Seven Bulldogs named in initial WAFL state squad

SEVEN South Fremantle players have been named in the initial 41-man Western Australia squad for the upcoming state game against Tasmania on Saturday June 11 at Steel Blue Oval.

Blayne Wilson, Ashton Hams, Zac Strom, Ryan Cook, Marlion Pickett, Tim Kelly and Ben Saunders have all been named from the Bulldogs team that currently sits on top of the WAFL ladder with a 7-1 record after the opening nine rounds.

Wilson, Hams, Cook and Pickett all took part in WA’s victory over South Australia last year at Lathlain Park as well and are all in position to be there this time around.

Strom and Kelly are named to the squad for the first time and if they are selected both will make their debuts for WA while Saunders played in the win in 2014 over the NEAFL in Sydney.

The seven players selected is a strong reward for South Fremantle’s start to the season and it highlights the evenness across the board of the Bulldogs with Wilson and Pickett taken from the back-line, Strom and Saunders from forward, Hams and Kelly in the midfield while Cook has played a variety of roles from the wing to half-forward and stints on the ball.

While the seven players named is impressive, Shane Hockey, Adam McIntosh, Mason Shaw, Blaine Johnson and Steven Edwards are among the players who can consider themselves unlucky and could still be added in coming weeks if they continue to perform strongly.

Former West Perth premiership captain and coach Darren Harris will again be in charge of the WAFL’s state side for a second straight year and he was very impressed with the quality of players selected.

“There are so many WAFL players in great form at the moment and this has allowed us to put together a very strong list. We’ve gone with quite a large squad initially and can still add to that if players show outstanding form over the next few weeks,” Harris said.

“There are two reasons for the large size of the squad – firstly we’re conscious that six WAFL teams will be playing games on the Monday leading into the state Game and secondly, there are so many players worthy of selection.

“It was fantastic last year to see the buy-in from our WAFL players. They were very passionate about representing their state and it wasn’t compulsory to play. We wanted those players who were totally committed and it is the same this year.

“We will end up with those players in our final side who really want to play for their state and deserve to, based on their form. That will give us the best opportunity for success against Tassie who will bring a very strong side.”

The WAFL squad will train four times in the lead-up to the game, with a final training session and jumper presentation to be held at Steel Blue Oval on Thursday June 9.

CARLTON DRAUGHT WAFL STATE SQUAD
Claremont – Darcy Cameron, Jye Bolton, Ryan Neates
East Fremantle – Matthew Watson, Jamie McNamara, Brett Peake, George Hampson, Liam Anthony, Andrew Stephen, Brock O’Brien
East Perth – Kyle Anderson, Paul Johnson
Peel – Josh Bootsma
Perth – Jared Bell, Aidan Tropiano, Clint Jones
South Fremantle – Blayne Wilson, Marlion Pickett, Ryan Cook, Tim Kelly, Ashton Hams, Ben Saunders, Zac Strom
Subiaco – Clancy Wheeler, Lachlan Delahunty, Declan Jackson, Aaron Heal, Kyal Horsley, Adam Cockie, Leigh Kitchin, Chris Phelan, Hamish Shepheard
Swan Districts – Tony Notte, Justin Simpson, Matt Riggio
West Perth – Luke Meadows, Andrew Strijk, Steven Browne, Jay Van Berlo, Aaron Black, Shane Nelson

COACHES
Darren Harris – Coach
John Dimmer – Forwards
Craig Smoker – Midfield
Mark Foster – Midfield
Geoff Valentine – Backs
Matt Guadagnin – Bench
Brett Barber – Chairman of Selectors
Corey Johnson – Runner
Brent LeCras – Runner

PROGRAM
Monday May 23
Training and Recovery session at Fremantle Oval, 5.30pm
Monday May 30
Training and recovery session at Domain Stadium, 6pm
Tuesday June 7
Training session at Medibank Stadium, 5.30pm
Thursday June 9
Training session at Steel Blue Oval, 5.15pm
Jumper Presentation 7pm
Saturday June 11
WA v Tasmania at Steel Blue Oval, 2.15pm