AFL Origin: Caleb Serong says Victoria’s players were motivated by proving doubters of game’s return wrong

Fremantle dynamo Caleb Serong says the players from both teams spoke with their actions in Saturday night’s triumphant Origin return at Optus Stadium. That it’s back is not in dispute, says the Victorian. “It has to be,” Serong said, when asked if Origin would become a permanent fixture in the pre-season. That was confirmed by league boss Andrew Dillon on Sunday morning as Perth - and footy - basked in the glow of the showpiece event. Serong even said he had a gutful of questions around the commitment of players. “Everyone got sick of everyone asking whether the boys were going to have a crack or not. There was a bit of pushback from that,” he told The West Australian post-match. “If you’re if you’re questioning the kind of competitors and the kind of professionals that this calibre of people are, then that’s your first issue. “We wanted to go out and prove a few people wrong for questioning that. And I think everyone did tonight. I think we showed them Origin is here to stay.” “You can’t have an atmosphere and an energy and a game like that and not have it return. “The questions were around what was going to be like, what would the spectacle be, whether it was going to be an exhibition, what the energy levels from both teams were going to be? “I think everyone answered that, and for that reason, I think it’s here to stay. “The buy-in from every single person that got asked (to play). That’s enough.” Serong played through the midfield and half-forward, spending time on Fremantle teammates, West Australians Jordan Clark, Shai Bolton and Luke Jackson. He played three quarters of the game, with an unlimited interchange bench allowing coach Chris Scott to rotate a deep midfield, with 15 of his 21 possessions coming in a strong first half. He had score involvements for 440 metres gained. “That was a lot of fun and pretty surreal. The last few days have been awesome. Great core memories just to be able to hang out with this group of guys. And then once you run out there and you look around and see the calibre of players,” Serong said. “It was a big focus for us to really go out there and enjoy it and make the most of it. And I think we definitely did. “The crowd definitely made it, with the atmosphere, and the intensity of it, there was a fair bit going on. It was hot.” Serong said injuries were part of the game and he felt for Victoria and Carlton defender Jacob Weitering, who left the field in the first quarter with rib and shoulder injuries. “You saw what happened to Weiters and you don’t want to see that at all, but it was a commitment to a contest and that really set the tone. And I hope he’s alright, but it’s that’s the kind of commitment everyone had,” he said. WA had the first 16 possessions before a Victorian player could get on the stats sheet - and kicked the two opening goals before the Big V settled. “It was hot, and especially early, like we knew they were going to be up and about, they were going to be wound up and ready to go and their intensity was through the roof,” Serong said of the WA team. “We knew that late in quarters, we felt like with our midfielders we were going to rotate through, that we would get a look later in the quarters. And it pretty much showed that every single quarter. “We withstood a fair bit of their heat in the first half of the quarters and the back half of the quarters, our run really got us on top. “It would have been a good game to watch. It was pretty free-flowing, pretty open, and not many stoppages.” Serong said it was “cool” at times to look around and soak up the quality of his teammates, particularly in the midfield. “Guys like Noah Anderson and Bailey Smith and Hugh McCluggage on the wings and Zach Merrett, Zak Butters, Nick Daicos and everyone just spinning through,” he said. “It was an extremely selfless midfield to play for. Everyone was just happy to spin through, play half forward or play on the wing or play in the midfield. “That was the beauty of it. There wasn’t anyone making it about themselves. “When you get to this stage you wonder what it’s going to be like, what the environment’s going to be like, but everyone just leant into doing it for the team.” Serong lined up at half-forward opposed to Clark at the start of the match. “We were happy to have a smile on our face and kind of enjoy it, but I felt like they were pretty serious and wound up pretty tight,” he said. “But yeah, there was a bit of banter as game went on. “Playing on Dogga (Jackson) in the middle is good fun. I’ve done it all summer. So it was good to get him. “I love it. He’s going to create a few headaches for the opposition.” Get a FREE WA AAMI AFL Origin Guernsey worth RRP $130 when you sign up for a 12-month subscription to thewest.com.au Subscribe now from just $6 per week. T&Cs apply, limited time only. https://www.thewest.com.au/footypack