WAFL players are looking to impress AFL recruiters before the mid season draft at this year’s WAFL versus SANFL showcase match.
The WA team are looking to defend the trophy after a win in Adelaide in last year’s fixture.
The WAFL’s best 22 players will represent the league on May 16 at Sullivan Logistics Stadium in Leederville.
The fixture has a history of putting AFL hopefuls in the spotlight.
Western Bulldogs defender Michael Sellwood and Essendon Bombers midfielder Archer May represented the WAFL state team last year before being picked up in the 2025 mid season draft.
In last year’s match East Fremantle former player Milan Murdock was named best on ground, and went on to be picked up by the West Coast Eagles in the supplemental selection period (SSP) in February.
The WA team this year features ex AFL listed players such as Darcy Craven who returned to the WA after being on Brisbane’s list last year, and Connor West who played 26 games for the Eagles.
Among those players is Claremont Tigers player Zac Mainwaring who is set to play his second state match for WA. He says the fixture is important for mid season draft hopefuls to put their name on the map.
“It’s huge for boys trying to press their case and proving their talent to clubs,” he says.
He believes the stories of Murdock, Sellwood and May prove state league players can reach the games highest level.
“With those boys getting picked up and doing so well at AFL level it puts mature age draft picks on the radar which is good to see,” Mr Mainwaring says.
Although for the forward-turned-midfielder, beating South Australia is priority number one.
“I just want to get out there and put in my best performance to get WA a win, if in turn that puts me on the radar of AFL clubs that’s an added bonus,” he says.
South Fremantle head coach Craig White has been named assistant coach of the WA side and says Mainwaring is a key player to watch in next week’s clash.
“Zac Mainwaring is one that’s in the similar mould to Milan Murdock. I think he is building his own game up maybe looking at potentially going in the mid season draft,” he says.
He says the match is important because it gives AFL clubs more opportunity to view prospects in a competitive environment.
“it gives a bit more evidence to the AFL recruiters that these players can perform a step up from the state leagues, so performances would be held fairly high in AFL recruiting,” Mr White says.
However he says it may not happen for draft hopefuls after just one good match.
“Milan Murdock and Michael Sellwood played multiple state games, so it may take multiple state games to build up the credits [to AFL recruiters] but I think it holds some weight if they play well in this state game,” he says.
Mr White says the team’s main goal is to take home the trophy.
“The coaches full focus is on winning the game, we’ve selected a squad that has role players within it, not necessarily just the top 30 players, It’s a little more tactically driven,” he says.
The WAFL side hasn’t won back to back in this annual fixture since 1950.
White says to do so after winning last year would be important for WA football.
“The WAFL hasn’t necessarily been considered the strongest competition in the public, but for WA to go across last year on SA soil and win was huge, if we can back that up it’ll really put WA football on the radar,” he says.
Ross McQueen is also an assistant coach for the WA side. He agrees the fixture’s importance isn’t lost on the group.
“There’s certainly a lot of pride and history that goes with it, we are very aware of the history that comes with state football and myself and the players see it as a great honour,” he says.
The East Perth head coach says the match can provide opportunities for players, but is confident the team is focused on the main goal of winning for WA.
“Playing in those state games gives them a chance to represent themselves but every person we have in the squad are locked in to playing for WA and that’ll be their priority,” he says.
The WAFL vs SANFL state game is set to go ahead this Saturday.