The Victorian Football League (VFL) has today announced a 43-player squad featuring three Footscray Bulldogs for the Smithy’s VFL State Team ahead of next week’s clash with the SANFL in Gather Round

Jack Billings, Cooper Craig-Peters and Billy Crofts have been recognised in the squad, with the final team to be announced next week.

The match will feature as part of a representative double-header, with the men’s game to be played from 2:30pm at Glenelg’s Stratarama Stadium on Saturday 11 April.

Only VFL-listed players are available to be selected in the Smithy’s VFL State Team, with current AFL-listed players ineligible.

Frankston coach Jackson Kornberg has been appointed head coach, and will be assisted by Werribee coach Dan Lowther, Essendon’s Cameron Joyce and GWS GIANTS development coach Trent Dennis-Lane.

2026 STATE GAME DETAILS

SANFL vs VFL
Saturday, April 11
2:30pm local / 3:00pm AEST
Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg

2026 SMITHY’S VFL STATE TEAM SQUAD

Player

Club

Trent Bianco

Box Hill Hawks

Kye Declase

Box Hill Hawks

Brodie McLaughlin

Box Hill Hawks

Harry Arnold

Brisbane Lions

Ethan Phillips

Carlton

Riley Bonner

Casey Demons

Ethan Stanley

Casey Demons

Jack Bytel

Coburg

Cooper Keogh

Coburg

Mitch Podjakski

Coburg

Jaidyn Stephenson

Coburg

Donovan Toohey

Coburg

Jackson Hately

Essendon

Xavier O'Neill

Essendon

Jack Billings

Footscray Bulldogs

Cooper Craig-Peters

Footscray Bulldogs

Billy Crofts

Footscray Bulldogs

Taine Barlow

Frankston

Corey Ellison

Frankston

Darby Hipwell

Frankston

Jackson Voss

Frankston

Marcus Herbert

Geelong Cats

Will White

Geelong Cats

James Bell

GWS Giants

Ryan Hebron

GWS Giants

Harvey Hooper

GWS Giants

Charlie Clarke

Port Melbourne

Ben Hobbs

Port Melbourne

Mutaz El Nour

Richmond

Brayden Crossley

Southport Sharks

Zac Foot

Southport Sharks

Campbell Lake

Southport Sharks

Hugh Dixon

Tasmania

Jed Hagan

Tasmania