New numbers for West End State Team debutants

By ZAC MILBANK

Twelve West End State Team debutants have now joined the illustrious list of SANFL players to have donned the cherished red guernsey after Saturday’s clash with the VFL at Stratarama Stadium. 

As many as 270 players have now represented the West End State Team since the era of State League matches began in 2000, following the previous end of State of Origin football in 1999.

SANFL Historians Mark Giles and David O’Hara have carefully compiled the roll call of South Australian stars, which is in alphabetical and chronilogical order in the attachment below.

Starting with Port Adelaide defender Corey Ah Chee in 2000 as Player No.1, it now finishes with Central District’s Luca Whitelum – who made his debut against the Big V on Saturday – at No.272.

SANFL’s dynamic dozen from 2026 were presented their West End State guernseys before the match by Australian and South Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Mark Williams and coach Martin Mattner.

A passionate advocate for State representative football, Williams – who also spoke to the playing group after training on Thursday night – has also regularly presented the Fos Williams Medal, named in his father’s honour, to SANFL’s best player in each State match.

Family and friends of each player were also on hand to witness the special occasion for each debutant, with the new faces including ex AFL-listed quartet Aaron Francis, Jed McEntee, Tom Scully and Tom Emmett, together with home-grown talent such as Whitelum, Cooper Murley, Zac Becker and Finn Heard.

Players originally from interstate, such as South pair Oliver Davis and Oscar Clavarino, Max Beattie and Sam Conforti, were also beaming with pride whilst recognising the responsibility of representing the competition.

Including SANFL superstars such as the Gowans twins – James and Chris – and Magarey Medallists Brodie Atkinson, Jade Sheedy, Damian Squire, Brett Backwell, Zane Kirkwood, Mitch Grigg and most recently, 2026 Fos Williams Medallist Tom Lewis, the list will now be updated after each State match.