VFL out to end SANFL dominance in Gather Round state representative match

It’s been much longer since the Big V conquered the SANFL.

Tomorrow’s Gather Round clash at Glenelg is the first meeting between the state leagues since 2016 at Adelaide Oval, when the host state won by 19 points. It extended the SANFL’s run of wins victories over the VFL to five matches.

The Vics last defeated the SANFL in 2002, a 56-point romp under the coaching of Gerard FitzGerald and the captaincy of Josh Mahoney (now one of the AFL’s key administrators).

FitzGerald, always a great supporter of state football, was watching on at North Port Oval in 2017 when the VFL last played a rep game, against the WAFL. It was a rugged afternoon for the hosts, routed by 63 points.

“The Day The Big V Died,’’ the West Australian newspaper headlined WAFL writer John Townsend’s match report.

He declared that the VFL had “little identity, pride or role other than as a training ground for fringe AFL players’’.

As one club general manager described it two years later, the VFL went into “hibernation’’ after the thumping.

The second Gather Round has brought the VFL-SANFL fixture back. “First and foremost, we want to win,’’ VFL operations manager Sam Sheehan remarked to coach Zane Littlejohn in their first conversation about selection.

“That was the first thing we were looking at it in regards to the balance of the squad,’’ Littlejohn told CODE Sports.

“The AFL want to win, the VFL want to win, so let’s pick a team to do that.’’

Along the way, Littlejohn said, he hoped a young player or two could catch the eye of recruiters and pop up in mid-season draft discussions.

The selectors, headed by chair Nigel Carmody, had only the practice matches and two rounds of the season to stitch the side together.

Similarly, Littlejohn and his assistants – Adam Skrobalak (Port Melbourne), Ben Hudson (Brisbane) and Stevie Daniel (Southport) – will have had only two training sessions with the players before they run on to Stratarama Stadium.

They had a run yesterday afternoon at Arden St, are training at Carlton at lunchtime today and will fly to Adelaide tonight.

Littlejohn said the players would to some degree coach themselves.

“The thing I’ve spoken to the boys about is, they’re not picked in this team because they stand in the right spot,’’ he said.

“They’re picked in this team because they’re talented.

“There will be a fair bit of ownership back on them about how they play. The question I asked them last night … I want them to come back to me saying what they want to be remembered for as a VFL player and team and how they want to play the game.’’

Littlejohn is mindful that for some players, the state game will be “their grand final, the highlight of their footy careers’’.

“They work flat-out, eight, nine, 10-hour days, and then go to footy training, just to challenge themselves to be the best players they can and to play against the best.

“For them to have this sort of opportunity and play at an even higher level will be great reward for them.

“I want them to be proud to pull on the jumper and be really connected and close and organised.

“If that’s the case, we’ll give a really good account of ourselves.’’

He is expecting “formidable opposition’’ from the SANFL. Woodville-West Torrens premiership defender Joseph Sinor will lead the Croweaters, reappointed after leading them out in last year’s win against the WAFL in Adelaide.

The SANFL team includes former AFL Bomber Will Snelling and Magarey Medal star Harry Grant. Seven players from Glenelg’s 2023 premiership have gained selection.

“They’ll be very good,’’ Littlejohn said of the SANFL. “They’ve picked a few Glenelg boys in their squad and Glenelg kicked 23 goals last weekend at Glenelg Oval against Port Adelaide.

“They’ll have quality players who can hurt you in front of the ball and hurt you on the ball and behind the ball. They’ve got weapons on every line.

“But we’ll go with the attitude of, ‘Why not us, let’s have a good crack at it and really try to dish it up to them’. We want to challenge them to beat us, not just roll out and have the game their way.’’

He said the VFL team could look to captain Dom Brew for inspiration for the match: “I think he epitomises how we’d like to play our footy … tough, try to win the contest and be really clean and energise the footy on the outside.’’

The state match lines up two Tasmanians in the coaching roles, Littlejohn and Norwood premiership mentor and former AFL player Jade Rawlings. Littlejohn, 37, grew up following the career of Rawlings, 46.

“He won’t remember this, but Jade and his brother Brady actually signed a footy for me one day,’’ Littlejohn said with a laugh.

“I had another connection with him when he was coaching Casey and Jay Lockhart went across and joined them. I’ve watched him on his journey and admired him from afar. It’s been nice to see him do well and it’s been nice to see Tasmanians take over footy!’’

Werribee has a league-high seven players in the team, which also includes 2023 AFL-listers Trent Bianco (Footscray Bulldogs), Tom Highmore (Port Melbourne), Ned Long (Collingwood), Roarke Smith (Port Melbourne) and Lachie Young (Carlton).

VFL TEAM

1. Dom Brew, Werribee

5. Callum Brown, Box Hill Hawks

6. Jack Watkins, North Melbourne

7. Sam Lowson, North Melbourne

8. Jack Henderson, Werribee

9. Louis Pinnuck, Werribee

10. Boyd Woodcock, Southport Sharks

11. Ben Jepson, Southport Sharks

12. Jacob Dawson, Southport Sharks

13. Kye Declase, Werribee

14. George Grey, Frankston

15. Trent Bianco, Footscray Bulldogs

17. Nick Hayes, Werribee

18. Roarke Smith, Port Melbourne

25. Lachlan Young, Carlton

26. Campbell Hustwaite, Casey Demons

27. Mitch White, Casey Demons

28. Ned Long, Collingwood

33. Tom Highmore, Port Melbourne

34. Hudson Garoni, Werribee

36. Nathan Cooper, Werribee

37. Brayden Crossley, Southport Sharks

39. Hugh Dixon, Southport Sharks

EMERGENCY

2. Callum Porter, Box Hill Hawks

SANFL TEAM

1. Frank Szekely, North Adelaide

2. Will Snelling, Sturt

3. Harry Grant, Central District

6. Casey Voss, Sturt

7. Riley Knight, Eagles

8. Corey Lyons, Glenelg

9. Darcy Bailey, Glenelg

10. Joseph Sinor, Eagles

11. Harrison Wigg, North Adelaide

12. Baynen Lowe, Norwood

13. Aiden Grace, Central District

14. Mitchell O’Neill, Norwood

16. James Rowe, Eagles

17. Luke Reynolds, Glenelg

18. Jez McLennan, Central District

19. Josh Ryan, West Adelaide

20. Lachie Hosie, Glenelg

21. Max Proud, Glenelg

22. Matthew Allen, Glenelg

23. Jack Heard, Norwood

25. Jackson Callow, Norwood

26. Harry Boyd, Norwood

27. Karl Finlay, North Adelaide

28. Liam McBean, Glenelg

29. William Coomblas, Sturt

2024 AAMI STATE GAME

SANFL West End State Team vs Smithy’s VFL State Team

Saturday, April 6, 2024

12:40pm ACDT (local time) / 1:10pm AEDT

Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg

Broadcast live on 7mate

Live stream on the AFL Official App, afl.com.au, 7plus and SANFL Now