State of Origin Rebooted: Lance Franklin leads WA to upset win over Victoria

Lance Franklin covered himself in glory as he led Western Australia to a stunning upset victory over a highly-fancied Victoria in State of Origin Rebooted.

Coming 25 years after the last match between the great rivals, Franklin kicked five goals to spearhead WA’s exhilarating 13-point win over the Big V, 18.11 (119) to 16.10 (106). The match was simulated by a team of experts at Champion Data.

The Sydney superstar claimed the Simpson Medal as his side’s best, while the EJ Whitten Medal went to Scott Pendlebury for his 27-possession game, which included seven clearances, seven tackles and a goal.

Franklin kicked two crucial goals in a frenetic last quarter, helping steady the Sandgropers as the Big V threatened a memorable comeback from 30 points down at the final change.

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Brownlow medallists Nat Fyfe and Matt Priddis were also instrumental late, putting aside their western derby rivalry to stand up to an intimidating Victorian on-ball division that had been dominant for much of the night.

Having both been well held, Fyfe and Priddis rose to the challenge and had 21 disposals between them in the final term. West Coast workhorse Priddis finished with a game-high eight clearances.

WA and Fremantle skipper Fyfe had 26 possessions, six clearances and a goal to square another titanic duel with Patrick Dangerfield, who was one of Victoria’s best with 31 disposals and six clearances.

Victorian pair Marcus Bontempelli (33 disposals) and Zach Merrett (29) led a dramatic late surge for the Vics, who kicked 6.0 in the final term only to be denied by the brilliance of Franklin.

Franklin, who grew up in the wheatbelt town of Dowerin, left the State as a teenager after being taken by Hawthorn in the 2004 national draft. He was one of 10 players in the victorious team who play for clubs outside of WA, with the Eagles and Dockers each having six representatives.

Key defensive pair Alex Rance and Jeremy McGovern stood up in a series of key moments as Victoria bombarded the WA defence with 18 inside-50 entries in the last quarter.

The Black Swans’ defence was often under the pump, with the all-star Victorian midfield winning 14 more clearances to set up a 53-47 edge in the inside 50 count.

Victoria’s triple-threat of Jeremy Cameron (five goals), Tom Lynch (four) and Joe Daniher (two) combined for 11 of their 16 goals.

But the efficient WA forward line matched that and more. Boasting five Coleman medals between them, Franklin and West Coast talisman Josh Kennedy (three) combined for eight goals to fulfil Fyfe’s pre-match prediction that his key forwards could prove unstoppable.

Despite having less supply, the Sandgropers took 20 marks inside 50 to the Big V’s 10, underlining the key position power at coach John Worsfold’s disposal. Franklin, Kennedy and Greater Western Sydney big man Rory Lobb, who kicked one goal and had 10 score involvements, took 20 marks between them.

The support cast was also influential, with Michael Walters kicking three goals to go with his 22 possessions, while Collingwood’s Alex Fasolo added two. At the other end, Victorian small forwards Eddie Betts and Robbie Gray were both held goalless.

The West Australians laid a strong platform for the triumph with a clinical opening term, booting six goals to open up a shock 23-point lead at quarter-time and give Victoria coach Luke Beveridge an early headache.

The Vics worked their way into it to close the gap to 16 points at the major break.

But WA never relinquished their lead as ruck pair Aaron Sandilands and Paddy Ryder did their best to limit the midfield damage as they won the hit-out battle against Shane Mumford.

WA kicked five goals to three in the third term, extending their advantage to five goals at the final change before withstanding Victoria’s last-quarter fightback.

Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell had a superb four-quarters for WA, with five clearances, seven tackles and 37 possessions.