The WA State squad was selected yesterday for their match against South Australia on May 16th at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, and they’ll be looking to go back to back against the SANFL.

Last time the two sides met, WA rendered victorious by 30-points with 17 players from the 2025 game returning for the sequel.

East Perth lead the way with seven selections from their squad – South Fremantle skipper Chad Pearson the most experienced on the team with a sixth consecutive selection.

Peel Thunder’s Adam Read will coach the state side for the second time after last year’s success, and he joined Sports Breakfast this morning.

“I think we should get a good crowd there [Sullivan Logistics Stadium] and it builds a different atmosphere than when you’re at the big stadiums… We know we’re facing a different opponent this year.

The SANFL team they wheeled out against the VFL a couple of weeks ago had a lot of different personnel,” he said.

“We obviously had a good day in Adelaide last year and we tried to repay the faith in a lot of those guys that got the job done.

“We feel like we’ve picked a good squad and we’re comfortable with where it sits, and now we’re just looking forward to a couple of weeks of training together and building some connection.”

With the state game falling on the WAFL’s bye week, teams won’t be missing their best players.

The three-week program will mean WAFL clubs won’t feel the absence of their stars too much, with training scheduled for next Monday and then Tuesday and Thursday the following week.

“Speaking to all the other head coaches, they’re wrapped to see their young men get an opportunity to pull on the state guernsey. Everyone’s acutely aware it’s a great honour and privilege.”

South Australia recently played a match as a state squad, losing to Victoria by five-points at Glenelg Oval.

The last time WA played Victoria was in 2017, thrashing the Big V in Melbourne by 63-points, and Read says he’d love to see state football become a regular event on the footy calendar.

Squad: Callan England, Ollie Eastland, Jaiden Hunter, Zac Mainwaring (Claremont) Jarrad Jansen, Kyle Baskerville (East Fremantle), Christian Ameduri, Scott Jones, Darcy Craven, Sam van Diemen, Harrison Macreadie, Corey Watts, Stan Wright (East Perth), Scott Tuia, Jack Sears, Lachlan Tardrew (Peel Thunder) Austin Davis, Aaron Clarke (Perth), Chad Pearson, Noah Strom, Ethan Hughes, Jamaine Jones (South Fremantle), Jack Mayo, Stefan Giro, Galen Savigni, Ryan Borchet, (Subiaco), William Reidy, Jesse Turner (Swan Districts), Kane Bevan, Joseph Hinder, Zac Guadagnin, Connor West (West Perth)

IMAGE: SANFL Media