FIVE PREMIERSHIP STARS, EMERGING GEM NAMED IN STATE SQUAD

FIVE West Perth premiership players plus an emerging star have been named in the initial 41-man Western Australia squad for the upcoming state game against Tasmania on Saturday June 11 at Steel Blue Oval.

West Perth is well represented in the initial squad for this year's state game with 2013 premiership players Aaron Black, Shane Nelson, Jay van Berlo, Andrew Strijk and Steven Browne all there along with the emerging Luke Meadows.

Black is having another outstanding season for the Falcons both on the wing and as an outside midfielder. He is averaging 27.6 disposals game and has kicked nine goals, and if he plays it will be his third time representing WA.

Nelson has only played three games back from a finger injury but has been outstanding averaging 31.3 disposals to be a chance at a second game for his state.

Strijk is having another outstanding season for West Perth starting off half-back and the last two weeks moving forward where he has kicked six goals. The 28-game veteran has played four times previously for the Black Swans.

Van Berlo has played for WA twice previously and as the solo captain at West Perth for the first time, he is having another strong season averaging 20.5 possessions a game.

Browne is back to some of his best football for the Falcons this season off half-back averaging 19.9 touches a game and the 27-year-old last played for WA in the win over Queensland at Bendigo Bank Stadium in 2011.

Meadows is the newcomer in the state squad rewarded for his career-best form so far in 2016. He is averaging 18.6 touches a game off half-back with his poise, toughness and accuracy by foot making him a standout performer.

While six players from a team that holds a 4-4 record and sits in sixth position on the ladder is a good result for West Perth, Tyler Keitel, Rohan Kerr and Kody Manning are players unlucky not to have been included who could still force their way in.

Former West Perth premiership captain and coach Darren Harris will again be in charge of the WAFL's state side for a second straight year and he was very impressed with the quality of players selected.

"There are so many WAFL players in great form at the moment and this has allowed us to put together a very strong list. We’ve gone with quite a large squad initially and can still add to that if players show outstanding form over the next few weeks," Harris said.

"There are two reasons for the large size of the squad – firstly we’re conscious that six WAFL teams will be playing games on the Monday leading into the state game and secondly, there are so many players worthy of selection.

"It was fantastic last year to see the buy-in from our WAFL players. They were very passionate about representing their state and it wasn’t compulsory to play. We wanted those players who were totally committed and it is the same this year. 

"We will end up with those players in our final side who really want to play for their state and deserve to, based on their form. That will give us the best opportunity for success against Tassie who will bring a very strong side."

The WAFL squad will train four times in the lead-up to the game, with a final training session and jumper presentation to be held at Steel Blue Oval on Thursday, June 9.

CARLTON DRAUGHT WAFL STATE SQUAD
Claremont – Darcy Cameron, Jye Bolton, Ryan Neates
East Fremantle – Matthew Watson, Jamie McNamara, Brett Peake, George Hampson, Liam Anthony, Andrew Stephen, Brock O’Brien
East Perth – Kyle Anderson, Paul Johnson
Peel – Josh Bootsma
Perth – Jared Bell, Aidan Tropiano, Clint Jones
South Fremantle - Blayne Wilson, Marlion Pickett, Ryan Cook, Tim Kelly, Ashton Hams, Ben Saunders, Zac Strom
Subiaco - Clancy Wheeler, Lachlan Delahunty, Declan Jackson, Aaron Heal, Kyal Horsley, Adam Cockie, Leigh Kitchin, Chris Phelan, Hamish Shepheard
Swan Districts – Tony Notte, Justin Simpson, Matt Riggio
West Perth – Luke Meadows, Andrew Strijk, Steven Browne, Jay Van Berlo, Aaron Black, Shane Nelson

COACHES 
Darren Harris – Coach
John Dimmer – Forwards
Craig Smoker – Midfield
Mark Foster – Midfield
Geoff Valentine – Backs
Matt Guadagnin – Bench 
Brett Barber – Chairman of Selectors
Corey Johnson – Runner
Brent LeCras – Runner

PROGRAM
Monday May 23
Training and Recovery session at Fremantle Oval, 5.30pm
Monday May 30
Training and recovery session at Domain Stadium, 6pm
Tuesday June 7
Training session at Medibank Stadium, 5.30pm
Thursday June 9 
Training session at Steel Blue Oval, 5.15pm
Jumper Presentation 7pm
Saturday June 11
WA v Tasmania at Steel Blue Oval, 2.15pm