WAFL v SANFL State Game Match ReportSunday, May 15, 2022 - 3:51 PM - by Chris Pike

HISTORY couldn’t separate the two proud football states coming into Sunday's State Game at Optus Stadium with South Australia narrowly beating Western Australia by four points.

Coming into the 97th meeting dating back to 1904, both WA and SA had recorded 48 wins against one another setting the stage for a fascinating contest in the 2022 State Game, and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

South Australia did threaten to open up a handy gap leading by 24 points during the second quarter, but by early in the fourth scores were all square when Ben Sokol kicked a second goal for the Black Swans.

That set up a thrilling finish but the Croweaters peppered the goals and ended up doing enough to win 10.10 (70) to 9.12 (66) to retain the Haydn Bunton Cup.

WA captain Leigh Kitchin, who was playing his seventh State game, was outstanding all afternoon and was awarded the Simpson Medal afterwards having finished with 30 possessions, eight inside-50 entries, six marks and five tackles.

East Fremantle's Cam Eardley continued his outstanding form to start the WAFL season as well and in his second State appearance, he had 24 disposals, seven marks and five tackles.

Subiaco wingman Chad Harris also had 21 touches and six marks while Swan Districts' co-captain Jesse Turner had 21 possessions in his first time representing the WAFL.

East Perth's Angus Schumacher collected 18 touches while laying seven tackles and South Fremantle pair Jake Florenca and Chad Pearson gathered 18 disposals apiece, Claremont's Ryan Lim 17 and Subiaco's Stefan Giro 16.

West Perth's Noah Pegoraro was tremendous at centre half-back for WA as well finishing with nine possessions and five marks while his Falcons teammate also had 14 disposals and six marks down back.

Meanwhile in attack, Claremont's reigning Sandover Medallist Bailey Rogers kicked three goals for the Black Swans with Keegan Knott and Ben Sokol adding two goals apiece.

And for South Australia, Casey Voss won the Fos Williams Medal on the back of 29 possessions and 15 marks.

Riley Knight racked up 37 disposals for the Croweaters, Harrison Wigg 32, Matthew Allen 24 (14 marks), Campbell Combe 21, Mitch O'Neill 18, Joseph Sinor 18 and Alex Spina 18.

Zane Williams and Daniel Menzel kicked two goals apiece for SA.

WA kicked the first goal of the State Game courtesy of Subiaco spearhead Ben Sokol at the seven-minute mark. South Australia responded soon after with their first goal to Zane Williams.

The Croweaters then added a second when former Geelong forward Daniel Menzel snapped truly, and they had three in the space of eight minutes when Keenan Ramsey added another.

However, WA was able to respond just before quarter-time when Keegan Knott made South Australia pay for a turnover at half-back.

South Australia were still nine points on top at quarter-time thanks to a goal from Connor Ballenden on the siren, and the visitors were then able to start the second term impressively with goals to Williams and Josh Carmichael.

Another goal to the Croweaters from Mitch O'Neill and they were threatening to blow the game open. WA had their chances, but kicked five behinds for the second term but did get a goal back through Bailey Rogers to be within 17 points at the half-time break.

It took almost 10 minutes for a goal in the second half but that came WA's way when Knott kicked his second. Rogers then kicked his second too and the Sandgropers were back within seven points, and it was game on.

Both teams then traded a goal before three quarter-time and South Australia was seven points up at the final change.

The game was up for grabs coming into the fourth quarter and even more so when Jake Florenca was able to kick truly on the run for WA.

South Australia responded through captain Liam McBean but within minutes Sokol marked strongly and converted for the home team and scores were all level at the nine-minute mark.

Them there it was the Croweaters peppering the goals but unable to convert until Menzel kicked his second of the game with only his second kick.

That had them up by 10 points and while Rogers' third goal gave WA a glimmer of hope, ultimately it was South Australia who held on for the four-point victory.

WAFL v SANFL STATE GAME 2022

WESTERN AUSTRALIA        2.4    3.9    6.10    9.12 (66)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA        4.1    7.2    8.5    10.10 (70)

WAFL: Goals – Rogers 3; Knott, Sokol 2; Florenca, Keitel.
Best – Kitchin, Eardley, Pegoraro, Harris, Rogers, Turner, Schumacher, Florenca.
SANFL: Goals – Williams, Menzel 2; O'Neill, Rokahr, Carmichael, Ramsey, McBean, Ballenden.
Best – Voss, Knight, Wigg, Allen, Combe, Ramsey, Williams.

SIMPSON MEDAL (WA): Leigh Kitchin
FOS WILLIAMS MEDAL (SA): Casey Voss