Reigning competition best and fairest winners Dom Carbone and Dom Brew will lead the Big V in this week’s AAMI State Games against the SANFL.
Carbone has been given the honour of captaining the inaugural rebel VFLW State Team, while Brew has been reappointed as skipper of the Smithy’s VFL State Team after leading the team in 2024.
Carbone last year claimed the Lambert-Pearce Medal as the VFLW’s best and fairest player and led the Western Bulldogs to their first Grand Final appearance since 2019.
She has since crossed to Collingwood and will captain the Magpies in the 2025 rebel VFLW season.
Carbone said it was humbling to be named captain of the rebel VFLW State Team for its first representative match.
“It's obviously such an honour to be recognised amongst this group of girls and the calibre of players,” Carbone said.
“I think you look at our state league and the talent that we produce and the quality of football that we play, it's exceptional.
“To be honoured as a captain of the inaugural team it’s something that I don't take lightly and I'm just so excited to be a part of it and really looking forward to the week ahead.”
Sandringham recruit Lauren Brazzale will serve as vice-captain of the rebel VFLW State Team. Brazzale brings great experience, having played 73 AFLW matches for Carlton and Collingwood, prior to joining the Zebras for the 2025 rebel VFLW season.
Brew’s reappointment follows an unforgettable 2024 campaign.
In addition to being named captain of the Smithy’s VFL State Team, he went on led Werribee to its first VFL premiership since 1993, romped to a runaway victory in the J.J. Liston Trophy and also took out the rebel Coaches MVP Award.
The star midfielder said he was determined to lead the VFL to victory on Saturday following last year’s close defeat to the SANFL.
“It was a bit disappointing with the result last year so I was hoping to get another crack at it this year if it fell my way,” Brew said.
“It’s always good to be recognised like this. (I’m) excited to get a bit of redemption and to actually have the privilege of doing it again is very good.
“Zane (Littlejohn) originally called me when he got the job to coach again. He reached out and asked what we could have done better, which has all been put into action now. It’s a better build up.”
The 2025 AAMI State Games will feature as part of the AFL’s Gather Round festivities in South Australia this week.
The best players from the rebel VFLW will represent the ‘Big V’ when they take on the SANFL Women’s State Team at Alberton Oval on Friday, April 11 from 6:30pm local.
It will be the first time since the rebel VFLW was established in 2017 that a women’s representative team will take the field.
The men’s clash between the Smithy’s VFL State Team and the SANFL’s West End State Team will take place at Tanunda Recreation Park in the Barossa on Saturday, April 12 from 2:45pm local.
The clash between the VFL and SANFL men’s representative teams will follow the North Melbourne vs Gold Coast Suns AFL match at nearby Barossa Park, providing a footy showcase for the Barossa region.
The VFL will be looking for redemption after going down to the SANFL by 14 points at Glenelg’s Stratarama Stadium last year.
It was the first time the Smithy’s VFL State Team had been on the representative stage since 2017 and reignited the rivalry between the VFL and SANFL which dates back to the late 1800s.
Final teams to represent the rebel VFLW State Team and Smithy’s VFL State Team will be announced later this week.
2025 AAMI State Game – Women’s
rebel VFLW State Team vs SANFLW State Team
Friday, April 11, 2025
6:30pm local / 7:00pm AEST
Alberton Oval
Broadcast: Live stream at AFL.com.au
Tickets: Free entry
2025 AAMI State Game – Men’s
Smithy’s VFL State Team vs SANFL’s West End State Team
Saturday, April 12, 2025
2:45pm local / 3:15pm AEST
Tanunda Recreation Park
Broadcast: 7mate in Victoria and 7plus Sport nationally. Live stream at AFL.com.au
Tickets: Adults $15, concession $10. Purchase tickets here
