We are less than a week away from New Holland WA State Country Men’s Team hosting South Australia in the State Country Football Cup at Optus Stadium on Saturday July 22.
WA are out to snatch back the Cup they lost last year in Adelaide and New Holland WA State Country Coach Kane Benson has selected experienced players to captain the side.
Daniel Acres (Kalannie FC) has been named captain with Tomas Gorter (South Bunbury FC) named Vice Captains.
Benson said off-field support was a key decision maker when selecting his leadership team, noting each player needed to relate to the different age groups playing in the side.
“They have all played state football previously and have shown amazing leadership in previous games,” Benson said.
“The leadership team are outstanding players across the the different lines on the footy field.
“All three will help make changes on the run if needed, and more importantly they will give 100 per cent at every contest which will attract the other players to follow.”
WA has named their 23-man side and Benson has chosen a mixed squad of new and experienced players.
Along with Acres and Gorter, Kim Schofield (Brigades), Luke Bairstow (Lake Grace/Pingrup), Simon Panizza (Williams), Zac Trigwell (Donnybrook), Bailey Taylor (Boulder City), Jake Nuich (Boulder City) and Guy Langdon (Dampier) return to represent WA.
“We’ve chosen broadly across the leagues with the inclusion of some new players along with half who are backing up from last year,” Benson said.
New to the team in 2023 is Rhys Waters (Jurien Bay) who was impressive in last weekend’s Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Championships, winning the Division 2 Fairest and Best Bud Byfield Medal, while former Hawthorn player Kade Stewart (Katanning) joins WA.
Kaidyn Fullgrabe returns after a stellar performance from last weekend’s Championships having taken out the Division 1 Fairest and Best Jock Coleman Medal, while Trigwell was named Rising Star.
The State Country Football Cup will feature as a curtain raiser to Fremantle v Sydney on Saturday, with bouncedown at 2.50pm and is live-streamed on Streamer here.
New Holland WA State Country Football Team
#
Firstname
Surname
League
Club
1
Dylan
Clarke
GFL
Kalgoorlie City
2
Kade
Stewart
UGSFL
Katanning
3
Kim
Schofield
GNFL
Brigades
4
Rhys
Waters
CMCFL
Jurien Bay
5
Jacob
Green
CMCFL
Cervantes
6
Luke
Bairstow
OFA
Lake Grace/Pingrup
7
Daniel
Acres
CWFL
Kalannie
8
Jordan
Delbridge
GFL
Mines Rover
9
Kaidyn
Fullgrabe
AFA
Cunderdin
10
Jayden
Schofield
GNFL
Brigades
11
Mitch
Tenardi
SWFL
Busselton
12
Simon
Panizza
UGSFL
Williams
13
Hayden
Schloithe
UGSFL
Katanning
14
Thomas
Baldwin
EDFL
Narembeen
15
Zac
Trigwell
SWFL
Donnybrook
16
Tom
Gorter
SWFL
South Bunbury
17
Bailey
Taylor
GFL
Boulder City
18
Jake
Nuich
GFL
Boulder City
19
Zac
Pethybridge
SWFL
Busselton
20
Guy
Langdon
NPFL
Dampier
21
Ben
Boultbee
AFA
York
22
Tom
Gillett
GFL
Boulder City
23
Jake
Dowding
AFA
Kellerberrin- Tammin
"*" indicates required fields
WA Football acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the many lands across Western Australia where we train, play, and come together through football. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations people. We recognise the deep and continuing contribution First Nations peoples make to our game and our communities.
"*" indicates required fields
