Replay: Relive Saturday’s SA v WA state footy clash from Adelaide Oval
State pride was on the line as the SANFL’s best players clashed with WA at Adelaide Oval. Relive all the action now in our full match replay video.
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Woodville-West Torrens premiership forward Jack Hayes says he was “shocked’ when he was appointed state captain.
But the Eagles gun and his teammates are focused on representing the SANFL with pride when they take on WA in a clash live streamed by The Advertiser from 3.35pm on Saturday.
“I didn’t expect it at all,’’ the strong-marking 25-year-old said.
“I thought there might have been some other players in the team that might have been chosen before me, but I was very happy with the outcome.
“It’s very humbling and I’m more than happy to take on the role and looking forward to leading SA onto Adelaide Oval.’’
The advertiser.com.au website will be the place to watch the interstate encounter live, with expert commentary from John Casey and Port Adelaide defender Jarrod Lienert.
Hayes, who does not captain his club side, was chosen ahead of six club skippers who are in the Croweaters’ 23-man team.
They include his captain at the Eagles, Luke Thompson, Glenelg co-captains Max Proud and Chris Curran, Norwood’s Matthew Nunn, Port Adelaide’s Cam Sutcliffe and North Adelaide’s Alex Spina.
Nunn and Sutcliffe have been named state vice-captains.
SA coach Jade Sheedy, who coaches Hayes at the Eagles where he is a member of their six-man leadership group, said he was picked as captain because of his strong leadership qualities and standing in the game.
Hayes, who was told of his leadership position by Sheedy in front of his state teammates at training at Thebarton Oval on Tuesday night, is widely considered the SANFL’s most influential player.
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“Jack is a universally admired player in the competition and a really good on-field leader,’’ Sheedy said.
“Being a one-off format, the coaches thought he would lead the way well and the players will follow his actions.’’
A dual The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year centre half-forward, the powerful, 192cm Hayes, who can also ruck, is averaging a competition-best 141 Champion Data ranking points this season.
He is averaging 21.2 disposals, including 13 contested possessions, 6.6 marks, 8.6 score involvements and five tackles.
Now he has been charged with the responsibility of helping SA retain the prized Haydn Bunton Junior Cup it claimed when the teams last met in Perth two years ago.
“It’s such a momentous event in SA footy, something that’s great to be a part of, and to be named captain is something else,’’ Hayes said.
“We’ve picked a really strong team and we’re playing with players you’d love to have at your home club.
“We have a good mix of young and experienced heads in the team, which will hopefully take us a long way.’’
The game will be played as the curtain-raiser to the blockbuster 7.10pm AFL clash between Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.
The teams have agreed to play 23 players, with five on the interchange bench and a limit of 110 rotations.
Hayes will start at centre half-forward in a potent SA attack, which includes dual Ken Farmer Medallist Liam McBean and a host of former AFL-drafted players, including Tyson Stengle, Riley Knight, Luke Partington, Lachie Hosie and Luke Reynolds.
“It’s a pretty potent forward line, we’ve got plenty of firepower, so hopefully we don’t get in each other’s way and can kick a winning score,’’ he said.
A member of the Croweaters’ victorious team (by seven points) at Perth’s Optus Stadium two years ago, Hayes said SA would be mindful of the Black Swans’ pace, which is traditionally their strength.
“The WAFL really want to play fast footy and we’re a bit more contested here in SA, so we’ll be trying to slow them down while using our skills to our advantage,’’ he said.
In 95 meetings between the states, including State-of-Origin, WA leads 48 wins to 47.
WA coach Geoff Valentine said he had picked “an exciting, young group’’ that includes 18 state debutants.
“We will travel to Adelaide full of confidence, believing we have a really talented group of players who are in really good form,’’ he said.
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