West End State Team falls to VFL

11 April 2026

By LUKE MARCHIORO (supplied by The Advertiser)

The VFL has made it back-to-back wins over the SANFL, coming from behind at three-quarter time to win by five points in a thrilling contest at Stratarama Stadium.

Little separated the two sides for much of the afternoon, with six lead changes and neither side able to control the contest for long periods of time.

Featuring 12 state game debutants, the new-look SANFL side made a slow start conceding three of the first four goals to trail by 11 points midway through the first term.

However, the Croweaters settled booting the final four goals of the term including two to West forward Tom Scully to lead by 13 points at quarter time.

SANFL extended the lead to 19 points midway though the second term, before the VFL kicked the final three goals of the half to trail by just one point at half time.

The momentum swings continued in the third term, with the VFL kicking four unanswered goals to lead by 11 points before the SANFL responded with three goals to lead by five points at the final change.

The VFL booted the first three goals of the final term to kick out to a 13-point lead before Lachie Hosie answered with his first major to keep the SANFL in touch.

Charlie Clarke nabbed a quick reply for the VFL before Matt Allen marked and goaled to make it a five-point game with the Big V defence holding firm to repel the SANFL in the final few minutes.

It capped a frustrating afternoon for the SANFL, who won the clearance battle  37-32 and inside 50s 54-51 but couldn’t quite get it done on the scoreboard in a high-quality state game spectacle.

“It is super disappointing not to win the game,” SANFL coach Marty Mattner said post-game.

“From a spectacle point of view, it was close all day with momentum swings and a great skill level, but we would have liked to win,”

Reigning Magarey Medallist Tom Lewis was awarded the Fos Williams Medal for the SANFL for his 32 disposal, eight clearance performance, working tirelessly through the midfield and Mattner was full of praise for his performance.

“He has been super over the last 12 months,” Mattner said.

“He is a lead-by example player and a leader; he gets in and under, and he was terrific again today.”

Lewis wasn’t alone in impressing for the SANFL with debutant Tom Scully booting three goals while Amos Doyle was a standout in the ruck winning his battle with Brayden Crossley.

Young midfielders Kobe Ryan (24 disposals, four clearances) and Ollie Davis (21 disposals, six tackles, six clearances) were also influential while Aaron Francis showed his class and experience in defence.

“I feel we got the balance right between experience and new players coming in, some guys who have really deserved it with their performances,” Mattner said on his side’s selection.

“Some young guys also got their opportunities as well which is good moving forward.”

South Australian and former Port and St Kilda player Riley Bonner was awarded the Frank Johnson Medal for best afield for the VFL for his 32-disposal game.

He was one of a host of former SANFL stars in the VFL side, with ex Bulldog Jackson Hately and former Tigers James Bell and Luke Parks among the best for the Big V.

It was a second straight win for the VFL over the SANFL, with the contest now a feature on the Gather Round calendar and VFL coach Jackson Kornberg was full of praise for both sides.

“SA were tremendous, they have some great talent and it was a great game,” Kornberg said.

“I thought it was won around the ball, our mids got to work after half time and were a bit cleaner but I am really pumped for our boys and our league.”

VFL 3.3 7.8 11.11 15.13 (103)

SANFL 5.4 7.9 12.10 14.14 (98)

GOALS – VFL: Podhajski 4, Clarke, Hagan, Brew, Tarrant 2, Hately, Billings, Declase. SANFL: Scully 3, McBean, Allan, Doyle 2, Hosie, Emmett, Beattie, Murley, Ryan.