A 50-player Smithy’s VFL State Team squad has been announced ahead of the representative clash against the SANFL in Glenelg during the AFL Gather Round

The Victorian Football League (VFL) has announced a 50-player squad ahead of its highly-anticipated return to representative football when it takes on the SANFL during the AFL Gather Round next month.

The fierce rivalry between the Smithy’s VFL and Hostplus SANFL League will reignite on Saturday, April 6 when the best players from both competitions face off during the AFL Gather Round… A Festival of Footy, which will take place in South Australia from April 4-7.

The match marks the first senior men’s representative clash between the VFL and SANFL since 2016 and the VFL’s first representative match since 2017.

The Smithy’s VFL State Team squad features many of the best VFL-listed players from across the competition, with 19 of the 21 clubs represented. AFL-listed players, including rookie-listed players, are not eligible to be selected.

2023 grand finalist Werribee leads the way with eight representatives named in the squad, followed by the Southport Sharks (six) and Port Melbourne (four).

The squad includes six players who featured in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year, along with a host of new recruits who have joined Smithy’s VFL clubs during the off-season.

The Smithy’s VFL State Team coaching panel was announced last month, with Box Hill Hawks coach Zane Littlejohn appointed head coach.

He will lead a highly experienced coaching panel that includes current-serving coaches Steve Daniel (Southport Sharks), Ben Hudson (Brisbane Lions) and Adam Skrobalak (Port Melbourne).

A final squad of 23 players to represent the ‘Big V’ in the league’s first representative appearance in seven years will be announced closer to the match.

Players from outside the squad of 50 will still be eligible for selection in the final squad, with form across the opening two rounds of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season to be taken into consideration.

Continue below to view the 50-player Smithy’s VFL State Team squad.

Name	Club
Callum Brown	Box Hill Hawks
Tyler Brown	Box Hill Hawks
Cal Porter	Box Hill Hawks
Kyle Dunkley	Brisbane Lions
Ewan Macpherson	Brisbane Lions
Ned Cahill	Carlton
Lachlan Young	Carlton
Campbell Hustwaite	Casey Demons
Roan Steele	Casey Demons
Mitch White	Casey Demons
Flynn Gentile	Coburg
Sam Glover	Collingwood
Ned Long	Collingwood
Jackson Hately	Essendon
Xavier O'Neill	Essendon
Trent Bianco	Footscray Bulldogs
Josh Chatfield	Footscray Bulldogs
Phoenix Spicer	Footscray Bulldogs
George Grey	Frankston
Trent Mynott	Frankston
Bailey Van De Heuvel	Geelong Cats
Sam Lowson	North Melbourne
Jack Watkins	North Melbourne
Jean-Luc Velissaris	Northern Bullants
Tom Highmore	Port Melbourne
Harvey Hooper	Port Melbourne
Robbie McComb	Port Melbourne
Roarke Smith	Port Melbourne
Mutaz El Nour	Richmond
Joel Garner	Richmond
Lachlan Street	Richmond
Hugo Hall-Kahan	Sandringham
Darby Hipwell	Sandringham
Brayden Crossley	Southport Sharks
Jacob Dawson	Southport Sharks
Hugh Dixon	Southport Sharks
Ben Jepson	Southport Sharks
Max Pescud	Southport Sharks
Boyd Woodcock	Southport Sharks
Jake Bartholomaeus	Sydney Swans
Dom Brew	Werribee
Nathan Cooper	Werribee
Kye Declase	Werribee
Hudson Garoni	Werribee
Nick Hayes	Werribee
Jack Henderson	Werribee
Sam Paea	Werribee
Louis Pinnuck	Werribee
Tom Downie	Williamstown
Brodie McLaughlin	Williamstown

TICKETING

Tickets for the representative clash between the Smithy’s VFL and Hostplus SANFL League are now on sale.

Entry is just $15 for Adults and $10 for Concession while children aged under 18 receive free admission and do not require a ticket for entry.

Friday March 22

Southern Saints v Collingwood 7:05pm AEDT RSEA Park, Melbourne • Kulin Nations

Saturday March 23

Essendon v Port Melbourne 10:05am AEDT NEC Hangar, Essendon

Geelong v Carlton 11:15am AEDT GMHBA Stadium, Geelong • Wadawurrung

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne 12:05pm AEDT Whitten Oval, Melbourne • Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung

Darebin v Williamstown 5:05pm AEDT La Trobe University, Bundoora

Sunday March 24

Casey Demons v Box Hill Hawks 11:05am AEDT Casey Fields, Melbourne • Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung

Friday March 22

Sandringham Zebras v Collingwood 4:05pm AEDT RSEA Park, Melbourne • Kulin Nations

Frankston v Williamstown Kinetic Stadium, Frankston • Boon Wurrung/Bunerong 7:35pm AEDT

 

Saturday March 23

Gold Coast Suns v Richmond 12:05pm AEDT People First Stadium, Gold Coast • Yugambeh

Southport v Port Melbourne 1:05pm AEDT Fankhauser Reserve, Southport

Essendon v Brisbane Lions 1:05pm AEDT NEC Hangar, Essendon

Geelong v Werribee Tigers 2:05pm AEDT GMHBA Stadium, Geelong • Wadawurrung

North Melbourne v Northern Bullants 3:05pm AEDT Arden Street Oval, Melbourne • Wurundjeri

 

Sunday March 24

Sydney Swans v Coburg Lions 12:05pm AEDT Tramway Oval, Sydney

Footscray Bulldogs v GWS Giants 12:05pm AEDT Whitten Oval, Melbourne • Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung

Casey Demons v Box Hill Hawks 2:05pm AEDT Casey Fields, Melbourne • Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung

The VFL tipping comp starts this weekend.

This will be the 24th year of VFL tipping which started way back in 2000

 

Last season’s top ten tipsters

FINAL LEADERS BOARD after ROUND 22

Equal FIRST Mark Waverley, Frankston Boy 142

Equal THIRD Aimee, Greg Stephens 141

Equal FIFTH Colin ‘go gulls’ Smith, Greg Thompson, Jason ‘Gillon’ Liebers 139

EIGHTH Arthur 138

Equal NINTH Graham Cooper, Mudassar 137

Equal ELEVENTH Blackrocker, Butts, Digs 136

 

PRIZEMONEY FOR THE 2024 VFL TIPPING SEASON AS FOLLOWS

Weekly winners for the 21 rounds will receive $25. Tipster with most tips for the round collects $25, If more than one tipster picks the most will go to the tipster nearest to the aggregate score game.

Aggregate score rounds will be ROUNDS 1,2,6,10,14,18 where $25 will go to the tipster neatest the aggregate score.

Top three place getters will receive the remaining pool.

First 50%, second prize 30%, third prize 20%

Last season the winners were

Equal first prize Mark Waverley, Frankston Boy share 50% and 30% as joint winners $432 ($216 each)

Equal third prize Aimee, Greg Stephens to share 20% as equal third $108 ($54 each)

The following tipsters are in the black

Michael $5, Langy $5, Beachy $10, Billy Hector $40, Blackrocker $5, Butts $45, Chris Douglas $5, Daniel Bourne $7, David Lumley $15, Edgar $10, Graham Cooper $10, Greg Stephens $39, Greg Thompson $10, Hams $20, Hollywood Hogan $30, Ian Crocker $15, Ian Gee $55, Jeff Smith $20, Mark Ryan $5, Mudassar $45, Mark Waverley $36, Rob Henderson $5, Jason ‘Gillon’ Liebers $5

 

Tipsters that have already paid for the 2024 VFL tipping season

Timeball, Mark Waverley, Jeff Smith, Frankston Boy, Tony Ropes, Hams, Blackrocker, Butts, David Lumley, Colin Smith, Don, Graham Cooper, Greg Stephens, Hollywood Hogan, Ian Gee, Fitzy, Rockford, Mega, Mudassar, Aimee and Billy Hector have paid for the 2024 VFL season.

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ROUND 1

 

Fri Mar 22 4:05pm Ikon Park	Sandringham vs. Collingwood
Fri Mar 22 7:35pm Kinetic Stadium/Frankston Park	Frankston vs. Williamstown
Sat Mar 23 11:05am Heritage Bank Stadium	Gold Coast vs. Richmond
Sat Mar 23 12:05pm Fankhauser Reserve	Southport vs. Port Melbourne
Sat Mar 23 1:05pm NEC Hangar	Essendon vs. Brisbane
Sat Mar 23 AGGREGATE SCORE MATCH 2:05pm GMHBA Stadium	Geelong vs. Werribee
Sat Mar 23 3:05pm Arden St Oval	North Melbourne vs. Northern Bullants
Sun Mar 24 12:05pm Tramway Oval	Sydney vs. Coburg
Sun Mar 24 12:05pm Whitten Oval/Western Oval	Footscray vs. GWS
Sun Mar 24 2:00pm Casey Fields	Casey Demons vs. Box Hill
Bye	Carlton

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ROUND 2

Fri Mar 29 12:05pm Brighton Homes Arena	Brisbane vs. Collingwood
Fri Mar 29 12:30pm Arden Street Oval	North Melbourne vs. Carlton
Fri Mar 29 1:05pm Piranha Park/Coburg City Oval	Coburg vs. Williamstown
Fri Mar 29 3:05pm ETU Stadium/North Port Oval	Port Melbourne vs. Frankston
Sat Mar 30 11:05am GMHBA Stadium	Geelong vs. Box Hill
Sat Mar 30 1:05pm Fankhauser Reserve	Southport vs. Werribee
Sat Mar 30 AGGREGATE SCORE MATCH 2:05pm Casey Fields	Casey Demons vs. Footscray
Sun Mar 31 12:05pm Swinburne Centre/Punt Road Oval	Richmond vs. Sydney
Sun Mar 31 2:00pm Trevor Barker Beach Oval	Sandringham vs. Essendon
Bye	GWS, Northern Bullants, Gold Coast

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ROUND 3

Sat Apr 13 10:05am Manuka Oval	GWS vs. Sandringham
Sat Apr 13 12:05pm DSV Stadium	Williamstown vs. Southport
Sat Apr 13 AGGREGATE SCORE MATCH 2:05pm Avalon Airport Oval	Werribee vs. Richmond
Sat Apr 13 2:30pm Heritage Bank Stadium	Gold Coast vs. Box Hill
Sat Apr 13 3:05pm Casey Fields	Port Melbourne vs. Casey Demons
Sun Apr 14 1:05pm Arden St Oval	North Melbourne vs. Brisbane
Sun Apr 14 2:00pm IKON Park	Carlton vs. Collingwood
Sun Apr 14 2:05pm Genis Steel Oval/Preston City Oval	Northern Bullants vs. Geelong
TBC	Footscray vs. Essendon
Bye	Coburg, Sydney, Frankston

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Previous winners of VFL tipping comp (The honour board)

2023 eq 1ST Mark Waverley, Frankston Boy 142, eq 3RD Aimee, Greg Stephens 141

2022 1ST Mark Ryan 140 (record), 2ND Digs 132, eq 3RD Rockford, Tony Ropes 131  

2021 eq 1ST Rockford, Shane ‘wicker’ Ryan 77, eq 3RD Digs, Daniel 76

2020 No VFL played due to COVID.

2019 1ST Rockford 104, 2ND Don 103, 3RD Fitzy, Mega 102  

2018 1ST Hams 103, 2ND Don 102, 3RD Mick CUB, Jeff Kenny 99  

2017 1ST Burraburger 95, 2ND Frankston Boy 90, eq 3RD Keith Lumley, Hollywood Hogan 89

2016 1ST Butts 95, 2ND Paul Amy 93, eq 3RD Rockford, Sammy 92

2015 1ST Parry 103, eq 2ND Fitzy, Gibbo 99

2014 1ST Greg Thompson 106, eq Keith Lumley, Sheeds 105 

2013 1st Paul Amy 91, eq 2nd Fitzy, Macca 90

2012 1st Tongue 83, Greg Thompson 82, Chris Tetzner 81

2011 1st Filesy (Rockford) 95, George 94, Parry 93

2010 1st Daniel Bourne 97, eq 2nd Rick Dennis, Bobby Borough 95

2009 1st Don 87, eq 2nd Digs, Daniel Bourne 85

2008 1st George 104, Kain Pollard 101, eq 3rd Vaughan, Keith Lumley, Paul Saints, Con Milonas 100

2007 1st Mudassar 82, eq 2nd Blackrocker, Beachy 81

2006 1st eq 1st Macca, Zebraman, Shane Ryan 86

2005 1st eq 1st Footyman, Sheeds 77, eq 3rd Darren Pace, Rick Dennis 76

2004 1st Jim 84, eq 2nd Doug, Trent 81

2003 1st Gibbo 79, eq 2nd Jim, Bananaman 78

2002 1st Sheeds 117, 2nd Don 110, eq 3rd Jeff Smith, Filesy 109

2001 eq 1st Hoffo, Sheeds 110, 3rd Ashtray Dave 109

2000 1st Filesy 118, 2nd Tim Donovan113, 3rd Hoffo 112

The VFL tipping comp starts next weekend.

This will be the 24th year of VFL tipping which started way back in 2000

 

 

It was noted on Facebook that there maybe a rule change that affects VFL clubs more significantly than AFL standalone and VFL aligned clubs. 

 

 

VFL Rewind Membership Drive competition. 

For the Month of March we will be running a competition with the club that sells the most memberships will win a huge prize pack including a Pie Warmer and pies thanks to Four'N Twenty.

Each week we will post up the leaderboards and encourage everyone to get their club up the leaderboard by buying a membership 

The clubs who have agreed to participate in the competition are all the Melbourne VFA/VFL standalones plus Box Hill. The participating clubs are 

Box Hill Hawks Coburg Football Club Frankston Football Club Northern Bullants Football Club Port Melbourne Football Club Werribee Football Club Williamstown Football Club 

Get behind your club and buy a membership in March. 

Membership Links for each club are below. 

Box Hill

https://membership.hawthornfc.com.au/packages/boxhill

Coburg

https://cfc.memberjungle.com/

Frankston

https://am.intix.com/frankstonfc/2024-membership-packages

Northern Bullants

https://northernbullantsfc.com.au/membership/

Port Melbourne 

https://www.portmelbournefc.com.au/memberships/

Werribee 

https://am.intix.com/werribeefc/buy

Williamstown

https://store.williamstownfc.com.au/membership/

SANFL vs VFL State Game will be played at Stratarama Stadium (Glenelg Oval) on Saturday April 6 at 12:40pm local time (1:10pm Melbourne Time)

Here is the Fixtures for round 1, Remainder of fixture (plus times and dates for rounds 2-13 out next week).