Six Peel Football and Netball League players have been named to the WA State Country squad of 35 that will take on South Australia at Adelaide Oval next Saturday, July 28.
South Mandurah spearhead Brad Holmes will be joined in the side by fellow Falcon and reigning Ross Elliott medalist Andrew Haydon, while star Pinjarra midfielder Rory O’Brien and Baldivis mid/forward Eddy Dann will also represent the PFNL in the side.
Waroona’s Rhett Mason and Baldivis’ Brendan Tingey have both been named among the 12 emergencies for the team.
The squad will travel to Adelaide next Friday ahead of the clash with the Croweaters, which will be a curtain-raiser to the AFL’s Saturday night blockbuster between Adelaide and Melbourne.
Each player’s selection follows on from stellar seasons at their local clubs, with Holmes head and shoulders above the pack in the PFNL’s goal-kicking tally while Haydon, Dann and O’Brien could all feature prominently in the league’s best and fairest count, as will Mason and Tingey.
Haydon and Dann both played in last year’s state country clash with South Australia, helping WA to a win that snapped a five-year drought.
Also in the squad will be former AFL duo Josh Bootsma (Upper Great Southern Football League) and Jesse Crichton (South West Football League).
The PFNL’s contribution of six players to the team (including emergencies) matches the Avon Football Association for the most players named to the squad, with the SWFL not far behind with five.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
