West End State Squad announced for 2025 KIA State Game

By ZAC MILBANK

A 26-player West End State squad has been released, with as many as five debutants a chance to play in the KIA State Game against the WAFL at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. 

SANFL Chairman of Selectors Tim Ginever has included 11 new faces in the Croweaters’ squad, as it prepares to retain the Haydn Bunton Junior Cup with a sixth win in succession against the Sandgropers.

It will be the 100th match between SA and WA in State football, with a 51-48 win-loss record in favour of SA since one of the longest Australian football traditions between the two States began in 1904. 

“The 2025 Kia State Game will be a celebration of both SA and WA’s strong and rich football history with the milestone 100th encounter between the two rival State Leagues,” said SANFL Executive General Manager Football Matt Duldig. 

 “Not only does the Kia State Game provide us with a great opportunity to showcase SANFLs best players on a national stage, but ensures our players enjoy the ultimate honour of wearing the cherished State guernsey at senior level.” 

Adelaide’s Blake Drury, Port Adelaide’s Jack Watkins. Eagle ruck Jordan Lukac and Central District pair Rhett Montgomerie and Mani Liddy could don the cherished red guernsey for the first time.

Fos Williams Medallist Casey Voss, Magarey Medallists Will Snelling and Harry Grant, Woodville-West Torrens captain and former SANFL state captain Joseph Sinor, Norwood premiership defender Jack Heard and crafty North Adelaide forward Frank Szekely headline the star-studded inclusions for the hosts.

Leading the West End State Team for a second time this year will be Glenelg premiership captain Liam McBean. 

Among the players unavailable for selection are injured trio Flynn Perez (foot), Jack Hayes (knee soreness) and Jez McLennan (calf), while Glenelg veteran Max Proud is being managed.

West End State team coach Darren Reeves will put his team through its paces at training on Wednesday (Glenelg) and Thursday (Prospect) before the contest at 11.30am, which will be the curtain-raiser to the Port Adelaide v Geelong AFL match.

The KIA State Game will be screened live and free via SANFL Now.