Players added to Kia WAFL State Squad

South Fremantle’s Marlion Pickett and East Fremantle’s George Hampson have been added to the 2018 Kia WAFL State Squad for this weekend’s State Game against the South Australian National Football League in Adelaide.

The game will be played at Adelaide Oval at 11.40am WA time on Saturday May 12 as a curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide v Adelaide AFL Showdown. The game will be streamed live on the WAFL website and WAFL App and simulcast on radio in WA via Sport FM 91.3fm.

Pickett and Hampson both trained with the squad at Fremantle Oval last night after South Fremantle’s Ben Saunders, Ashton Hams, and Haiden Schloithe were all forced to withdraw with injuries.

Other outs include South Fremantle teammates Ryan Cook and Nick Suban, Subiaco defender Jordan Lockyer, Swan Districts’ Kirk Ugle and East Fremantle’s Jayden Schofield.

The squad will train again on Wednesday night and Thursday night, with a final 23 to be selected for Friday morning’s flight to Adelaide.

Successful 2017 WAFL State Coach Michael Broadbridge, who led WA to an historic win over the VFL in Melbourne last year, will be at the helm again joined by assistant coaches Steve Malaxos, Gary Moss and Beau Wardman.

Broadbridge said the game would also be a great chance for players to experience playing at Adelaide Oval and showcase their talent as WA aims to record another away win over a fierce interstate rival.

“Playing the game as an AFL curtain raiser is a great opportunity and I’m sure there will be a big hometown crowd supporting the local team, so it’s definitely going to be a challenge.

“I have no doubt we will see two very competitive teams that will have a similar make-up in terms of talent and experience. It’s a big opportunity for the WAFL to firm up our position as what we believe is the best State League competition in Australia. 

“It will also be a great opportunity for players, like Tim Kelly did last year, to show how they can perform and potentially open doors to the AFL.”

WA is aiming for its first State Game win in South Australia since 1994.

KIA WAFL STATE SQUAD

Claremont – Jye Bolton, Kane Mitchell.

East Fremantle – George Hampson, Jonathon Marsh.

East Perth – Sharrod Wellingham.

Perth – Cody Leggett.

Peel Thunder – Gerald Ugle.

South Fremantle – Brock Higgins, Blaine Johnson, Marlion Pickett.

Subiaco – Lachlan Delahunty, Aaron Heal, Kyal Horsley, Leigh Kitchin, Angus Litherland, Chris Phelan, Ben Sokol, Brad Stevenson, Rhys Waters.

Swan Districts – Cory Gault, Tony Notte, Rhys Palmer.

West Perth – Aaron Black, Luke Meadows, Shane Nelson, Andrew Strijk.

WHAT’S AT STAKE
The teams are playing for the Haydyn Bunton Jnr Cup, currently held by Western Australia
Haydyn Bunton Jnr
·  Played 153 games in SA (54 Games North, 97 games Norwood.)
·  Played 148 games in WA (89 games Swan Districts, 59 games Subicaco
·  Coached 5 premierships (Swan Districts 1961,62 & 63, Subiaco 1986 & 88).
·  Senior coach over five decades— Norwood 1957-58, Swan Districts 1961-64, Subicao 1968-73, South Adelaide 1975-82 &
Sturt 1992-94.

WAFL RECENT FORM
·  WA has won its last 5 state games—VFL in 2013 & 2017, NEAFL in 2014, Tasmania in 2016 and SANFL in 2015.
·  Last year  defeated the VFL in Victoria for the first ever time, in 24th attempt.
·  WAFL have not won in SA since 1994, lost last 4 in Adelaide

SANFL RECENT FORM
·  Have won 8 of their last 10 state games dating back to 2003
·  Their only 2 losses have been to WA in WA (Lathlain 2015, Leederville 2009)
·  SA has not lost a home interstate game since 2002 (v VFL), since 1991 they are 9-2 at home.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
·  All up, state league and state of origin, 93 matches have been played with WA leading 47 wins to 46.
·  Since 1991, as a state league contest, SA lead the series 7-5, with a 5-1 record in Adelaide

LIVE STREAM
·  The game will be live streamed on the WAFL App and www.wafl.com.au

RADIO BROADCAST : SPORT FM 91.3
·  Adelaide's LIFE 107.9 FM call will be simulcast in WA on Sport FM 91.3
·  Commentary team will be Doug Oakley, Chris Kendall & John Townsend.