The final squads to represent the Big V in this weekend’s State Games against the SANFL have been confirmed.

The best of the VFLW and VFL will battle it out against the SANFLW and SANFL in a representative double-header at Glenelg’s Stratarama Stadium on Saturday, April 11.

The matches feature as part of the AFL’s Gather Round festivities, with the women’s match to take place from 12:00pm ACST, followed by the men’s match from 2:30pm ACST.

The VFL has today announced its two squads that will travel to South Australia to take on the Croweaters. The final teams and emergencies will be confirmed prior to Saturday’s matches, along with both leadership groups.

The 23-player Smithy’s VFLW State Team features representatives from 10 clubs across the VFLW.

Two-time reigning premier North Melbourne Werribee has six players in the final squad, with the Box Hill Hawks (five), Collingwood (three) and Port Melbourne (three) the other clubs to have multiple players selected.

Six members of the team that defeated the SANFLW by 27 points in the VFLW’s inaugural representative match at Alberton Oval last year have maintained their place in the 2026 Smithy’s VFLW State Team.

They include Alana Barba, Dom Carbone, Lauren Caruso, El Chaston, Maddie Di Cosmo and Stella Reid.

Two-time North Melbourne Werribee premiership coach Brett Gourley will continue as head coach of the Smithy’s VFLW State Team. Tasmania coach Georgia Walker and Port Melbourne coach Tom Chitsos have been appointed assistants, alongside Box Hill Hawks assistant Steph Binder, who will again feature in this year’s coaching panel.

The 25-player Smithy’s VFL State Team comprises representatives from 13 clubs across the Smithy’s VFL.

Werribee is the most heavily represented team with five players selected. Each of the Box Hill Hawks, Coburg, Footscray, Frankston, GWS Giants, Southport Sharks, Tasmania and Williamstown have two representatives.

Eight players who featured in last year’s drought-breaking win at Tanunda Recreation Reserve have been named to wear the Big V again in 2026.

Riley Bonner, Dom Brew, Brayden Crossley, Kye Declase, Corey Ellison, Harvey Hooper, Brodie McLaughlin and Louis Pinnuck are all named in the final squad after featuring in last year’s 11-point triumph, which was the VFL’s first win over the SANFL since 2002.

Brew, Crossley and Declase have been named in the Smithy’s VFL State Team for the third-consecutive year, while Hugh Dixon returns to the side having played in 2024.

Frankston coach Jackson Kornberg has been appointed head coach of the Smithy’s VFL State Team, taking the reins from Zane Littlejohn, who spent two years in the role before joining North Melbourne as assistant coach of strategy.

Kornberg will be assisted by Werribee coach Dan Lowther, Essendon’s Cameron Joyce and GWS GIANTS development coach Trent Dennis-Lane, while Nigel Carmody will serve as Chairman of Selectors.

Both Big V squads will train at Sandringham’s Wilson Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Tuesday and Thursday, ahead of travelling to South Australia on Friday afternoon.

SMITHY’S VFLW STATE TEAM

Head Coach: Brett Gourley
Assistant Coaches: Steph Binder, Tom Chitsos and Georgia Walker

SMITHY’S VFL STATE TEAM

Head Coach: Jackson Kornberg
Assistant Coaches: Trent Dennis-Lane, Cameron Joyce and Dan Lowther

2026 STATE GAME DETAILS

SANFLW vs VFLW
Saturday, April 11
12:00pm local / 12:30pm AEST
Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg

SANFL vs VFL
Saturday, April 11
2:30pm local / 3:00pm AEST
Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg

BROADCAST

The 2026 State Games will be available via AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.

TICKETS

Tickets for the 2026 State Games are available here. Prices are adults $15, concession $10, while children aged under 18 have free entry.