Broadbridge backs WAFL squad on historic mission Friday, May 26, 2017 - 12:18 PM - by Chris Pike

WAFL State Team coach Michael Broadbridge is confident that his team is ready to make history against the VFL in Melbourne at North Port Oval on Saturday.

Broadbridge has coached Claremont the past three years in the WAFL but after deciding to step down at the end of 2016, he was only too happy to accept the job as coach of the State Team with the task of making history in Melbourne this Saturday.

Western Australia has played Victoria in Melbourne on 24 occasions dating back to 1904 and never come away with a victory.

But with the WAFL being on a role having beaten the VFL, SANFL and Tasmania at home, and the NEAFL in Sydney, over the past four years see them head to Melbourne with tremendous confidence.

The job is certainly still ahead of the Black Swans on the smaller, odd-shaped ground at North Port Oval not to mention conditions that are different than what they are used to playing on in Perth.

Broadbridge might not have got the exact team he was after due to injuries to the likes of Chris Phelan, George Hampson and Patrick McGinnity, and Liam Ryan, Marlion Pickett and Clint Jones making themselves unavailable.

But he couldn’t be happier with the group he has with him in Melbourne.

Broadbridge is especially looking forward to seeing how the WA midfield made up of Jye Bolton, Tim Kelly, Shane Nelson, Aaron Black, Leigh Kitchin, Kyal Horsley, Jonathon Marsh and Haiden Schloithe perform.

Then up forward while Subiaco excitement machine Ryan won't be there, Ben Saunders will be who has kicked 10 goals in two previous games for WA along with Leroy Jetta, Jack Bradshaw, Clancy Wheeler, Lachlan Delahunty and potentially Andrew Strijk and Tony Notte.

"We are blessed with a lot of talent over here as everyone knows and I think the WAFL competition is very healthy," Broadbridge said.

"We've got a very strong midfield which gives me a lot of confidence that we are going to be able to generate enough football into our attacking half to create enough pressure.

"It would have been nice to have a couple of those other guys to finish off some of that work, but there's talent out there and if we can put them under pressure, I'm confident we can get the job done."

The choice of captain of this WAFL State Team wasn’t overly difficult with Subiaco's Horsley getting the nod. As a dual premiership captain at the Lions, he will lead WA for the first time and Broadbridge was happy to provide him with that honour and a couple of vice-captains.

"Kyal Horsley will captain the side and we've named two vice-captains to support him in his Subi teammate Clancy Wheeler and Kyle Anderson from East Perth," he said.

"He is a really good story and he's been one of the best defenders in the WAFL for years now. He has missed out on state selection previously due to injury and he is over the moon to get a game. That's the leadership we've gone with."

Playing a state game in Melbourne and with it broadcast live into Melbourne and Perth on Channel 7 means it's a chance for the WA players to not only showcase the WAFL competition, but also themselves.

For players like South Fremantle's Tim Kelly, West Perth's Luke Meadows and East Perth's Will Maginness it could even lead to an AFL future if they impress the right people.

"Tim has been outstanding this year and he has really had a breakout season. He is super fit and hard, and he wins clearances in a style that not too many do at WAFL level in terms of moving through the packs. He is definitely one who the recruiters will be having a close look at," Broadbridge said.

"Luke Meadows is another one who has been solid at West Perth for a couple of years now. He is a high possession getter, is neat and really hard at the ball. Kody Manning has really developed this year as well in a similar capacity off half-back

"Will Maginness is another one who has been delisted by the Eagles and he's determined to get back on a list as is Corey Adamson from Subi now. There are a lot of guys playing for a number of different reasons which is exciting."