FOUR FALCONS NAMED IN WAFL STATE SQUAD

He has started the 2018 season strongly averaging 22 disposals a game including that rising to 24.5 over the past two weeks in the wins against Swan Districts and Perth.

While Black, Strijk, Nelson and Meadows look set to again proudly represent West Perth in the Black Swans jumper, Blake Wilhelm and Tyler Keitel are two in-form players who can consider themselves especially unlucky not to be included in the 33-man squad at this point.

Broadbridge is coaching the WAFL State team for the second time and likes the mix of players included in the squad as WA tries to beat a South Australian team in Adelaide for the first time since 1994.

"The players we’ve selected in the squad so far is based on who has displayed the best form so far this season, so it’s reward for performance," Broadbridge said.

"I think we’ve got a really good cross section of players who have state experience, AFL experience and others that deserve a chance based on their form.

"This initial squad will form the core of the State team but we definitely don’t want to rule anyone out. We will be watching games over the next couple of weeks and have a few players in mind that we might include to fill a required role or from a team balance point of view."
 
Broadbridge said the game would also be a great chance for players to experience playing at Adelaide Oval and showcase their talent as WA aims to record another away win over a fierce interstate rival.

"Playing the game as an AFL curtain raiser is a great opportunity and I’m sure there will be a big hometown crowd supporting the local team, so it’s definitely going to be a challenge," Broadbridge said.

"I have no doubt we will see two very competitive teams that will have a similar make-up in terms of talent and experience. It’s a big opportunity for the WAFL to firm up our position as what we believe is the best state league competition in Australia.  

"It will also be a great opportunity for players, like Tim Kelly did last year, to show how they can perform and potentially open doors to the AFL."

Meanwhile, Tom Medhat, Tom O'Donnell, Jaxon Prior and Ryan Hudson are the West Perth players included in the WA State 18s squad to be selected to play in the AFL National 18s Championships starting on Sunday June 3 against South Australia at Adelaide's Alberton Oval.

Kellen Johnson, Heath Chapman, Michael Mallard and Logan Foley have all been named from West Perth in the WA State 16s squad as well.

The campaign for WA in the AFL National 16s Championships begins on Sunday June 24 against South Australia also at Alberton Oval.

WAFL STATE SQUAD
Claremont – Jye Bolton, Kane Mitchell
East Fremantle – Jonathon Marsh, Jayden Schofield
East Perth – Sharrod Wellingham
Peel Thunder – Blair Bell, Gerald Ugle
Perth – Cody Leggett
South Fremantle – Ryan Cook, Ashton Hams, Brock Higgins, Blaine Johnson, Ben Saunders, Haiden Schloithe, Nick Suban
Subiaco – Lachlan Delahunty, Aaron Heal, Kyal Horsley, Leigh Kitchin, Angus Litherland, Jordan Lockyer, Chris Phelan, Ben Sokol, Brad Stevenson, Rhys Waters
Swan Districts – Corey Gault, Tony Notte, Rhys Palmer, Kirk Ugle
West Perth – Aaron Black, Luke Meadows, Shane Nelson, Andrew Strijk