The 27-player state training squad for the May 27 clash between the Peter Jackson VFL and the WAFL at North Port Oval is full of Victorian-based talent that will attempt to end a recent losing run at representative level.
The VFL has lost its last three state games – in 2013 to the WAFL and in 2014 and 2016 to the SANFL – since defeating the Tasmanian State League by 108 points at Blundstone Arena, Hobart in 2012.
13 of the VFL’s 14 clubs are represented in the 2017 training squad, with a final team of 23 to be selected after a two week preparation.
Port Melbourne is best represented in the squad with six players, ahead of Williamstown with four, Essendon with three, then the Box Hill Hawks, North Ballarat, Northern Blues and Werribee with two. Sandringham is not represented as its two selections in the initial 42-player state squad, Tom Curren and Elliot Le Grice, have unfortunately been ruled out due to injury.
Box Hill’s Andrew Moore, Casey Demons’ Bayley Fritsch and Port Melbourne’s Khan Haretuku have been added to the training squad after not being included in the initial squad that was announced two weeks ago.
Only eight members of the training squad have previously played in a state game, with Sam Darley (Richmond), Michael Gibbons (Williamstown), Matt Hanson (Werribee), Khan Haretuku (Port Melbourne), Leigh Masters (Williamstown), Brody Mihocek (Port Melbourne), Nick Rippon (North Ballarat) and Michael Sodomaco (Werribee) representing the VFL in its 19-point loss to the SANFL at Adelaide Oval last year.
The team will this year be coached by Casey Demons senior coach Justin Plapp, with his assistants being North Ballarat midfield coach Nick Daffy, Werribee back line coach Ben Patrick, Box Hill Hawks back line coach Ricky Petterd and Casey midfield coach Danny Ryan.
The state game will be broadcast live on Channel 7 from 2pm on Saturday, May 27.
See the 27-player VFL training squad below:
| Andrew Moore |
Box Hill Hawks |
| Sam Switkowski |
Box Hill Hawks |
| Bayley Fritsch |
Casey Demons |
| Tom Goodwin |
Coburg Lions |
| Jordan Kelly |
Collingwood |
| Alex Boyse |
Essendon |
| James Ferry |
Essendon |
| Nick Hind |
Essendon |
| Nick Jamieson |
Footscray |
| Tom Atkins |
Geelong |
| Andrew Hooper |
North Ballarat |
| Nick Rippon |
North Ballarat |
| Cam O’Shea |
Northern Blues |
| Tom Wilson |
Northern Blues |
| Brody Mihocek |
Port Melbourne |
| Brodie Murdoch |
Port Melbourne |
| Eli Templeton |
Port Melbourne |
| Jordan Lisle |
Port Melbourne |
| Khan Haretuku |
Port Melbourne |
| Tom O’Sullivan |
Port Melbourne |
| Sam Darley |
Richmond |
| Matt Hanson |
Werribee Tigers |
| Michael Sodomaco |
Werribee Tigers |
| Brett Bewley |
Williamstown |
| Josh Newman |
Williamstown |
| Leigh Masters |
Williamstown |
| Michael Gibbons |
Williamstown |
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| Talented Developing Players: |
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| Nick Evans |
Box Hill |
| 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 Myers |
Williamstown |
Last Modified on 17/05/2017 13:51
