For the first time ever, the NAB PFL Open-Age State Team Men have claimed victory on Victorian soil, defeating the Big V Men in a gripping contest at Elsternwick Park on Saturday.

In a match that delivered everything state football stands for - intensity, pride, and elite-level pressure, it was the NAB PFL State Team Men who prevailed by six points, winning 14.14 (98) to 14.8 (92) and writing a significant new chapter in PFL history.

Having split the past two contests with the Big V - losing in Victoria in 2023 before bouncing back at home in 2024, this win completes the redemption arc for WA’s premier community footballers. It marks the first time an open-age PFL side has beaten the VAFA on their home turf.

Q1 – VAFA Fast Start, PFL Settle Late

The game began with immediate intensity from Perth, with Connor West setting the tone just seconds in. A clean one-handed pickup, spin move out of two tackles, and handball opened space, linking up to push the ball to the wing, exactly the type of high-pressure, dynamic play that set the standard for the PFL’s day.

Despite the early moment, it was VAFA who controlled the early stages. Their midfield clicked immediately, dominating possession with over 80% kicking efficiency in the first 15 minutes. Quick hands from stoppages and efficient ball movement allowed them to slot two early goals through Hope and Hill. Stavrou, Chirgwin and Grant were prominent, chaining handballs through the middle, while WA’s defence was under siege, giving up uncontested marks inside 50 and looking unsettled.

Perth's first real attacking chance came from Furmark, crumbing a forward entry and snapping Perths’s first goal. Hinchliffe followed with a brilliant one-handed pickup and quick snap from a stoppage to keep Perth in touch.

Ryan Gallen’s forward pressure was immense, several repeat efforts locking the ball inside 50, and eventually led to Fullgrabe snapping a goal after relentless pressure highlighted by Ramshaw’s chase-down tackle. Late in the quarter, McGowan and Stephens began to find more of the ball across half-back, but Perth went into quarter time down by 21 points after a late VAFA goal after the siren.

But the score didn't match the Inside 50 count, which saw Perth lead 15-13 at the first break, largely off the back of their Tackle pressure as they laid 15 tackles to 4 in the opening quarter.

Perth were going for their inside kicks but just hadn't been hitting the targets. They had to settle and stay composed. They were giving it straight back to them all quarter, once they started holding onto it and using it better, Perth knew they would get going. 

QTR TIME: VAFA 6.3 (39)   PERTH FL 3.0 (18)

Q2 – PFL Control Possession and Eat Into Margin

Perth made significant adjustments in the second quarter. Playing with patience, they started to chip the ball around the back half, using marks and short kicks to control tempo and open up the ground. Hinchliffe’s smart ball use set up Furmark for his second goal. Dennis and McGowan were controlling half-back, intercepting and rebounding efficiently.

Stephens showcased elite two-way running, pushing back to take a goal-line mark and then featuring in the rebound chain that led to a Halligan mark and goal. Kingsway’s Halligan soon kicked his second after great link-up play from McGowan, Fullgrabe and Morris.

McGowan’s vision and kicking were pivotal, repeatedly hitting targets to release Perth into space. Despite dominating general play and inside 50s for the quarter, poor conversion saw Perth still trail at the half, but they had cut the margin from 21 points to just 9 and looked in control of the game’s momentum.

HALF TIME: VAFA 8.5 (53) PERTH FL 7.4 (46)

Q3 – PFL Dominate Around the Ball and Take Control

PFL produced their best quarter of football straight after the break. From the first centre bounce, Miller hit West perfectly to launch the first forward attack. Perth's midfield, led by Stephens, Hinchliffe and Miller, completely overpowered VAFA around the contest, winning contested possessions 40-20 for the quarter. The forward pressure was relentless. 

Stephens floated back to intercept, transitioned via Smith, Gallen and Fullgrabe, leading to Furmark forcing a turnover. Morris snapped truly to give WA their first lead of the match.

Ramshaw’s desperation was a feature, multiple rundown tackles stopped certain VAFA goals. Halligan and Smith combined up forward, while Furmark, Morris and Fullgrabe created repeated forward entries and pressure. Morris finished a clean passage to kick his third goal, and shortly after, Ramshaw nailed a long bomb to extend the margin.

WA’s defensive shape was perfect, chipping the ball around the back half, denying VAFA possession, and looking far more connected as a team than earlier in the game. Clint Hinchliffe’s massive chase-down tackle on the wing stopped a dangerous VAFA counterattack and epitomised Perth’s total dominance.

The result was 18 Inside 50s to 9 and 4 goals to 1 for the quarter, including two more to Blake Morris, who was causing headaches for the Victorian defence both in the air and on the ground. He had 5 Score Involvements for the third term alone.

Near the end of the term, Fullgrabe converted a brilliant team transition, moving the ball end-to-end uncontested as VAFA couldn’t apply pressure. At three-quarter time, PFL led by 15 points and looked far more energised than their opponents.

3-QTR TIME:   PERTH FL 11.10 (76)   VAFA 9.7 (61)

Q4 – PFL Hold Nerve in a Shootout Finish

Early in the final quarter, Upson, Halligan and West combined for an early steadier, Halligan kicking truly from 45 out for his third. Moments later, Furmark kicked it to the top of the square where Morris flew 1v2 for the mark, got it to the ground and then Gallen, whose tap-back set up Morris for his fourth goal. WA’s ball movement from D50 to goal square looked unstoppable at times, Browns spoil and Stephens’ cool handball under pressure led to an end-to-end chain finished by Miller himself, soccering through a goal from the goal line.

VAFA, though, refused to fold. Hotton, Loftus, Hope and Segar all kicked crucial late goals, bringing the margin back to within a kick multiple times. Their pace through stoppages and cleaner forward entries began to test Perth’s defence, and their forward pressure finally clicked in the dying stages.

However, crucial defensive moments from Wilhelm, Miller, Stephens and Hinchliffe helped WA repel attacks and control the tempo. Hinchliffe’s second rundown tackle late in the quarter likely saved the game, with Perth slowing play and maintaining possession through their back half in the final minutes.

FINAL SCORE:   PERTH FL 14.14 (98)   d.  VAFA 14.8 (92)

Full-Time Summary

WA’s PFL side held their nerve in a frantic final term, finishing with a 6-point win after being down by as much as 21 early in the game. Their second and third quarters showed the high-quality, system-based football that coach Jackson Harwood would’ve wanted, efficient ball movement, high-pressure forward play, and dominance around the contest.

Connor West was judged best afield by the umpires for his superb 32 disposals (15 contested), 10 clearances and 9 Inside 50s, while Clint Hinchcliffe was similarly dominant with 36 disposals (16 contested), 8 clearances, 5 tackles and a goal.

Other best players included Caleb Stephens who worked both ways, and was huge around the ball and in defence. McGowans move to halfback paid dividends, being the main distributor in defence through the game.

Morris and Halligan kicking seven goals between them, and acted as crucial targets all day. Furmark was involved all over the forward line, with elite pressure and multiple goals.

In the end, PFL’s stronger midfield depth, system, and ability to win key moments secured a famous win away from home.

Goals: Morris 4, Halligan 3, Fullgrabe 2, Furmark 2, Hinchliffe 1, Ramshaw 1, Miller 1

Key Stats (via Premier Data)

• Disposals: Big V 384 | PFL 359
• Disposal Efficiency: Big V 71% | PFL 70%
• Contested Possession: PFL +2
• Clearances: PFL +4 (Centre Clearances +9)
• Inside 50s: PFL +14

Pictured: The 2025 NAB PFL State Men's Team - The first ever open-age team to claim a victory against the VAFA on Victorain soil.