AFL State of Origin is set for a return next February.

After months of speculation, 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary has confirmed Saturday, February 14 as the day that state footy will make its long awaited return after what will be 27 years by then.

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Cleary revealed it will be Western Australia that takes on the Big V when the game kicks off next year.

“All parties are in the final stages of negotiation that will see WA host Victoria at Optus Stadium,” Cleary told 7NEWS Melbourne on Monday night,

“7NEWS understands the AFL and WA government held productive talks late last week, the last haggling down to the exact split on who foots the bill, and gate-takings.

“The will likely see Harley Reid the star attraction for Victoria, in Perth. The headlines just write themselves.

“The game is expected to count towards the players’ pre-season schedule, excusing them from a club pre-season game.”

The Agenda Setters’ Carlton Wilson reported in May that AFL captains had expressed a desire for an event this year, but the league did not want to shoehorn it into an already full calendar.

“I reckon it’s going to happen and I reckon it’s going to happen in February next year. And I reckon it’s going to be West Australia versus Victoria.” Wilson said at the time.

“The AFL captains said they wanted it earlier this year. The AFL want to be convinced that (the 18 club captains) are going to support this.”

Before AFL State of Origin was scrapped, the great rivalry over the years was between Victoria and South Australia, with the Victoria and Western Australia rivalry a close second.

“I think because obviously Adelaide has Gather Round at the moment, and that’s going to happen again at least next year, and we think for many years to come, I think the view is WA versus Victoria would be the perfect fit for next February,” Wilson said in May.

The buzz around State of Origin started earlier this year when the Indigenous All Stars took on Fremantle at Optus Stadium in an exhibition match in February.

In 2020, an exhibition game was played between Victoria and a combined All-Stars team as a bushfire-relief charity game.