- May 8, 2001
- 5,667
- 818
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
- Other Teams
- CDFC (SANFL), Port Melb (VFL)
Hi Footy fans...
The last handful of seasons has seen a bit of a tug of war over a trophy between two states. Interstate football was an institution of the game since the intercolonial times of the late 19th century, through to the State of Origin era of the late 70's to late 90's. Unfortunately, once its most vocal ambassadors passed away, it wasn't long before that concept went the way of the dinosaur. The state leagues kept the tradition alive, giving second tier competition players something more to strive for. To wear the bright red of South Australia, the black swan of Western Australia, or the once feared Big V of Victoria. South Australia and Western Australia now stand alone, the last bastions of an era largely left behind in Australian Football. At one stage, the Croweaters were a force in representative contests and it was the Sandgropers that bore the brunt of the SA onslaughts from the mid-90's to mid-noughties. But it was only a few years ago that the Western Australians handed out a reality check, taking the Haydn Bunton Junior Trophy out of SA's hands for the second time in six years and retaining it two seasons later. By this time, with Victoria out of the picture and the other states not prepared to commit to the concept, the SANFL and the WAFL are now the only leagues maintaining one of football's last great traditions. This is State Football.
Welcome to this special edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up... WAFL vs. SANFL 2022.
South Australia only just managed to re-take the Bunton Cup back in 2019, it was a grand contest between the two states at Optus Stadium when the Croweaters defeated the Sandgropers by seven points. South Australia's more precise shooting was the difference maker in the end, WA's forwards missing several big chances. SA's six-goal third term and then WA's messy final term of 3.7 saw the trophy back in the hands of of the SANFL. Then after missing 2020 because of the COVID pandemic, last year's encounter at Adelaide Oval saw the Croweaters hammer the point home by almost nine goals. While SA's opening term was awash with inaccuracy, the West Australians had two quarters where they could have easily have closed the gap but failed to find the big sticks. That match was Jade Sheedy's introduction to coaching the State side, taking over from Josh Carr. The former Sturt champion has now enhanced his credentials, having taken Woodville-West Torrens to back-to-back flags. Making another appearance in the SA squad would be the likes of Norwood's Matthew Nunn, the Eagles' Riley Knight as well as North Adelaide duo Campbell Combe and Alex Spina. There would be a swag of debutants to the red guernsey as well, the selectors giving chances to the likes of ball magnets Harrison Wigg (North Adelaide) and Mitch O'Neill (South Adelaide), Bloods young gun Josh Carmichael and Redleg ruck Harry Boyd. Making up the attack would be Eagles forwards Daniel Menzel and Zane Williams, as well as the exciting young Panther Jye Menzie. Leading the side would be Glenelg 2019 premiership player and triple Ken Farmer Medal winner Liam McBean, with Spina and Nunn named as his deputies.
Before the 2019 loss, the Western Australians managed for the first time since 2009 to keep the Bunton Cup in WAFL hands for longer than one season. After SA won it back in 2012 at Glenelg, the Sandgropers regrouped against the VFL and NEAFL in consecutive seasons before wresting control of the trophy in their 2015 encounter at Lathlain Park by 45 points. A dominant second half from WA in which they kicked 10 goals to five was the difference maker, consigning SA to only their third loss in state football since 1996. They would back up that victory three seasons later for their first victory in Adelaide since 1994, after being down by four kicks at quarter-time the Sandgropers exploded in the second term to kick eight unanswered goals on their way to a 26-point triumph at Adelaide Oval. With Geoff Valentine vacating the coach's position, stepping into the role would be Cam Shepherd, former coach of Peel Thunder which he took to back-to-back flags in 2016 & 2017. Previous experience was a must this time around, the WA selectors bringing back the likes of Subiaco forward and 2019 Bernie Naylor Medal winner Ben Sokol, current Sandover Medallist Bailey Rogers from the Sharks and from the table-topping West Perth is Noah Perogaro, Tyler Keitel and Luke Meadows. There would be a dozen newcomers to the Black Swans fold, one of which has waited over 100 league games for a call-up. Swan Districts' Jesse Turner has been around for a while and has until now, not managed an appearance. But aside from a 10-disposal game against Perth, he has been in the high 20's to mid 30's over three games. Leading the side once again would be Leigh Kitchin of Subiaco, with Perth's Fraser McInnes and East Fremantle's Matthew Jupp his vice-captains. Perhaps in a move to bring back a little romantic nostalgia from the old days of state football, the home side's guernsey would sport the old school WAFL logo.
We return to the crown jewel in Western Australian sport, the cauldron of Optus Stadium, ahead of the West Coast match with Melbourne. If you ask most Sandgropers though, the main event probably should have been the curtain raiser instead. Those watching through streaming services and who turned up early, were in for a spectacle that would make the Eagles' game look second rate to the second tier sides on show. The Sandgropers opened with a flurry but were let down in the early stages with their accuracy. The first score was a WA goal, by the Lions' prolific Sokol. But further forays into goal by WA found only behinds, while the Croweaters found the big ones through the Eagles duo Wiliams and Menzel, as well as the Panthers' Keenan Ramsey. West Perth's Keegan Knott's goal early in time-on was cancelled out by Connor Ballenden's major near the siren, the board reading SA 4.1 to WA's 2.4, the visitors ahead by nine points. The second quarter was easily WA's nightmare term, Sokol failing to fire with a pair of behinds in amongst the five chances sprayed wide or rushed. WA's only goal came from the boot of Rogers very late as Ballenden and Wiliiams added to their tally, as well as the West Adelaide young gun in Carmichael. Western Australia would go back into the rooms at half-time down by 17 points after a 1.5 to 3.1 second term. Don't let the scoreline fool you, the Sandgropers were putting on quite immense pressure. The likes of Kitchin, Cam Eardley, Jake Florenca and in particular East Perth's Angus Schumacher were bringing the oomph with their tackle counts. South Australia were forced into being more patient and were more efficient. In a rare time where he was quite effective, Bloods defender Kaiden Brand was doing a sterling job alongside Sturt's Will Coomblas, and Riley Knight had seven tackles to his name.
When play resumed for the second half, the shoes were on the other foot as the Sandgropers mounted their assault in the third quarter. Redleg Nik Rokahr would provide SA's only major in the third just short of 12 minutes, but the Croweaters were under seige. Rogers, Knott and Keitel put three through the big sticks to reel back the Croweaters, who had a case of the inaccuracy bug with three behinds. All up it was WA with 3.1 to 1.3, SA's advantage drawn back to seven points to set up a grandstand finish. South Australia's inaccuracy continued in the second half with a string of missed chances after Sokol got his second major, book-ended by goals to McBean and Menzel. Men like Casey Voss and his fellow backs were forced into full defensive posture as the Sandgropers kept on coming. Rogers again popped up just after 17 minutes to put WA to within a straight kick of the lead, but in an ironic twist of fate, it was a former SA product that had the chance to put the home side in front. Former Norwood player Stefan Giro's snap at 23 minutes would hit the woodwork as the Croweaters sent the ball back beyond 50 just ahead of the final siren. WA has scored 3.2 to 2.5, South Australia once again victorious in a thrilling contest, this time by four points to retain the Haydn Bunton Junior Trophy. I'll say it again, this game should have been the main event. It was a quality game worthy of television time, maybe next year Channel Seven will make it part of an all-day line up. In the best afield category, the Fos Williams Medal was awarded to Casey Voss. The son of Brisbane Lions premiership hero MIchael Voss would rack up 29 disposals and take 15 marks for his efforts down back. Riley Knight was the pressure man with seven tackles and 37 disposals, while Harrison Wigg finished with 32 disposals. The Simpson Medal would go to Leigh Kitchin, who finished with 30 disposals, six marks and five tackles. His East Fremantle team-mate Cam Eardley wasn't far behind him with 24 disposals, seven marks and five tackles.
FINAL SCORES IN THE 2022 REPRESENTATIVE MATCH...
Sunday May 15
South Australia 10.10 (70)
Western Australia 9.12 (66)
Optus Stadium, Perth
No injuries or reports were known at time of post.
Next weekend in your state...
SOUTH AUSTRALIA -- ROUND 7
Friday May 20 @ 7:40pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Adelaide; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Norwood vs. Central District; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Saturday May 21 @ 2:10pm
Glenelg vs. South Adelaide; ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg
North Adelaide vs. Sturt; Prospect Oval
Sunday May 22 @ 2:05pm
West Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide; Loxton Oval
WESTERN AUSTRALIA -- ROUND 5
Saturday May 21
Subiaco vs. Swan Districts; Sir Richard Moore Oval, Kalgoorlie @ 12:10pm
Claremont vs. East Perth; Revo Fitness Stadium, Claremont @ 2:10pm
South Fremantle vs. Peel; Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Fremantle @ 2:10pm
West Perth vs. West Coast; Pentanet Stadium, Joondalup @ 2:10pm
Perth vs. East Fremantle; Mineral Resources Park, Lathlain @ 2:10pm
So until next time, my SA and WA footy-heads... see you at the Footy!
The last handful of seasons has seen a bit of a tug of war over a trophy between two states. Interstate football was an institution of the game since the intercolonial times of the late 19th century, through to the State of Origin era of the late 70's to late 90's. Unfortunately, once its most vocal ambassadors passed away, it wasn't long before that concept went the way of the dinosaur. The state leagues kept the tradition alive, giving second tier competition players something more to strive for. To wear the bright red of South Australia, the black swan of Western Australia, or the once feared Big V of Victoria. South Australia and Western Australia now stand alone, the last bastions of an era largely left behind in Australian Football. At one stage, the Croweaters were a force in representative contests and it was the Sandgropers that bore the brunt of the SA onslaughts from the mid-90's to mid-noughties. But it was only a few years ago that the Western Australians handed out a reality check, taking the Haydn Bunton Junior Trophy out of SA's hands for the second time in six years and retaining it two seasons later. By this time, with Victoria out of the picture and the other states not prepared to commit to the concept, the SANFL and the WAFL are now the only leagues maintaining one of football's last great traditions. This is State Football.
Welcome to this special edition of the SANFL Wrap-Up... WAFL vs. SANFL 2022.
South Australia only just managed to re-take the Bunton Cup back in 2019, it was a grand contest between the two states at Optus Stadium when the Croweaters defeated the Sandgropers by seven points. South Australia's more precise shooting was the difference maker in the end, WA's forwards missing several big chances. SA's six-goal third term and then WA's messy final term of 3.7 saw the trophy back in the hands of of the SANFL. Then after missing 2020 because of the COVID pandemic, last year's encounter at Adelaide Oval saw the Croweaters hammer the point home by almost nine goals. While SA's opening term was awash with inaccuracy, the West Australians had two quarters where they could have easily have closed the gap but failed to find the big sticks. That match was Jade Sheedy's introduction to coaching the State side, taking over from Josh Carr. The former Sturt champion has now enhanced his credentials, having taken Woodville-West Torrens to back-to-back flags. Making another appearance in the SA squad would be the likes of Norwood's Matthew Nunn, the Eagles' Riley Knight as well as North Adelaide duo Campbell Combe and Alex Spina. There would be a swag of debutants to the red guernsey as well, the selectors giving chances to the likes of ball magnets Harrison Wigg (North Adelaide) and Mitch O'Neill (South Adelaide), Bloods young gun Josh Carmichael and Redleg ruck Harry Boyd. Making up the attack would be Eagles forwards Daniel Menzel and Zane Williams, as well as the exciting young Panther Jye Menzie. Leading the side would be Glenelg 2019 premiership player and triple Ken Farmer Medal winner Liam McBean, with Spina and Nunn named as his deputies.
Before the 2019 loss, the Western Australians managed for the first time since 2009 to keep the Bunton Cup in WAFL hands for longer than one season. After SA won it back in 2012 at Glenelg, the Sandgropers regrouped against the VFL and NEAFL in consecutive seasons before wresting control of the trophy in their 2015 encounter at Lathlain Park by 45 points. A dominant second half from WA in which they kicked 10 goals to five was the difference maker, consigning SA to only their third loss in state football since 1996. They would back up that victory three seasons later for their first victory in Adelaide since 1994, after being down by four kicks at quarter-time the Sandgropers exploded in the second term to kick eight unanswered goals on their way to a 26-point triumph at Adelaide Oval. With Geoff Valentine vacating the coach's position, stepping into the role would be Cam Shepherd, former coach of Peel Thunder which he took to back-to-back flags in 2016 & 2017. Previous experience was a must this time around, the WA selectors bringing back the likes of Subiaco forward and 2019 Bernie Naylor Medal winner Ben Sokol, current Sandover Medallist Bailey Rogers from the Sharks and from the table-topping West Perth is Noah Perogaro, Tyler Keitel and Luke Meadows. There would be a dozen newcomers to the Black Swans fold, one of which has waited over 100 league games for a call-up. Swan Districts' Jesse Turner has been around for a while and has until now, not managed an appearance. But aside from a 10-disposal game against Perth, he has been in the high 20's to mid 30's over three games. Leading the side once again would be Leigh Kitchin of Subiaco, with Perth's Fraser McInnes and East Fremantle's Matthew Jupp his vice-captains. Perhaps in a move to bring back a little romantic nostalgia from the old days of state football, the home side's guernsey would sport the old school WAFL logo.
We return to the crown jewel in Western Australian sport, the cauldron of Optus Stadium, ahead of the West Coast match with Melbourne. If you ask most Sandgropers though, the main event probably should have been the curtain raiser instead. Those watching through streaming services and who turned up early, were in for a spectacle that would make the Eagles' game look second rate to the second tier sides on show. The Sandgropers opened with a flurry but were let down in the early stages with their accuracy. The first score was a WA goal, by the Lions' prolific Sokol. But further forays into goal by WA found only behinds, while the Croweaters found the big ones through the Eagles duo Wiliams and Menzel, as well as the Panthers' Keenan Ramsey. West Perth's Keegan Knott's goal early in time-on was cancelled out by Connor Ballenden's major near the siren, the board reading SA 4.1 to WA's 2.4, the visitors ahead by nine points. The second quarter was easily WA's nightmare term, Sokol failing to fire with a pair of behinds in amongst the five chances sprayed wide or rushed. WA's only goal came from the boot of Rogers very late as Ballenden and Wiliiams added to their tally, as well as the West Adelaide young gun in Carmichael. Western Australia would go back into the rooms at half-time down by 17 points after a 1.5 to 3.1 second term. Don't let the scoreline fool you, the Sandgropers were putting on quite immense pressure. The likes of Kitchin, Cam Eardley, Jake Florenca and in particular East Perth's Angus Schumacher were bringing the oomph with their tackle counts. South Australia were forced into being more patient and were more efficient. In a rare time where he was quite effective, Bloods defender Kaiden Brand was doing a sterling job alongside Sturt's Will Coomblas, and Riley Knight had seven tackles to his name.
When play resumed for the second half, the shoes were on the other foot as the Sandgropers mounted their assault in the third quarter. Redleg Nik Rokahr would provide SA's only major in the third just short of 12 minutes, but the Croweaters were under seige. Rogers, Knott and Keitel put three through the big sticks to reel back the Croweaters, who had a case of the inaccuracy bug with three behinds. All up it was WA with 3.1 to 1.3, SA's advantage drawn back to seven points to set up a grandstand finish. South Australia's inaccuracy continued in the second half with a string of missed chances after Sokol got his second major, book-ended by goals to McBean and Menzel. Men like Casey Voss and his fellow backs were forced into full defensive posture as the Sandgropers kept on coming. Rogers again popped up just after 17 minutes to put WA to within a straight kick of the lead, but in an ironic twist of fate, it was a former SA product that had the chance to put the home side in front. Former Norwood player Stefan Giro's snap at 23 minutes would hit the woodwork as the Croweaters sent the ball back beyond 50 just ahead of the final siren. WA has scored 3.2 to 2.5, South Australia once again victorious in a thrilling contest, this time by four points to retain the Haydn Bunton Junior Trophy. I'll say it again, this game should have been the main event. It was a quality game worthy of television time, maybe next year Channel Seven will make it part of an all-day line up. In the best afield category, the Fos Williams Medal was awarded to Casey Voss. The son of Brisbane Lions premiership hero MIchael Voss would rack up 29 disposals and take 15 marks for his efforts down back. Riley Knight was the pressure man with seven tackles and 37 disposals, while Harrison Wigg finished with 32 disposals. The Simpson Medal would go to Leigh Kitchin, who finished with 30 disposals, six marks and five tackles. His East Fremantle team-mate Cam Eardley wasn't far behind him with 24 disposals, seven marks and five tackles.
FINAL SCORES IN THE 2022 REPRESENTATIVE MATCH...
Sunday May 15
South Australia 10.10 (70)
Western Australia 9.12 (66)
Optus Stadium, Perth
No injuries or reports were known at time of post.
Next weekend in your state...
SOUTH AUSTRALIA -- ROUND 7
Friday May 20 @ 7:40pm
Woodville-West Torrens vs. Adelaide; Maughan Thiem Kia Oval, Woodville
Norwood vs. Central District; Coopers Stadium, Norwood
Saturday May 21 @ 2:10pm
Glenelg vs. South Adelaide; ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg
North Adelaide vs. Sturt; Prospect Oval
Sunday May 22 @ 2:05pm
West Adelaide vs. Port Adelaide; Loxton Oval
WESTERN AUSTRALIA -- ROUND 5
Saturday May 21
Subiaco vs. Swan Districts; Sir Richard Moore Oval, Kalgoorlie @ 12:10pm
Claremont vs. East Perth; Revo Fitness Stadium, Claremont @ 2:10pm
South Fremantle vs. Peel; Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Fremantle @ 2:10pm
West Perth vs. West Coast; Pentanet Stadium, Joondalup @ 2:10pm
Perth vs. East Fremantle; Mineral Resources Park, Lathlain @ 2:10pm
So until next time, my SA and WA footy-heads... see you at the Footy!
