Lawson Humphries is all in on Western Australian pride for this weekend's return of Origin footy and his first time in the iconic state strip, and he won't cop any suggestions it's the Vics' game to lose.
Barely 18 months on from Humphries' AFL debut the 22-year-old has earned more representative footy honours than many of his peers. This time last year, and just 11 games into his senior career, he ran out with the Indigenous All Stars for their first match in a decade.
In Boorloo (Perth) on Saturday, he'll take part in Origin's return after a near 26 year omission from the sport's calendar.
That game in May 1999 saw Victoria rack up a heavy win over South Australia.
WA last featured in an Origin fixture a year earlier. Their most recent game against Victoria dates back to 1992.
Victoria have put together a couple of sides this century; for 2008's recognition of 150 years of Australian Rules Football and 2020's Bushfire Relief Match against the 'Dream Team' and 'All Stars' respectively.
While star underage players have retained the chance to represent their states at National Championships, Humphries wasn't one of them at draft age.
He told National Indigenous Times when Origin's return was announced, he wasn't certain he'd be in line for a spot in WA's squad, but was "stoked" to get the call.
While it might be a cliché, the young Cats gun said, Humphries' biggest supporters and advocates - his family - is who'll he be representing in the jumper.
Humphries was able to hold onto his club guernsey no. 17 for Saturday. Had it been taken, he had a pretty good back up.
It would have been the number his grandfather and West Perth premiership player Brian Humphries wore during a couple of state games back in the 1950s.
"I think that's probably the most special bit about it. To continue the legacy, and probably to make my own as well, which I'm super excited to do," he said.
"I had his number as a backup if I couldn't get mine, so either way, it was going to be super cool. I'm just excited to be able to represent him, represent the family, and then to continue to build my legacy."
From the early days of state games and later State of Origin, WA wins against Victoria had been hard to come by.
Humphries said there's a desire to prove pundits are wrong about the home side coming in as underdogs.
While Victoria boasts an advantage on All Australian selections, best-and-fairests, top 10 draft picks and Brownlow Medallists in their squad - and the likes of Max Gawn, Marcus Bomtempelli, Nick Daicos, Matt Rowell and Bailey Smith likely to fill their midfield, WA are bringing their own best into the contest.
The West edges out the Vics for total premierships won, and potency in front of the sticks - both with total AFL goals kicked and players with 50-plus goal seasons.
WA will also see a handful of Humphries' former Indigenous All Stars teammates come home for the game. That includes Kysaiah Pickett, Shai Bolton, Charlie Cameron, Callum Ah Chee and Brad Hill.
Growing up, it's hard to avoid little feelings of not enough attention being paid to the West, maybe even disrespect as a footy state, out of Victoria, Humphries said.
"We're on the other side of the country, and people kind of forget about us a bit. We're a really proud state, and I'm obviously very proud of my upbringing and WA. It's so important for me. So I'm super excited, and it's not lost on me," he said.
"You're playing in front of family and friends, and you're going to be in front of a big West Australian crowd. We don't want to let them down," Humphries added, "It'll definitely be taken seriously. And I know we're going to be pretty pumped to try and sort the Vics out."
Arriving at the Cats from WAFL club Swan Districts with pick 63 in 2023 draft, after impressive early days in the VFL Humphries quickly established himself in the senior team through a string of AFL games late in 2024, including finals.
He added 25 games and an unsuccessful grand final appearance in 2025.
Within it came the Indigenous All Stars call up, and now, the WA side.
"I missed out on the state 18s... and after that, I thought that it was probably the last time I'd ever have an opportunity to play state football. (Also) the Indigenous All Stars, I feel very lucky," he said.
"I've only been in the system for three years, and I managed to play in two really exciting exhibition games where I'm representing two really significant parts of my life."
Humphries put pen-to-paper on an extension at the place "becoming home" over the summer.
Locked in at Geelong until at least the end of 2028, he's looking to build on a few aspects of his game as a damaging player coming out of the Cats' backline.
