailey Smith are all from Victoria. Scott can also pick from 12 of the top 15 players in the AFL Coaches’ Association award from last season. They include household names such as Marcus Bontempelli, Max Gawn, Noah Anderson, Zak Butters and Serong. Dual Norm Smith medallist Will Ashcroft is another Victorian player. Brayshaw, who won the AFL Players’ Association MVP award in 2022, said knowing he could be playing alongside some of the biggest names in the AFL made the Origin game a tantalising prospect. “Bont would be amazing to play with,” Brayshaw said. “Nick Daicos would be awesome to play with. Getting to play with Max Gawn and Zak Butters - there are so many special guys. It will be so hard to pick a team. WA will be stacked too. It will be an awesome game. I think Optus will be packed out.” Brayshaw spent Wednesday morning at Revo Fitness in Claremont as part of a Lifeline promotion. Revo Fitness promised to donate 50c to Lifeline for every squat, lift or rep performed on a designated rack across five of their locations until 7pm on Wednesday. Revo Fitness raised $27,000 during their promotion in 2024 and obliterated that by donating more than $75,000 this year. “Mental health is such a big challenge that everyone faces. It’s not just footy clubs or people involved in sport,” Brayshaw said. “Every 30 seconds, someone in Australia is calling Lifeline . So to raise money to help people to get trained up and handle those really tricky calls to be able to help people who are going through a tough time is really important.” Brayshaw played for Fremantle against the Indigenous All Stars earlier this year and said that match showed the value of representative footy. While the Origin match will be played as part of the pre-season, he believes the competitive nature of the game’s best players means it will be treated extremely seriously. Brayshaw said every player will be desperate to prove themselves alongside other superstars and nobody will want an Origin loss on their resume. “I think it will be serious,” he said. “On paper, Victoria should be an absolutely star-studded line up and WA are going to be stacked as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a proper shoot out that is aggressive and strong and a big contest. “It’ll be free flowing footy because the standard is going to be elite. I think everyone will take it really seriously. If I am picked, I will be giving it my all.”