Great Southern Football League stars Jacob Blight and Tom Edwards selected in WA State squad to tackle SA

A pair of former Great Southern Football League stars have been selected in a star-studded WA State squad on the back of stellar performances through the opening six rounds of the WAFL season.

Peel Thunder star key defender Jacob Blight (Railways) and Swan Districts gun forward Tom Edwards (Royals) were selected in the initial 34-man squad putting their foot forward for a maiden State guernsey when WA grapple with South Australia at Optus Stadium on May 19.

Blight, 22, has enjoyed a delightful two seasons in the back half of Fremantle Dockers’ affiliate side and said pulling on the black and gold jersey would be a dream come true in his push for an AFL draft call-up.

“This has been a goal of mine since probably the end of last year but there’s still a team of 23 to make so that’s what I’m ultimately trying to do,” the 23-year-old said.

“I’ve been trying to get into the squad but also make the team and also potentially make a case for the mid-season draft or end-of-year draft.

“I think I’ve done just about everything I can to achieve each of those two . . . but it would be a huge honour to play State footy and to do that this year would be a dream come true.”

The 2023 WAFL team of the season representative and Albany sportsperson of the year finalist said training alongside his AFL counterparts had helped his development into one of the competition’s most revered key defenders.

“Even just doing the training with them over the summer but also bouncing ideas off them and keep getting educated by them,” he said.

“They’re living the dream I want to live and every little bit of help I can get I always try to seek.

“It is always nice to have that sort of personnel in your team.”

Blight is on track for a career-best season after a blistering start to the 2024 campaign, averaging 19.2 disposals and 9.2 marks.

Edwards has booted eight goals through the opening five games this season, averaging 10 disposals and more than four marks per game for the Swans.

But the high-flying 24-year-old feels as though he still has more left in the tank.

“I still feel as though I have a bit more to give in terms of what I’ve done at the start of the year — I’m not in red-hot form,” Edwards said.

“It hasn’t really clicked for me for four quarters yet and something I’ve been working on is my consistency.

“If I do get the opportunity then I want to try and bring my natural game and just hopefully add a bit of flair and a couple of goals would be nice.

His side has endured a tough start to the year managing just one win from their four matches — including their agonising loss after the siren to East Fremantle — but Edwards said his immediate focus was helping his side remain in touch with the top five.

“We need to turn our season around at the Swans so I’m just trying to concentrate on putting my best foot forward for the Swans and if I can do that, then I’ll give myself a chance to have the opportunity.”

WA are looking to break a four-year drought when they play SA next month with the final team being announced by coach Cam Shepherd on the Thursday before the match.

WA STATE SQUAD

Oliver Eastland, Bailey Rogers (Claremont), Cam Eardley, Jed Hagan, Matt Jupp, Milan Murdock, Brynn Teakle, Fraser Turner (East Fremantle), Hamish Brayshaw, Mitch Crowden, Scott Jones, Harrison Macreadie, Angus Schumacher, Angus Scott, Stan Wright (East Perth), Jacob Blight, Jack Sears, Michael Sellwood (Peel Thunder), Regan Clarke (Perth), Matt Parker, Chad Pearson (South Fremantle), Greg Clark, Jack Mayo, Ben Sokol (Subiaco), Jye Chalcraft, Tom Edwards, Nik Rokahr, Jesse Turner (Swan Districts), Zac Guadagnin, Tyler Keitel, Luke Meadows, Noah Pegoraro, Jasper Scaife (West Perth), Trey Ruscoe (West Coast).