Three Richmond VFL players have been named in the State Team squad ahead of the VFL's highly-anticipated return to representative football, when it takes on the SANFL during the AFL Gather Round next month.

Tigers skipper Lachlan Street and vice-captains Mutaz El Nour and Joel Garner all feature in the 50-player squad.

Much-loved utility Street has entered his sixth season at the Club, and his third at the helm, while athletic defender El Nour was recently elevated to the leadership group after an impressive opening year at Richmond.

Garner, 24, is an exciting addition to the Tigers' 2024 line-up, the tough midfielder arriving with AFL experience with Port Adelaide and VFL experience at Footscray. 

The fierce rivalry between the Smithy’s VFL and Hostplus SANFL League will reignite on Saturday, April 6 when the best players from both competitions face off during Gather Round, which will take place in South Australia from April 4-7.

The match marks the first senior men’s representative clash between the VFL and SANFL since 2016 and the VFL’s first representative match since 2017.

The Smithy’s VFL State Team squad features many of the best VFL-listed players from across the competition, with 19 of the 21 clubs represented. AFL-listed players, including rookie-listed players, are not eligible to be selected.

Players have been selected based on a range of factors including performance at state league level and pre-season form, with all Smithy’s VFL clubs and AFL club recruiting staff also consulted.

The Smithy’s VFL State Team coaching panel was announced last month, with Box Hill Hawks coach Zane Littlejohn appointed head coach.

He will lead a highly experienced coaching panel that includes current-serving coaches Steve Daniel (Southport Sharks), Ben Hudson (Brisbane Lions) and Adam Skrobalak (Port Melbourne).

A final squad of 23 players to represent the ‘Big V’ in the league’s first representative appearance in seven years will be announced closer to the match.

Players from outside the squad of 50 will still be eligible for selection in the final squad, with form across the opening two rounds of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL season to be taken into consideration.

The 50-player Smithy’s VFL State Team squad:

TICKETING
Tickets for the representative clash between the SANFL West End State Team and Smithy's VFL State Team are now on sale.

Entry is just $15 for Adults and $10 for Concession while children aged under 18 receive free admission and do not require a ticket for entry.

Please click here to purchase your tickets.

MATCH DETAILS
SANFL West End State Team vs Smithy's VFL State Team
Saturday, April 6, 2024
12:40pm local time / 1:10pm AEDT
Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg, SA