Nine Bulldogs named in initial WAFL State squad

SOUTH Fremantle sits on top of the WAFL ladder and has been rewarded for the impressive start to the season with nine players named in the initial Western Australia state squad ahead of the clash with Victoria.

The WAFL State Team will take on the VFL at North Port Oval on Saturday May 27 attempt to become the first ever WA side to beat Victoria in Melbourne in history.

South Fremantle is well represented in the initial squad named for the WAFL team that will be coached by Michael Broadbridge. He will be assisted by Garry Moss, Paul Johnson, Steve Malaxos and Clay McLernon.

Nine Bulldogs players have been included in the initial 37-man squad.

Included in that is Ryan Cook, Brock Higgins, Blaine Johnson, Tim Kelly, Marlion Pickett, Ben Saunders, Haiden Schloithe, Mason Shaw and Blayne Wilson.

Cook, Kelly, Pickett and Saunders all played in the WAFL’s big win over Tasmania last year at Steel Blue Oval.

Schloithe and Wilson have also previously represented WA in recent years while for Higgins, Johnson and Shaw, they are in the mix to make their state debut for the Black Swans.

The VFL have also announced their initial squad with some familiar names including Cam O’Shea, Jordan Lisle, Robin Nahas, Jacob Ballard, Sam Darley and Ayce Cordy.

The first training session will be held on Monday night at Fremantle Community Bank Oval ahead of another session the following Monday at Domain Stadium.

The squad will undertake a team activity on Sunday May 21 following the last games on the Saturday leading into the game in Melbourne the following Saturday.

Then after training sessions on Monday and Wednesday, the WAFL team will fly to Melbourne on Thursday, train at North Port Oval on Friday and then get ready for the game on Saturday afternoon looking to create history.

WAFL STATE SQUAD
Claremont – Mitch Andrews, Jye Bolton, Jack Bradshaw
East Fremantle – George Hampson, Jonathan Marsh
East Perth – Kyle Anderson, Will Maginness, Patrick McGinnity
Peel Thunder – Leroy Jetta
Perth – Clint Jones
South Fremantle – Ryan Cook, Brock Higgins, Blaine Johnson, Tim Kelly, Marlion Pickett, Ben Saunders, Haiden Schloithe, Mason Shaw, Blayne Wilson
Subiaco – Kyal Horsley, Leigh Kitchin, Angus Litherland, Jordan Lockyer, Chris Phelan, Liam Ryan, Clancy Wheeler
Swan Districts – Tallan Ames, Ricky Cary, Corey Gault, Tony Notte, Matt Riggio, Kirk Ugle
West Perth – Aaron Black, Kody Manning, Luke Meadows, Shane Nelson, Andrew Strijk

VFL STATE SQUAD
Box Hill Hawks – David Mirra, Sam Switkowski
Casey Demons – Angus Scott
Coburg Lions – Tom Goodwin, Liam Hunt, Nick Mellington
Collingwood – Michael Chippendale, Jordan Kelly
Essendon – Alex Boyse, James Ferry, Nick Hind, Nick O’Brien
Footscray – Lauchlan Dalgleish, Nick Jamieson
Geelong – Tom Atkins, Sam McLachlan
North Ballarat – Andrew Hooper, Nick Rippon
Northern Blues – Cam O’Shea, Tom Wilson
Port Melbourne – Jordan Lisle, Brody Mihocek, Brodie Murdoch, Robin Nahas, Tom O’Sullivan, Toby Pinwill, Eli Templeton
Richmond – Jacob Ballard, Sam Darley
Sandringham – Tom Curren, Elliot Le Grice
Werribee Tigers – Matt Hanson, Michael Sodomaco
Williamstown – Brett Bewley, Ben Cavarra, Ayce Cordy, Sam Dunell, Michael Gibbons, Adam Marcon, Leigh Masters, Nick Meese, Josh Newman