Five Peel Football League players have survived a selection process and have been named to play for the WA state country side.
Jesse Gribble (Halls Head), Brendon Jones (South Mandurah), Eddy Dann (Baldivis), Paul Mugambwa (Mundijong) and Brad Holmes (South Mandurah) will all help WA take on South Australia in Adelaide this Sunday.
Head Coach Craig Walker finalised the 22-man squad with his selection committee following country fixtures over the weekend and said he was confident the assembled squad would turn the tables on their interstate counterparts.
“We have selected a very balanced squad with a focus on players that provide versatility. We have a great deal of experience in the side, but ultimately we have selected a group of guys who have a great desire to represent WA well and win,” Walker said.
“The side features a number of players who have considerable experience at WAFL level. Guys like Brendon Jones, Matt Orzel and Leith Teakle have played consistently at a high level and it is great to see them generally excited to represent their state.”
WA Country Football League operations manager Brent Sheridan said the vast majority of the players selected originated from country WA.
“All of them participated in the Landmark Championships, so we are confident all players will be fit and keen to represent WA Country to the best of their abilities,” he said.
The team will travel to Adelaide on Saturday ahead of the game on Sunday at Adelaide Oval, which will be a curtain raiser to the Adelaide and Essendon clash.
“The opportunity to play on Adelaide Oval before and AFL match will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of the guys and something which everyone will be able to look back on fondly once they have finished playing. To come away with a win will make it that much more memorable,” Walker said.