State coach Graham Cornes has helped steer South Australia to a 19-point victory over the VFL at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.

The home side led at every change, avenging last year’s loss to the WAFL in Perth and extending SA’s winning streak over Victoria to four matches dating back to 2005.

Adelaide’s inaugural Senior Coach, Cornes was assisted in the coaches box by Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie in what was his first taste of State football as a coach.

Croweaters captain and Sturt midfielder Zane Kirkwood claimed his second Fos Williams Medal after collecting 30 disposals, eight clearances and three goals in a best-on-ground display to lead the SANFL to victory.

Blessed with a plethora of gun midfielders, Kirkwood worked alongside James Boyd, Steven Summerton and dual Magarey Medallist Joel Cross around the ground to help SA build a 25-point advantage by the main break.

Four straight goals in the third term helped the home side build a commanding 43-point lead. It always looked a mountain too high for the VFL to scale as the minutes wore on, despite the visitors finishing off the game strongly in the final term.

Former Crow Luke Thompson was strong in defence all afternoon, as was Sturt’s Fraser Evans and Norwood backman Alex Georgiou.

Current Ken Farmer Medal leader Brett Eddy continued his incredible year with four majors, matched only by Glenelg livewire Willie Rioli. Woodville-West Torrens small forward Lachie McGregor made the most of his opportunities to bag three goals of his own.

Six former Crows took the field in this year’s State Game. Thompson, Aidan Riley, Brodie Martin, Jack Osborn, Anthony Wilson and Lewis Johnston all donned the famous red guernsey for the first time.

Michael Gibbons of Williamstown was adjudged the VFL’s best player and was awarded the Frank Johnson Medal for his 34-possession performance.

 
SANFL   6.3   10.6   14.6   16.10 (106)
VFL     4.2   6.5   9.6   13.9 (87)

BEST
SANFL: Kirkwood, Boyd, Evans, Eddy, Summerton, McGregor, Cross, Rioli
VFL: Gibbons, Sodomaco, Hayes, Rippon, Russell, Wheeler

GOALS
SANFL: Eddy, Rioli 4, McGregor, Kirkwood 3, Cross, Johnston
VFL: Rippon 3, Hayes 2, Gibbons, Sodomaco, Hanson, Coghlan, Cavarra, Dunell, Wheeler, Haretuku

UMPIRES: Haussen, Hundertmark, Lewis

ATTENDANCE: 4,319 at Adelaide Oval

FOS WILLIAMS MEDAL: Zane Kirkwood (Sturt)

FRANK JOHNSON MEDAL: Michael Gibbons (Williamstown)