The Big V - Victorian State Side & Representative Football.

2026 STATE GAME DETAILS

SANFL vs VFL

Saturday, April 11

2:30pm local / 3:00pm AEST

Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg

SANFLW vs VFLW

Saturday, April 11

12:00pm local / 12:30pm AEST

Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg

2026 SMITHY’S VFL STATE TEAM SQUAD

The VFA / VFL state match against the SANFL is upon us once again.  A very subdued build up to this game (in my personal opinion).

The game details are as follows:

2025 AAMI State Game – Men’s

Smithy’s VFL State Team vs SANFL’s West End State Team

Saturday, April 12, 2025

2:45pm local / 3:15pm AEST

Tanunda Recreation Park

Broadcast: 7mate in Victoria and 7plus Sport nationally. Live stream at AFL.com.au

Tickets: Adults $15, concession $10. Purchase tickets here

Perhaps it is because the game is caught up as part of gather round, or the early stage of the season (with limited player form and squad training).  THE VFL have looked underdone in the past few years so hopefully the results can be turned around. 

SANFL  1.1  5.2  8.4   10.5 (65)

VFL  3.2  5.4  5.5  7.9 (51)

BEST – SANFL: McLennan, Grant, Hosie, Proud, Wigg, Callow, Voss

VFL: Brown, Woodcock, Brew, Long

GOALS – SANFL: Hosie 4, McBean 2, Allen, Callow, Lowe, Reynolds

VFL: Long 2, Bianco, Crossley, Dixon, Smith, Woodcock

FOS WILLIAMS MEDAL – Jez McLennan (Central District)

FRANK JOHNSON MEDAL – Callum Brown (Box Hill)

CROWD – 4207 at Stratarama Stadium (Glenelg)

Full match report - 

https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/west-end-state-team-displays-its-grit-…

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.

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.

From the VFL.COM.AU website - The fierce rivalry between the VFL and SANFL will resume in 2024 with a men's representative match to be played in Adelaide during the AFL Gather Round weekend

The fierce rivalry between the Victorian Football League and South Australian National Football League at senior men’s level is set to resume in 2024, with representative sides from the Smithy’s VFL and Hostplus SANFL League to face off in Adelaide over the AFL Gather Round weekend.

The best VFL-listed players from the 21-team competition will be selected to represent the ‘Big V’ in the VFL’s first representative match in seven years.

The last VFL men’s representative team to take the field was in 2017 against the West Australian Football League in Melbourne and the last time the VFL and SANFL played at senior level was in 2016, when the SANFL triumphed by 19 points in Adelaide.

The second edition of Gather Round… A Festival of Footy will take place from April 4-7, with the timeslot and venue for the VFL versus SANFL representative clash to be confirmed.

A bye will be scheduled in the Smithy's VFL fixture that weekend, with no matches to be played across the competition.

AFL Head of State Leagues Jennie Loughnan said it was a big boost for the VFL and the best players in the competition to have a representative game to look forward to.

“Having a VFL versus SANFL state league representative game back on the calendar in 2024 is really exciting for the competition and the VFL-listed players in contention for selection,” Loughnan said.

“It gives the best players in the VFL the opportunity to aspire to wear the famous ‘Big V’ jumper and showcase their talent on a weekend where all AFL clubs will be in South Australia for Gather Round, with AFL recruiters watching on.

“I thank the SANFL for working with us and acknowledge the VFL clubs who have thrown their support behind the concept.

“The match is sure to attract considerable attention and I’m sure plenty of South Australian footy fans and many Victorians who will travel to attend Gather Round will get behind the game and ensure the traditional VFL-SANFL footy rivalry is reignited.

“20 VFL-listed players made their way onto AFL lists during the 2023 season through the various Drafts and selection mechanisms, which shows how important the VFL is in the talent pathway system and how many VFL players are considered ready for the AFL.”

SANFL Executive General Manager Football Matt Duldig said the match provided a unique opportunity for both competitions to showcase their talent on a national stage as part of Gather Round.

“We are thrilled to see the return of a SANFL versus VFL match for the first time since 2016 – and to play it over Gather Round provides a fantastic experience for the best players of the Hostplus SANFL League,” Duldig said.

''To reignite a rivalry that dates back to the late 1800s is really exciting, and to do that over Gather Round when football is on show in SA, will be a treat for footy lovers from all over the country.”

Further information about selection process, coaching appointments and other team information will be confirmed in due course.

codesports.com.au/afl/return-of-the-big-v-vflsanfl-clash-could-be-scheduled-as-part-of-next-years-afl-gather-round/news-story/aad759e9956c26d34f0f45d2321060e0

Article from CODE Sports today regarding a potential VFL vs SANFL game next year as well as fixturing news for the VFL. Key points for those without a subscription: 

• VFL vs SANFL clash in the works as part of AFL's Gather Round.

• Only VFL-listed will be eligible for selection.

• VFL season to have four byes including the state game.

• Grand Final to be held on the weekend of the AFL preliminary finals.

• "More balanced fixture with equitable outcomes" planned for the VFL.

• Three highest-finished standalone clubs (Werribee, Williamstown, Southport) to play each other twice and the other standalones once.

• Port Melbourne, Frankston, Northern Bullants, and Coburg to play each other twice.

• Standlone reserves teams (Carlton, Richmond etc) to have eight home games, while AFL-affiliated clubs to retain nine home games.