Kia WAFL State team breaks six-year drought against SANFL at Adelaide OvalSaturday, May 17, 2025 - 1:02 PM - by Jordan McArdle

The drought is over.

After six long years, the Kia WAFL State team have finally lifted the Haydn Bunton Jr Cup once again after a come-from-behind 30-point victory over traditional rivals South Australia at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

It was a win full of heart from the Black Swans under first-year coach Adam Read, recovering from a slow start in the first and second quarters to run away with the match after half-time.

WA booted seven goals in a row eight-minute mark of the second term to the 18-minute mark of the third to seal their 49th victory over SA – 13.8 (86) to 8.8 (56) - in the historic 100th clash.

East Fremantle star Milan Murdock starred on the way to his second consecutive Simpson Medal as WA’s best on ground.

Murdock put his hand up for the AFL Mid-Season Draft later this month with a game-high 26 disposals to go with six marks, four tackles and three inside 50s.

 

 

 

 

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High-flying Subiaco forward Ryan Borchet starred up forward with four goals including three in a stunning 13-minute burst to turn the game on its head.

Swan Districts midfielder Jesse Turner was another big performer in the midfield, making the most of East Perth big man Scott Jones’ ruck work, while WA skipper Christian Ameduri was his workmanlike best with a whopping 10 tackles to go with 15 touches.

Peel Thunder young gun Michael Sellwood did his draft chances no harm with an excellent performance across half-back.

The intercept-marking machine had an equal game-high eight marks, matching South Fremantle skipper and fellow defender Chad Pearson’s efforts.

West Perth premiership speedster Joe Hinder was another that caught the eye, breaking lines with his pace on the way to 15 disposals and a goal.

The opening term was a tale of two halves with South Australia on top to start, making the most of their midfield ascendancy with the first two goals of the match before WA came to life to make it a two-point game at quarter-time.

 

 

 

 

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Taj Schofield, who was lively with two goals from 11 touches, kicked WA’s first of the game 11 minutes in with the team’s first inside 50 after the hosts dominated the early part of the contest.

Perth’s Austin Davis then cut the margin back to just two points before quarter-time.

Like they did in the first, South Australia were red-hot to start the second term to open up a 14-point buffer.

Borchet’s purple patch up forward gave WA the lead for the first time in the game with a couple of minutes left before the main break.

Sellwood was marking everything across half-back, reading the play so well to help limit SA’s damage on the scoreboard along with Pearson and Bulldogs veteran Noah Strom.

WA out of the blocks quickly to start the second half, booting the opening three majors as SA’s goal drought, which started back in the eight-minute mark of the second term, continued.

SA skipper Liam McBean, who finished with two goals and was well hell by Bulldogs defender Noah Strom, finally ended the Croweaters’ dry spell with his second at the 18-minute mark of the third term.

Mid-season draft hopeful Archer May from Subiaco had a couple of third-quarter goals to help keep the visitors’ momentum going.

WA were up by as much as 42 points at the eight-minute mark of the last quarter before SA hit back.

But WA held on for a memorable win – their first since 2018 at the same venue.

SCOREBOARD

WAFL 2.1 5.2 10.6 13.8 (86)

SANFL 2.3 4.5 5.6 8.8 (56)

WA goals: R Borchet 4; A May, T Schofield 2; A Clarke, A Davis, J Hinder, S Jones, J Sears

WA best: M Murdock (Simpson Medal), R Borchet, M Sellwood, J Turner, C Ameduri, C Eardley, J Hinder, A May.