SA Footy

Adelaide Oval, Friday 19th May @ 3.10pm

By ZAC MILBANK

The 2023 West End State team will feature 13 debutants to confront the WAFL in the Kia State Game at Adelaide Oval on Friday afternoon.

Croweaters coach Jade Rawlings will have a host of uncapped talent at his disposal with the likes of James Rowe, Brett Turner, Tom Lewis and Mitch Hardie certain to have an impact around the ball.

Wings Frank Szekely and Marty Frederick, named on the interchange, will use their blistering pace for the first time while premiership veteran Mitch Harvey will be itching to don the cherished red guernsey in the ruck for the first time.

Heart-warming stories abound in the SANFL back six, with experienced pair Josh Ryan and Cameron Craig poised to hold down the key defensive posts while Darcy Bailey and Harrison Magor get their chance as small defenders.

Magor’s gradual rise is a stunning success story considering he played an entire season of reserves at the Roosters in 2021 before claiming the Powerade Breakthrough Player award last year, ahead of his maiden State team berth in 2023.

Craig and Ryan will be without the assistance of joint vice-captain Max Proud, who will be unable to string together his fourth consecutive State appearance due to a calf complaint.

SA’s other vice-captain, Liam McBean, will again be a focal point in attack alongside fellow tall Connor Ballenden, with the pair likely to spend the majority of time inside 50m as Jack Oatey Medallist Harry Boyd shares the ruck with Harvey.

The WAFL will be without at least eight players from its initial squad, including Sandover Medallist Bailey Rogers, who has an ankle injury.

The Sandgropers’ captain from last year, Leigh Kitchin, is also missing with a hamstring ailment.

Former Port Adelaide wing Taj Schofield was unable to recover from injury last weekend but there will be two Croweaters lining up for the Black Swans on home soil.

Sturt draftee Mitch Crowden will line-up in the centre square for the visitors while Norwood junior Stefan Giro is among the five players on the extended interchange.

A curtain-raiser for the Port Adelaide v Melbourne AFL match, the Kia State Game begins at 3.10pm.

It will be streamed live and free on SANFL Now and the AFL Live Official App and AFL.com.au, as well as a live radio broadcast on 1629 SEN SA and the SEN App.

West End State Team
F: Wilkinson, McBean, Ballenden

HF: Rowe, Ramsey, Hone

C: Allen, Turner, Szekely

HB: Voss, Craig, McLennan

B: Coomblas, J. Ryan, Magor

R: Harvey, Sinor, Hardie

INT: Boyd, Bailey, Hosie, Frederick, Lewis

DEBUT: James Rowe (Eagles), Josh Hone (Sturt), Brett Turner (Glenelg), Frank Szekely (North), Cameron Craig (North), Jez McLennan (Central), Josh Ryan (West), Harrison Magor (North), Mitch Harvey (North), Mitch Hardie (Eagles), Darcy Bailey (Glenelg), Marty Frederick (Sturt), Tom Lewis (Sturt)

How can the State game be promoted as a curtain raiser to the AFL game
The state game ends 2 hours before the AFL game, Port supporters won't turn up 2 hours early to watch the game, and the hardy supporters of the state team have to hang around for 2 hours if they want to watch the Port game
A true curtain raiser would have no more than 30 minutes between games, with the precious AFL teams having their kick and catch out the back or at 3 quarter time
and we will be surprised by the small crowd

Scheduling a total farce, enough said.

Please don't get injured Jezz.

where's max proud?

Backman wrote:How can the State game be promoted as a curtain raiser to the AFL game
The state game ends 2 hours before the AFL game, Port supporters won't turn up 2 hours early to watch the game, and the hardy supporters of the state team have to hang around for 2 hours if they want to watch the Port game
A true curtain raiser would have no more than 30 minutes between games, with the precious AFL teams having their kick and catch out the back or at 3 quarter time
and we will be surprised by the small crowd

They are playing the Power Cup after the State game, who is making these decisions? If you are going to do this at least make it the curtain raiser so the lads will be playing in front of a few thousand at least.

As I've said elsewhere, a state game played in the traditional time slot of 3pm Friday afternoon.

What a joke.

Best of luck to the Sturt boys and yes, as others have said, don't get injured.

Just for interest, is ANYONE televising the state game?

Is this the SANFL equivalent of "what if anyone gave a party, and no-one came"?

stampy wrote:where's max proud?

Late withdrawal - calf tightness

whybother wrote:Just for interest, is ANYONE televising the state game?

The usual SANFL Now and AFL.com.au / AFL App will be streaming it, but no coverage on Channel 7, no.

It is also being covered on radio via 1629am SEN and SEN App.

In fairness a lot of games against WA used to be on Tuesday afternoons so a Friday is an improvement!
At least I'm working from home today!

Only reason it’s been played before an AFL game as it gives recruiters a chance to look at players for the mid season draft.

pmackk wrote:Only reason it’s been played before an AFL game as it gives recruiters a chance to look at players for the mid season draft.

They can do that where ever the State would have been played, Adelaide oval, Norwood oval or a local district footy comp oval.

Should have been played on the Saturday with the following games played -

Curtain-Raiser: SA U18s v WA U18s - Round 1 of the National Championship
Main Game: SA v WA

and an option for a 3rd game could be getting a state game with the SANFLW v WAFLW

Bluedemon wrote:Should have been played on the Saturday with the following games played -

Curtain-Raiser: SA U18s v WA U18s - Round 1 of the National Championship
Main Game: SA v WA

and an option for a 3rd game could be getting a state game with the SANFLW v WAFLW

Seems to all be about money - players voted they wanted game played at Adelaide Oval, SANFL lost a fortune holding game previously one out, so only option as curtain raiser to AFL. Not ideal for anyone really

Are there live scores showing anywhere? I don't have access to the app or sanflnow.

Thanks

Qtr time

SA 3.2
McBean (2)
Ramsey

WA 2.6
Giro
Sokol

Inside 50's
WA 15
SA 8

SANFL 10PTS

WAFL love the handball