SANFL announces squad for State Game against WAFL

The SANFL has named a 26-man squad to take on the WAFL in the 2024 State Game to be played in Perth on Sunday afternoon.

Up to nine fresh faces could pull on the red guernsey for the first time, with 13 changes made to the team that defeated the VFL in Adelaide last month.

Among the new names are West Adelaide midfielder Kobe Ryan, Norwood trio Billy Cootee, Tom Donnelly and Matt Ling, dashing Woodville-West Torrens defender Luke Beecken, Glenelg's Riley Holder, Bulldogs key defender Brinn Little and Sturt big men Amos Doyle and Connor McFadyen.

Meanwhile, veteran Glenelg defender Chris Curran, South Adelaide's Eamon Wilkinson and North duo Mitch Harvey and Campbell Combe have been recalled to face WA.

Injury has ravaged the South Australian squad, with 10 players made unavailable through injury or fitness concerns. 

Harry Grant (knee), reigning Ken Farmer Medalist Lachie Hosie (hand), West Adelaide's Josh Ryan (hamstring), Darcy Bailey (hamstring), Liam McBean (hamstring), Karl Finlay (ankle), Riley Knight (calf) Will Snelling (soreness) and Max Proud (soreness) will all miss the clash.

Ruckman Harry Boyd is unavailable due to university studies while Jackson Callow and Tom Lewis have been ruled out having only just returned from injury layoffs.

Jack Heard has been omitted in favour of Norwood teammate and lockdown defender Donnelly.

Norwood's Jade Rawlings will coach the team again after finding success in his two previous games in charge while Woodville-West Torrens skipper Joe Sinor has retained the captaincy for the second consecutive year.

The squad will train twice in the lead-up to the clash, with sessions locked in for Alberton Oval on Tuesday and West Lakes on Thursday before flying out on Saturday.

Western Australia has already announced a 34-man squad for the match, which includes several names familiar to South Australians such as Brynn Teakle, Nik Rokahr and Mitch Crowden.

Played at Perth's Optus Stadium as a curtain raiser to the West Coast Eagles vs Melbourne AFL game, the state game kicks off at 12:45pm local time (2:15pm ACST).

South Australia will be looking for its fifth consecutive win over the WAFL after defeating the Sandgropers by 13 points at Adelaide Oval last year.

South Australia's State Game Squad