SANFL beat WAFL in 2024 State GameSunday, May 19, 2024 - 3:40 PM - by Chris Pike

MILAN Murdock backed up his WAFL Grand Final Simpson Medal with another standout State game performance but the SANFL proved too strong at Optus Stadium to win by 63 points on Sunday.

The 2024 edition of the Kia State Game between the two proud football states took place on Sunday afternoon at Optus Stadium and the SANFL was able to keep their winning run going.

South Australia had already played a State game earlier this season with a victory against the VFL and they backed that up at Optus Stadium with the 16.13 (109) to 5.16 (46) win against Western Australia.

What the result means is that the SANFL has won the past five State matches against the WAFL including three in-a-row now at Optus Stadium with the last WA victory over the Croweaters coming back in 2018 at Adelaide Oval.

The 63-point margin is the largest in a State game between WA and SA since it was South Australia winning by 65 points back in 1996 at Subiaco Oval.

The SANFL made a fast start to the contest with the WAFL made to pay for some inaccuracy in front of goal with the South Australians kicking six goals to one in the first quarter to lead by 27 points at quarter-time.

It was another four goals to two in the second term and despite the WA goals from Ben Sokol, Milan Murdock and Trey Ruscoe, it was South Australia leading by 42 points at half-time.

The SANFL then kicked the only four goals of the third quarter and despite last quarter goals for the WAFL to Tyler Keitel and a second to Murdock, the Croweaters ran out 63-point winners.

East Fremantle midfielder Milan Murdock received the Simpson Medal after being judged to be the best for the WAFL in the contest on the back of also being best afield in last year's premiership triumph for the Sharks.

He finished the State game with 25 possessions, seven marks, seven tackles and two goals.

Some of his East Fremantle teammates put in strong performances too with Cam Eardley finishing with 25 possessions and seven marks, Fraser Turner 20 disposals and seven marks, and Brynn Teakle 20 touches and 16 hit outs in the ruck.

Swan Districts co-captain Jesse Turner also gathered 23 possessions while Bailey Rogers finished with 22 disposals, Angus Schumacher 21, Chad Pearson 20, Angus Scott 17, Greg Clark 17 and Peel Thunder defender Jacob Blight 17 to go with 13 marks.

Jez McLennan won the Fos Williams Medal after being judged best afield for the SANFL. He also won the medal in the win earlier this year against the VFL and he finished with 25 possessions and eight marks.

Aiden Grace kicked four goals for South Australia, James Rowe three, Eamon Wilkinson two and Luke Reynolds two.

Harrison Wigg also gathered 27 disposals, Luke Beecken 24, Billy Cootee 19, Rowe 19 and Joseph Sinor 18.

KIA STATE GAME 2024
WESTERN AUSTRALIA        1.5    3.7    3.12    5.16    (46)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA        6.2    10.7    14.11    16.13    (109)

WAFL – Goals: Murdock 2; Sokol, Ruscoe, Keitel.
Best: Murdock, Eardley, Blight, Teakle, Rogers, J Turner, Schumacher, Pearson.

SANFL – Goals: Grace 4; Rowe 3; Wilkinson, Reynolds 2; Cootee, Voss, Wigg, Holder, Doyle.
Best: McLennan, Wigg, Rowe, Beecken, Sinor, Grace, Cootee, Lyons.