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The initial Peter Jackson VFL state squad has been revealed.
42 players have been announced for the side that will host the WAFL on May 27 at North Port Oval.
All 14 VFL teams are represented in the initial squad, featuring VFL listed players that have performed well in the opening rounds of the season.
Standalone clubs Williamstown (nine players) and undefeated Port Melbourne (seven) lead the way for representatives, followed by Essendon (four) and Coburg (three).
Casey Demons senior coach Justin Plapp has been appointed to coach the team in 2017, following in the footsteps of the likes of VFL premiership coaches Andy Collins (Williamstown), Damian Carroll (Box Hill Hawks), Gary Ayres (Port Melbourne) and Gerard FitzGerald (North Ballarat) as state coach.
Plapp will be joined on the state coaching panel by Demons midfield coach Danny Ryan, North Ballarat midfield coach and former Richmond star Nick Daffy, Werribee back line coach Ben Patrick and Box Hill Hawks back line coach Ricky Petterd. Former Casey player and co-host of Channel 7’s VFL coverage Nigel Carmody was appointed as chairman of selectors.
It will be a fresh-faced squad representing the VFL in 2017, with just 12 players from the VFL team that faced the SANFL in 2016 named in the initial squad. The squad will be reduced to a training list of 30 at the conclusion of Round 5, with players outside of this squad still able to be named should form warrant selection in the coming weeks.
“When I look at the initial squad, I see a lot of younger, hungry players with a good mix of seasoned VFL players,” coach Plapp said.
“For us at the moment it is getting the balance right, and gaining an understanding of how we might set up against an opposition we don’t know a great deal about.
“A lot of selections have been based on players being able to play roles, but also getting the balance of some bigger bodies, plus players that can play multiple positions.
“I see an exciting group of players that are in some really good form at VFL level, who now have a great opportunity ahead of them.
“We are obviously going off only a few weeks form, so I am pretty sure there will be other players that jump up in the next week or two, and if we need to make adjustments we will.”
In a change from previous years, a development squad has also been named - outside of the squad of 42 - featuring a host of up-and-coming talent from VFL ranks. These players will be invited to train with the squad, to help aid their development as part of the state team program.
“For those younger players, it’s an opportunity from a development point of view, but if form warrants, they could potentially push for selection inside the final 23 as well,” Plapp said.
“It is a great initiative, and a chance for these player to keep growing their game.
The state game will be broadcast live on Channel 7 from 2pm Saturday May 27, live from North Port Oval.
The VFL squad features:
2 - J.J. Liston Trophy winners
7 - 2016 VFL club best and fairest winners
9 - Club captains
11 - 2016 VFL Team of the Year selections
15 - Former AFL players
FULL SQUAD
David Mirra Box Hill Hawks
Sam Switkowski Box Hill Hawks
Angus Scott Casey Demons
Tom Goodwin Coburg Lions
Nick Mellington Coburg Lions
Liam Hunt Coburg Lions
Jordan Kelly Collingwood
Michael Chippendale Collingwood
Nick O’Brien Essendon
James Ferry Essendon
Nick Hind Essendon
Alex Boyse Essendon
Lauchlan Dalgleish Footscray
Nick Jamieson Footscray
Tom Atkins Geelong
Sam McLachlan Geelong
Nick Rippon North Ballarat
Andrew Hooper North Ballarat
Tom Wilson Northern Blues
Cam O’Shea Northern Blues
Tom O’Sullivan Port Melbourne
Eli Templeton Port Melbourne
Jordan Lisle Port Melbourne
Brody Mihocek Port Melbourne
Brodie Murdoch Port Melbourne
Toby Pinwill Port Melbourne
Robin Nahas Port Melbourne
Jacob Ballard Richmond
Sam Darley Richmond
Elliot Le Grice Sandringham
Tom Curren Sandringham
Matt Hanson Werribee Tigers
Michael Sodomaco Werribee Tigers
Michael Gibbons Williamstown
Brett Bewley Williamstown
Josh Newman Williamstown
Ayce Cordy Williamstown
Leigh Masters Williamstown
Ben Cavarra Williamstown
Sam Dunell Williamstown
Adam Marcon Williamstown
Nick Meese Williamstown
Talented Developing Players:
Nick Evans Box Hill
Bailey Fritsch Casey Demons
Ben Allan Coburg Lions
Lachlan Tardrew Collingwood
Nash Holmes Essendon
Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith Footscray
Dan Capiron Geelong
Brenton Payne North Ballarat
Marcus Stavrou Northern Blues
Mack Rivett Port Melbourne
Kade Answerth Sandringham
Joe Maishman Werribee Tigers
Billy Meyers Williamstown
Listen to an interview with VFL coach Justin Plapp below, after he was announced as coach:
The list has now been reduced to 27
The state game will be broadcast live on Channel 7 from 2pm on Saturday, May 27.
See the 27-player VFL training squad below:
Will there be enough training sessions for the side to gel?
It's been an ongoing issue where the VFA / VFL have been poor at coming together with a cohesive gamestyle that all the squad are across.
For what is such a strong competition, our win / loss record is shocking in recent years, well below what it should be.
I haven't seen much footy this year, but think that Murdoch, Templeton and Mihocek are certain starters. I'd have Haretuku in the side as well.
From the WAFL and WAFC websites:
2017 Carlton Draught WAFL State SquadFriday, May 5, 2017 - 9:01 AM
An initial Carlton Draught WAFL State Squad has been named for this year’s State Game against the Victorian Football League (VFL) at North Port Oval in Melbourne on Saturday, May 27.
The game will be broadcast live in Perth on Channel 7 from 12pm WST on Saturday, May 27.
WA coach Michael Broadbridge and assistant coaches Paul Johnson, Steve Malaxos, Clay McLernon and Garry Moss have selected a squad of 37 players to participate in the State program over the next three weeks.
Broadbridge said players had been selected in consultation with their WAFL coaches based on current form in the roles that would be required to tackle the VFL at North Port Oval.
“We’re obviously expecting a certain style of play from the VFL on that ground so we’ve taken the approach of selecting players in the roles we’re likely to need,” Broadbridge said.
“We’ve been out watching players at the WAFL each week and all of the senior coaches have been very supportive and given us great feedback on which players are in form in the roles we need and who is most worthy of consideration.
“Overall, with the size of the ground at North Port, the opposition, and the chance it could be a bit slippery means we’re looking at players with bigger bodies who are strong over the ball and strong at the contest, which we’ll look to compliment with a bit of flair.
“We’re also looking at players who we think can adapt well, have some experience playing in the conditions against similar opposition and are mentally strong.”
The squad includes the greatest representation from the teams in the top four positions on the ladder, with nine players from South Fremantle selected, seven from Subiaco, six from Swan Districts and five from West Perth.
Broadbridge has also assembled a coaching panel with a blend of youth and experience to lead the 2017 Carlton Draught State Squad.
“I’ve tried to get a balanced panel with good pedigree and strong ambition,” he said.
“Paul Johnson has been one of the best WAFL and State players in recent years, Garry Moss is a former AFL and WAFL player looking to enhance his coaching credentials, Clay McLernon is a WAFL Premiership player doing a fantastic job with the East Fremantle Colts and Steve Malaxos really balances it out well with his experience as a WAFL coach and as a player at State level.
“We are all really committed and looking forward to the challenge.”
Photo: 2016 State Game Simpson Medallist Jye Bolton is one of three players selected from Claremont for this year's squad. Photo: MM Photography
Carlton Draught WAFL State Squad
SURNAME
FIRST NAME
HEIGHT
WEIGHT
CLUB
ANDREWS
Mitch
196
92
Claremont
BOLTON
Jye
187
84
Claremont
BRADSHAW
Jack
180
74
Claremont
HAMPSON
George
188
79
East Fremantle
MARSH
Jonathan
190
89
East Fremantle
ANDERSON
Kyle
191
91
East Perth
MAGINNESS
Will
194
82
East Perth
MCGINNITY
Patrick
183
85
East Perth
JETTA
Leroy
177
85
Peel Thunder
JONES
Clint
180
80
Perth
COOK
Ryan
188
84
South Fremantle
HIGGINS
Brock
193
100
South Fremantle
JOHNSON
Blaine
187
87
South Fremantle
KELLY
Tim
183
83
South Fremantle
PICKETT
Marlion
184
89
South Fremantle
SAUNDERS
Ben
187
92
South Fremantle
SCHLOITHE
Hayden
184
83
South Fremantle
SHAW
Mason
197
94
South Fremantle
WILSON
Blayne
189
87
South Fremantle
HORSLEY
Kyal
183
85
Subiaco
KITCHIN
Leigh
182
79
Subiaco
LITHERLAND
Angus
192
88
Subiaco
LOCKYER
Jordan
192
90
Subiaco
PHELAN
Chris
186
83
Subiaco
RYAN
Liam
184
76
Subiaco
WHEELER
Clancy
194
95
Subiaco
AMES
Tallan
193
88
Swan Districts
CARY
Ricky
196
88
Swan Districts
GAULT
Corey
200
99
Swan Districts
NOTTE
Tony
196
80
Swan Districts
RIGGIO
Matt
182
90
Swan Districts
UGLE
Kirk
173
72
Swan Districts
BLACK
Aaron
181
83
West Perth
MANNING
Kody
184
84
West Perth
MEADOWS
Luke
185
88
West Perth
NELSON
Shane
176
73
West Perth
STRIJK
Andrew
183
88
West Perth
Coaches
Michael Broadbridge - Coach
Gary Moss - Forwards
Steve Malaxos and Paul Johnson- Midfield/Rucks
Clay McLernon- Backs
Schedule
Monday May 8, 5.30pm - Training/Recovery session at Fremantle Oval
Monday May 15, 6pm - Training/recovery session at Domain Stadium
Monday May 22, time TBC - Training/recovery session. Venue TBC
Wednesday May 24, 5.15pm - Main training session. Venue TBC
Thursday May 25, 2pm – depart for Melbourne
Friday May 26, time TBC – Training session at North Port Oval, Port Melbourne.
Saturday May 27, 2.15pm* – WA v VIC at North Port Oval, Port Melbourne
*local time
In reply to Will there be enough training by NorthPort
This is just a waste of time bullshit game that dosent represent the quality of playrs that play in the VFL every week.How many of these players would make it onto a current AFL list ? maybe a couple.
With so many Port and Willy players why not just pick a combined side and be done wtih it?
The football public will vote with their feet and the usual 1500 may bother to turn up which is pathetic for the suppossed best State League in the nation.But as I said its a long way from being the best side to put on the paddock and the footy public know that.
I reckon if the usual bigheaded,arrogant attitude - we are the mighty Vics attitude prevails and the players start playing fancy as they have in past games as if they are a real the Victorian team the sandgropers might just knock this team off but not if the weather is crap.
On th bright note Sandy/St Kilda Seconds that I take a passing inerest in wont lose any players to injury