South Australia overcame a long injury list and stifling Perth heat to thrash Western Australia by 63 points at Perth Stadium on Sunday.
The Croweaters were forced into 14 changes from the side that defeated the VFL last month, with stars such as Harry Boyd, Will Snelling, Harry Grant, Lachlan Hosie, Liam McBean, Jackson Callow and Riley Knight all missing the clash.
In their place a host of new stars stood up and made a name for themselves, showcasing the depth and quality of talent in the SANFL.
Jez McLennan won his second Fos Williams Medal in the space of six weeks after another superb performance across the backline, finishing with 25 disposals and 10 marks.
McLennan was a constant threat in the air, taking several important intercept marks and starting many attacking chains with his excellent foot skills.
He was one of several South Australians who could have taken home the medal, such was the even contribution across the board from the men in red.
Harrison Wigg was industrious in the middle throughout, collecting 27 disposals and a goal as he worked tirelessly across the ground.
Norwood pairing Mitch O'Neill (14 disposals, five tackles and five clearances) and Billy Cootee (20 disposals and a goal) were both huge contributors in midfield, winning the ball at the source and breaking away from stoppage on many occasions.
Campbell Combe (16 disposals and four clearances) and Joe Sinor (17 disposals and four tackles) provided their customary toughness at the stoppages.
James Rowe was at his damaging best, proving a constant threat inside 50 to finish with three goals and also pushing up the ground to add his class and polish around the ball.
Aiden Grace enjoyed a stunning state debut, kicking four goals, including two in the crucial opening quarter to get the momentum going in SA's direction.
His lead-up marking was a feature throughout and was dangerous both in the air and on the ground, getting out the back on several occasions to challenge the WA defence.
Another debutant in Eamon Wilkinson played an important role in kicking two goals, while Baynen Lowe spent some time in the midfield and looked at home around the stoppages.
Key defensive pair Tom Donnelley and Brinn Little were also superb on debut, keeping dangerous forwards Tyler Keitel and Trey Ruscoe respectively to just one goal each.
Luke Beecken and Matthew Ling put in eye-catching displays with their run and dash from half-back, often the launching pad for many of SA's transition goals.
On a lean day for Western Australia, there were several names that stood out as shining lights.
Milan Murdock was a deserving winner of the Simpson medal as best on ground for WA, compiling 25 disposals, five clearances and two goals as he threw everything at the SA midfield brigade.
Jacob Blight was another standout performer for the Sandgropers, finishing with 17 disposals and 13 marks as he read the ball superbly to take several impressive intercept marks.
Cameron Eardley was seemingly everywhere in collecting his 26 disposals, the most on the ground for Western Australia.
The win makes it five consecutive victories for South Australia over Western Australia as they take a stranglehold on this rivalry.
The game was all but over by quarter-time following a blistering start from the South Australians saw them kick the first six goals of the contest before WA had time to settle.
Western Australia frittered away any chance they had of victory in the third quarter with wasteful ball use and kicking for goal, scoring five behinds during a 20-minute goalless patch to start the quarter.
SA then broke their hearts by piling on four goals in eight minutes to extend the lead to 65 points by the final change.
The last quarter was largely a stalemate as both teams kicked two goals to ensure Western Australia would avoid their biggest ever defeat to the South Australians - but only just.
South Australia's pressure across the ground was a feature throughout the day, giving no time or space for the Sandgropers to work with.
The Croweaters' second goal was a perfect example, created courtesy of a terrific run down tackle from Grace, with the ball spilling to James Rowe who snapped truly.
At the other end, the SA defence stood up superbly, seemingly marking everything that came their way and completely stifling WA's ball movement.
Too often the Western Australians were forced into hurried inside 50 entries and shots at goal, reflected in a scoreline of 5.16.
The desperation of the South Australians was summed up in Ling's diving smother across the boot of Oliver Eastland in the goal square to save a certain goal in the third quarter, long after the result was decided.
With ball in hand, the South Australians were frighteningly slick, linking up with precision passing to slice through the WA defence on countless occasions.
South Australia scored an astonishing four goals directly from kick-ins, two of which resulted in walk-in goals for Aiden Grace in the opening quarter.
