By Tara Murray
Reigning competition best and fairest winners Dom Carbone and Dom Brew will lead the Big V in the state games against the South Australian National Football League this week.
Carbone has been given the honour of captaining the inaugural rebel Victorian Football League women’s state team, while Brew has been reappointed as skipper of the VFL after leading the team in 2024.
Brew’s reappointment follows an unforgettable 2024 campaign.
In addition to being named captain of the VFL state team, he led Werribee to its first VFL premiership since 1993, romped to a runaway victory in the J.J. Liston Trophy and also took out the coaches most valuable player award.
The star midfielder said he was determined to lead the VFL to victory on Saturday following last year’s close defeat to the SANFL.
“It was a bit disappointing with the result last year so I was hoping to get another crack at it this year if it fell my way,” Brew said.
“It’s always good to be recognised like this. (I’m) excited to get a bit of redemption and to actually have the privilege of doing it again is very good.
“Zane (Littlejohn) originally called me when he got the job to coach again. He reached out and asked what we could have done better, which has all been put into action now. It’s a better build up.”
Carbone last year claimed the Lambert-Pearce Medal as the VFLW’s best and fairest player and led the Western Bulldogs to their first grand final appearance since 2019.
She has since crossed to Collingwood and will captain the Magpies in the season.
Carbone said it was humbling to be named captain of the VFLW team for its first representative match.
“It’s obviously such an honour to be recognised amongst this group of girls and the calibre of players,” she said.
“I think you look at our state league and the talent that we produce and the quality of football that we play, it’s exceptional.
“To be honoured as a captain of the inaugural team it’s something that I don’t take lightly and I’m just so excited to be a part of it and really looking forward to the week ahead.”
Sandringham recruit Lauren Brazzale will serve as vice-captain.
The state games will feature as part of the AFL’s Gather Round festivities in South Australia this week.
The best players from the VFLW will represent the Big V when they take on the SANFL Women’s State Team at Alberton Oval on Friday at 6.30pm.
It will be the first time since the VFLW was established in 2017 that a women’s representative team will take the field.
The men’s clash between the VFL and the SANFL team will take place at Tanunda Recreation Park in the Barossa on Saturday from 2.45pm local time.
