The VFLW State Team fell to a hard-fought two-point defeat to the SANFLW in the 2026 State Game at Stratarama Stadium.

Despite controlling play for large parts of the game, the VFLW was unable to put its ascendency on the scoreboard in the 3.4 (22) to 2.8 (20) defeat.

The result handed the VFLW its first loss at representative level, following last year’s 27-point win over the Croweaters at Alberton Oval.

2024 Lambert-Pearce Medal winner Dom Carbone was outstanding for the Big V, winning the team’s best player medal after 28 disposals, seven clearances and six inside-50s.

The star midfielder picked up 19 disposals in the opening half and was huge in the final ten minutes as the Big V pushed hard to haul back the deficit.

El Chaston was just as good, picking up 18 possessions and repelling countless SANFLW surges forward.

Stella Reid was a great presence and capped her day with a late goal to go with 18 disposals, while Caitlin Thorne laid a team-high eight tackles.

Ultimately the Big V was left to rue wasted opportunities, going down despite registering more scoring shots and 25 more inside 50m entries.

The visiting side made a hot start but wasn’t able to capitalise on having all the play in the opening term, registering just four behinds while keeping the hosts scoreless.

Tahlia Sanger broke the deadline in the opening minute of the second term after sharking a ground ball and snapping from close range.

Holding a 10-point lead, the VFLW looked to be in complete control however the SANFLW lifted across the second term despite losing key forward Katelyn Rosenzweig to what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Klaudia O'Neill got the home side on the board with a goal following a strong contested mark, with the margin just three points at the main break.

The SANFLW then controlled the opening 30 minutes of the second half and looked to have the game safe in their keeping when a goal to Melissa Anderson halfway through the final term extended their lead to nine points.

But despite having not scored a major since early in the second quarter, the VFLW bravely rallied and a classy goal following a sliding mark to Stella Reid reduced the margin to three.

The visitors threw everything at their hosts in the final 10 minutes but weren’t able to find the go-ahead goal in the closing stages.

Final score: SANFLW 3.4 (22) def VFLW 2.8 (20)

Best: Dom Carbone, El Chaston, Stella Reid, Caitlin Thorne, Tahlia Sanger
Goals: Tahlia Sanger, Stella Reid