Squads for the Victorian Football League men’s and women’s state teams have been named ahead of their clashes with South Australian National Football League later this month.
A 43-player men’s squad has been unveiled, as the teams prepare to do battle for a second straight season this time on April 12.
The VFL squad features representatives from 18 clubs across the 21-team competition.
Last season’s grand finalists, the Southport Sharks, have a league-high five players named in the squad, while the Box Hill Hawks, Frankston, Port Melbourne and Williamstown each have four players included.
Eight players who represented the VFL in last year’s clash with the SANFL have been selected in this year’s squad. They are Dom Brew, Brayden Crossley, Jacob Dawson, Kye Declase, Hugh Dixon, Tom Highmore, Callum Porter and Boyd Woodcock.
Only VFL-listed players are available to be selected in state teams.
Brew is joined by Werribee teammates Louis Pinnuck and Jack Riding in the squad.
Williamstown’s Tom Downie, Brodie McLaughlin, Finn O’Dwyer and Luke Parks are also in the squad along with Footscray Bulldogs’ Cooper Craig-Peters and Phoenix Spicer.
The league also announced its first women’s state team, which will do battle with the SANFL the day before the men’s teams.
The VFLW squad features many of the best VFLW-listed players from across the competition, with all 12 VFLW clubs represented. No AFLW players were selected.
The squad includes 13 members of the 2024 team of the year, along with a host of new recruits who have joined rebel VFLW clubs during the off-season.
Williamstown duo Sharnie Whiting and Emily Eaves have been named in the squad along with the Western Bulldogs Tasmin Crook, Renee Saulitis and Jaimi Tabb.
Players who are injured were not selected in either of the initial squads, however players can still be added from outside the squad.
