An historic new chapter in the famous rivalry between the Victorian Football League and South Australian National Football League will be written in April with men’s and women’s representative sides to clash during Gather Round.
The 2025 state games will feature as part of an action-packed weekend of football festivities in South Australia.
In an exciting development, the best players from the rebel VFLW will represent the Big V when they take on the SANFL women’s state team at Alberton Oval on Friday, April 11.
It will be the first time since the rebel VFLW was established in 2017 that a women’s representative team will take the field.
Only VFLW-listed players from the 12-team rebel VFLW competition will be eligible for selection. Players who feature on AFLW lists for the upcoming 2025 season will be ineligible.
The men’s clash between the VFL state team and the SANFL’s state team will take place at Tanunda Recreation Park in the Barossa on Saturday, April 12.
The best VFL-listed players from the 21-team VFL will be selected for the state team, where they will be looking to atone after falling to the SANFL by 14 points at Glenelg’s Stratarama Stadium last April.
It was the first time the VFL state team had been on the representative stage since 2017 and reignited the rivalry between the VFL and SANFL which dates back to the late 1800s.
AFL head of state leagues Jennie Loughnan said they are thrilled to have the best players from the VFLW and VFL coming together to don the ‘Big V’ against our fiercest rivals in the SANFL.
“It was brilliant to have the Smithy’s VFL State Team return to the field in 2024 and we are so excited that the stars of the rebel VFLW have the opportunity to play on the representative stage for the first time.
“It will be a great experience for our best men’s and women’s players to be part of the action during Gather Round and we look forward to having plenty of supporters from our VFL clubs getting behind our men’s and women’s representative teams.”
