The GIANTS are delighted to announce that Trent Dennis-Lane has been appointed an assistant coach for the upcoming state game between the VFL and the SANFL.
One of the GIANTS’ AFL Development coaches as well as a VFL Assistant Coach, Dennis-Lane has been selected to help guide the Smithy’s VFL representative side when it takes on the SANFL during a huge weekend of footy in Gather Round in April.
The 2026 State Games will feature as part of South Australia’s annual week of football festivities, with both women’s and men’s representative clashes to be held on Saturday, April 11 at Stratarama Stadium in Glenelg.
Dennis-Lane has been named one of three Assistant Coaches for the VFL side alongside Werribee coach Dan Lowther and Essendon’s Cameron Joyce, while Frankston coach Jackson Kornberg has been named the Head Coach of the side.
Dennis-Lane’s selection for the representative game comes as he enters his second season at the GIANTS after joining Adam Kingsley’s coaching panel ahead of the 2025 season.
A former Swan and Saint, Dennis-Lane played 29 AFL games across the two clubs between 2010-2014 before making the move into coaching.
He joined the GIANTS after spending two years as coach of the Western Jets in the Coates Talent League and having previously held positions at the Sandringham Zebras in the VFL and in St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy.
Dennis-Lane said he was excited about the opportunity to be part of the VFL’s State Team.
“There’s a lot of fantastic coaches across the VFL so it’s great to be chosen to help represent the competition and try and take down the SANFL,” he said.
“We saw last year it was a fierce contest between the sides, and it was great to see the VFL get the win, and we’ll certainly be looking to make it two in a row this year.
“Representative footy always has some extra meaning to it and it’s going to be exciting to work with other coaches and players from across the league as we all come together with one goal in mind.”
The VFL and SANFL state game will follow the VFLW and SANFLW state clash.
2026 State Game – Men’s
SANFL vs VFL
Saturday, April 11
2:30pm local / 3:00pm AEST
Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
2026 State Game – Women’s
SANFLW vs VFLW
Saturday, April 11
12:00pm local / 12:30pm AEST
Stratarama Stadium, Glenelg
