Kia WAFL State Team beat SANFL at home for first time in 11 years

The Kia WAFL State Team have made it back-to-back victories over the SANFL with a 36-point win at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

Following on from the WAFLW’s breakthrough win over South Australia, the men’s team made it a clean sweep for WA on a memorable afternoon.

It was WA’s first home victory over the Croweaters since their 2015 triumph at Mineral Resources Park, retaining the Haydn Bunton Jnr Cup after their thrilling Adelaide Oval win last year.

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The win, in front of 3671 supporters, was setup by a five-goals-to-one second term.

It didn’t come without a scare though, with South Australia getting a bit of momentum either side of the three-quarter time break.

 

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But West Perth speedster Joey Hinder, who put in a lively performance all afternoon, put the result beyond doubt at the 10-minute mark of the final term.

Sandover Medal winner Callan England become the second Claremont player of the day to win the best-on-ground medal, joining WAFLW captain Jayme Harken.

England was also a unanimous decision for the Simpson Medal, polling the maximum nine votes.

The Tigers co-captain racked up a game-high 32 disposals, nine clearances and five inside 50s to lead his side to a famous victory.

West Perth vice-captain Kane Bevan did his AFL Mid-Season Draft chances no harm with a brilliant midfield performance to finish second in the Simpson Medal voting.

The 22-year-old finished with 24 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles and a classy final-quarter goal to put the icing on the cake of a sensational WAFL State debut, four years after he appeared for WA in the AFL National Under-18s Championship.

 

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His Falcons teammate Hinder had an equal game-high three goals, with his blistering pace and pressure a handful for the visiting Croweaters, while debutants – Jiah Reidy of Swan Districts and Claremont key forward Jaiden Hunter – chimed in with two majors apiece.

Captain Christian Ameduri made it two from two as State skipper and once again led from the front with a massive midfield performance.

The hulking East Perth leader had 22 disposals, seven tackles and five clearances to be among the Simpson Medal votes, as was Lachlan Tardrew of Peel Thunder who impressed on debut with 22 touches and eight tackles.

Second-year Kia WAFL State Team coach Adam Read was proud to win on home soil, backing up WA’s drought-breaking win in Adelaide last season.

“We spoke about the legacy we want to leave. We lent into the 1921 team, the first team to defend home soil and they won and what do we want to be?” Read said.

“The lads have written themselves into history now, they’ve broken the streak, they’ve defended the land. I am enormously proud.”

Read was full of praise for England for helping fill the void of dual Simpson Medal winner Milan Murdock who was recently drafted to West Coast.

“You lose Milan and you’re like ‘who’s going to step up and fill the void?’ and I thought Callan did that beautifully today,” he said.

“His ability to find space, his craftiness around the ball and his cleanliness, it was elite.”