"Full tilt": Warner declares WA's intent to attack AFL Origin

The potential in AFL Origin rides solely on the competitive nature between Victoria and WA, and from a WA perspective, holding back won’t be an option.

As the two sides prepare for their first official state call-ups, questions have circled around willingness to compete given the pre-season nature of the clash.

Taking place three weeks prior to the AFL season opener, it’s expected that players will be told to hold back in their output to minimise any risks of injuries, with reports already suggesting that a range of players will have their minutes reduced by their respective clubs.

That said, Western Australian representative players aren’t prepared to go easy, according to Sydney and WA star Chad Warner.

“I don’t know if we will be told to pull back,” Warner told SEN WA Breakfast.

“‘Coxy’ (Dean Cox, Sydney coach) hasn’t told me to pull back at all yet which is good.

“Even if you are told, it’s kind of hard when the competition comes the moment the ball is there to be won. At the end of the day, if you go a bit half hearted, you’re usually the one who ends up second best anyway.

“If we want to keep it as something that continues on for years in the future, you’ve got to have a really good crack.

“From my point of view, I can’t speak for players who are managing minutes and stuff like that, but from our group chat that we have with the WA team, the vibe I’m getting is that everyone is ready to go full tilt.

“Back in our day, in U18’s, we used to hate the Vics back then too. I don’t think things have changed at all.”

As for those who are expected to be withheld by clubs, Warner has eluded to the fact that all healthy players will hit the contest with full intent.

“I’m honestly not too sure who will be under that cloud, but I know that there will be a lot of us – Crippa (Patrick Cripps), for example, I’m pretty sure he will be on as many minutes as he can, he let us know that.

“All the boys that are fit and don’t have anything wrong with them, they’ve got a full 120 minutes. It’s just whoever has a niggle or anything like that (that will be managed).”

Origin is locked in for Saturday the 14th of February at Optus Stadium.