AFL Origin: Graham Moss Medal resurrected, to be presented to Western Australia’s best against Victoria

Western Australia are resurrecting the Graham Moss Medal for the return of AFL Origin, with the State’s best performer in the match set to win the prestigious prize. The West Australian can confirm that the medal will be part of the post-game presentations for the historic clash between the Sandgropers and Victoria at Optus Stadium on February 14. It has not been awarded since WA’s last State of Origin match back in 1998, when former Fremantle captain and dual North Melbourne premiership star Peter Bell won it in a 36-point loss to South Australia. The medal is in honour of WA football great Graham Moss, who played more than 250 games for Claremont and was the first West Australian to win the Brownlow Medal in 1976 while playing for Essendon. Moss also represented WA 23 times and captained the side in the inaugural State of Origin game when WA smashed Victoria by 94 points at Subiaco Oval in 1977. The medal was first presented in 1995 when it was won by Tony Evans, with Bell, Scott Cummings and Derek Kickett the other winners. Moss told The West Australian he would be on hand to present the medal to WA’s best on ground. “It was very heartening news for me to hear,” Moss said. “It was probably one of the shortest-lived medals of all time, with State of Origin being phased out only four years after the medal was first awarded. “I am very honoured to have it reinstated, particularly as I was heavily involved with the first State of Origin game as the captain and it’s great to see it back.” Meanwhile, the best player for Victoria will be presented the E.J. Whitten Medal, which was last won by North Melbourne great Brent Harvey in 1999. There will be a voting panel selected to award both medals, with participants to be confirmed. It comes after the match was this week officially declared a sell-out, with close to 60,000 fans set to flock to the game. A host of star players have already been selected, with WA to be represented by Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps, Fremantle ruckman Luke Jackson as well as Sydney superstar Chad Warner. The strong Victorian line-up will include Collingwood’s Nick Daicos, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and eight-time All-Australian and Geelong Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield. The final squads are set to be confirmed in the coming weeks, with WA to be coached by West Coast great and Sydney coach Dean Cox, while dual Geelong premiership leader Chris Scott is in charge of the Big V.