THE BEST state-league players from South Australia and Western Australia will face off for bragging rights when the SANFL and WAFL squads do battle at Adelaide Oval on from 3.10pm ACST on Friday.
The SANFL squad will be looking to back up their thrilling win in 2022, when they prevailed by just four points over the WAFL at Optus Stadium to claim the Haydn Bunton Cup.
Coached for the first time by Jade Rawlings, the SANFL side features a host of former AFL-listed players including Jez McLennan, Connor Ballenden, James Rowe, Martin Frederick and Liam McBean, while Sturt midfielder Tom Lewis will look to shine ahead of the AFL Mid-Season Draft on May 31.
>> WATCH THE SANFL v WAFL CLASH LIVE ON AFL.com.au and AFL LIVE OFFICIAL APP FROM 3.10PM ACST (1.40PM AWST, 3.40pm AEST)
The WAFL squad also features plenty of AFL experience, including Teia Miles, Jonathon Marsh, Mitch Crowden and Stefan Giro. AFL Mid-Season Draft hopeful Jack Buller will also continue to push his claims. Experienced coach Cam Shepherd will guide the WAFL squad.
The match marks the 98th time SA and WA have met in a State of Origin clash, with South Australian holding a narrow 49-48 edge in the head-to-head record.
WAFL coach Shepherd said he was confident in his side's chances of reversing the 2022 result, despite missing injured stars Leigh Kitchin and Bailey Rogers.
“There was really good spirit amongst the group at the side's main training session on Tuesday night, and we feel the side selected is well prepared to get a victory on Friday,” Shepherd said.
SANFL
B: Will Coomblas, Josh Ryan, Harrison Magor
HB: Casey Voss, Cameron Craig, Jez McLennan
C: Matthew Allen, Brett Turner, Frank Szekely
HF: James Rowe, Keenan Ramsey, Josh Hone
F: Eamon Wilkinson, Liam McBean, Connor Ballenden
R: Mitch Harvey, Joe Sinor, Mitch Hardie
INT: Harry Boyd, Darcy Bailey, Lachie Hosie, Martin Frederick, Tom Lewis
SANFL squad
Central: Jez McLennan
Woodville-West Torrens: Connor Ballenden, Mitch Hardie, James Rowe, Joe Sinor
Glenelg: Matthew Allen, Darcy Bailey, Lachie Hosie, Liam McBean, Max Proud, Brett Turner
North Adelaide: Cameron Craig, Mitch Harvey, Harrison Magor, Keenan Ramsey, Frank Szekely
Norwood: Harry Boyd
South Adelaide: Eamon Wilkinson
Sturt: Will Coomblas, Martin Frederick, Josh Hone, Tom Lewis, Connor McFadyen, Casey Voss
West Adelaide: Josh Ryan
WAFL
B: Noah Pegoraro, Matthew Jupp, Zac Guadagnin
HB: Cam Eardley, Chad Pearson, Michael Sinclair
C: Jesse Turner, Luke Meadows, Tom Blechynden
HF: Angus Scott, Jack Buller, Hamish Brayshaw
F: Milan Murdock, Ben Sokol, Mitchell Dobson
R: Oliver Eastland, Angus Schumacher, Mitch Crowden
INT: Toby McQuilkin, Teia Miles, Ben Hancock, Stef Giro, Jonathon Marsh
WAFL squad
Claremont: Oliver Eastland, Teia Miles, Jack Buller
East Fremantle: Matthew Jupp, Milan Murdock, Cam Eardley, Jonathon Marsh
East Perth: Angus Schumacher, Angus Scott, Mitch Crowden, Hamish Brayshaw
Peel Thunder: Ben Hancock
Perth: Michael Sinclair
South Fremantle: Toby McQuilkin, Tom Blechynden, Chad Pearson
Subiaco: Stefan Giro, Ben Sokol
Swan Districts: Jesse Turner
West Perth: Luke Meadows, Mitch Dobson, Noah Pegoraro, Zac Guadagnin