Rosa and Cloke - the Metricon Bendigo Bombers' pair - have both been selected on half-back flanks for the VFL for its clash with Western Australia.

'‘They will both play as defenders and we hope they can play nice and tight on their opponents," Williams said yesterday. '‘They are both in really good form and it was fairly easy to select them.

‘‘Jason has been playing in a multitude of positions for Bendigo and Simon is one of the premier small defenders in the competition, and by being selected for Victoria it's a great reward for them.

‘‘We will be looking for them to provide a fair bit of run out of the back line, be nice and steady and beat their opponent." Rosa, who has played 94 VFL games, is in his first year as captain of the Bombers and has been in career-best form this season.

THE Big V makes a timely return today, as the best players from the VFL tackle the West Australian Football League's finest in a representative clash.

As the National Rugby League's state-of-origin juggernaut rolls on, some AFL superstars including Jonathan Brown and Matthew Pavlich have throwN their support behind an origin relaunch.

In the meantime, like-minded footy fans have their chance to send a message by supporting today's match at Port Melbourne.

In what promises to be an intriguing contest, the Black Swans arrived in Melbourne this week looking to square the ledger after the Vics knocked them over by 11 points in their previous encounter in Perth in 2004.

Brownlow medallist Shane Woewodin returns to play his first match in Melbourne since August 2005, as captain of the WA team.

As a stand-alone VFL club, the Devils played five seasons for a 46 per cent winning return, and made the finals from 2003-05.

However, since entering the alignment, the Devils have won just eight of 25 games at 32 per cent, missed last year's finals, and are currently sitting at the bottom of the VFL ladder.

Asked if the VFL continued on its present format next season -- subject to the AFL's review of the second-tier competition -- whether the Devils would still be partially aligned, AFL Tasmania general manger Scott Wade said: "Good question, and that is certainly something we need to consider as part of this whole process.

"The sole reason we have tried it and are trying it is to win this competition (because) you need access to AFL players or you need to spend a significant amount of money on recruiting players to Tasmania -- money we haven't got.

Rosa and Cloke were yesterday named in the final squad of 25 to take on WA at Port Melbourne.

A first-year captain of the Bombers, Rosa has played 94 matches in the VFL.

He moved from Warrack Eagles to play for the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup under-18s competition before kicking on to play with Carlton `twos' in the VFL before returning to the red and black.

A skilful midfielder or on-ball player, Rosa is one of five VFL captains in this year's line-up.

Delisted by Collingwood at the end of last season, Cloke was quickly sought by Bombers' coach Matthew Knights.

A defender throughout most of his career with the Magpies, Cloke has played predominantly on a wing for Bendigo this season.

Victoria's final team of 22, and three emergencies, will be named tomorrow night.

Reported by Michael Robinson

Daniel Bandy and Jarrod Schofield failed fitness tests at Fremantle Oval last night and will not play in the state game on Saturday.

With that news the WAFL have now named their final squad of 23 that will travel to Melbourne on Friday after a final training session at Subiaco Oval tomorrow night.

FINAL SQUAD OF 23

CLAREMONT - Michael Warren, Jaxon Crabb, Ben Colreavy, Anthony Jones, Chad Jones

EAST FREMANTLE – Shane Woewodin(Captain), Theo Adams, Jamie McNamara

PEEL THUNDER – Daniel Haines, Hayden Ballantyne

PERTH – Chris Bossong

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Adam Hay, Andrew Siegert

SUBIACO – Luke Newick, Aidan Parker, Marc Webb, Allistair Pickett, David Mapleston, Todd Holmes

SWAN DISTRICTS – Josh Roberts

WEST PERTH – Dion Fleay, Jason Salecic, Troy Longmuir

Reported by Michael Robinson

The WAFL have named their 25 man squad for the game against the VFL at TEAC Oval on Saturday. There are 3 AFL Rookies in the squad as well as 11 players that played against SANFL in Adelaide last year.

Shane Woewodin will lead the WAFL side for the 1st time.

The WA Side is coached by former Richmond and Fremantle footballer Ashley Prescott. His assistants coaches are Simon Eastaugh, Todd Curley and Chris Waterman. Former Port Melbourne coach David Dunbar has been working as a consultant to the team in the lead up to this game.

Here is the squad of 25 (Players that played last year in BOLD, AFL Rookies in Italic)

CLAREMONT- Michael Warren, Jaxon Crabb, Ben Colreavy, Daniel Bandy, Anthony Jones, Chad Jones

EAST FREMANTLE- Shane Woewodin(Captain), Theo Adams, Jamie McNamara, Andrew McCarrey

PEEL THUNDER- Daniel Haines, Hayden Ballantyne

PERTH- Chris Bossong

SOUTH FREMANTLE- Adam Hay, Andrew Siegert

SUBAICO- Darren Rumble, Aidan Parker, Marc Webb, Alistair Pickett, David Mapleston, Todd Holmes

SWAN DISTRICTS- Adam Lange

WEST PERTH- Dion Fleary, Jason Salecic, Troy Longmuir

Western Australia will train tonight at Fremantle Oval and on Thursday at Subiaco Oval before flying to Melbourne on Friday.