The GIANTS are delighted to announce that three stars from their VFL side have been chosen in the Smithy’s VFL State Team squad for next week’s clash with the SANFL in Gather Round.
Star onballers James Bell and Harvey Hooper as well as VFL skipper Ryan Hebron have all been selected in the 43-man VFL squad as the Big V prepare to take on the SANFL on Saturday, April 11 in Glenelg.
The VFL squad features representatives from 16 VFL clubs, with current AFL-listed players not eligible to be selected, while players who are injured or unavailable were not included in the squad.
The final VFL side will be announced late next week ahead of Gather Round.
Both newcomers to the GIANTS in 2026, Bell and Hooper have earned their selections in the squad after stellar starts to their time in orange and charcoal, while Hebron has been chosen after playing a pivotal role up forward in the GIANTS’ 2-0 start to the season.
Joining the GIANTS in the summer fresh off a superb three years for Glenelg in the SANFL, Bell could now take on the competition he once starred in, having helped the Tigers claim back-to-back premierships in 2023 and 2024 before finishing runner-up in 2025.
Also a former Swan with 28 games of AFL experience between 2018-2022, Bell has been a dominant force in the middle across the GIANTS’ first two VFL games, averaging 33 disposals, 16.5 contested possessions, 5.5 marks, and six clearances per game.
His red-hot start has Bell tied for the lead of the Smithy’s VFL Coaches MVP Award on 19 votes after two games.
Hooper also earns his place in the VFL State squad after his own ultra-impressive start to his time as a GIANT.
Originally announcing his retirement from the VFL at the conclusion of the 2025 season to relocate to Sydney to be with his partner, Hooper decided to take the opportunity to reunite with former coach and friend Robbie Chancellor after Chancellor was named the club’s new VFL coach for 2026.
The former Port Melbourne premiership player, captain, and two-time best and fairest winner has made the most of that decision with a brilliant start to the 2026 VFL season, averaging 27.5 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 5.5 tackles, six clearances, and a goal across the first two games of the season.
A multiple time VFL Team of the Year member, Hooper will now be hoping to be selected in this year’s final VFL side after playing a starring role in the VFL’s huge win over the SANFL in April last year.
Meanwhile Hebron has been rewarded with selection in the VFL State Team squad after a stellar start to his 2026 campaign.
The club’s VFL skipper since its introduction to the VFL, Hebron has been crucial to the club’s impressive wins over the Saints and the Pies to start the season, kicking a team-high three goals in each of the two wins to prove an invaluable target ahead of the footy.
Playing deep forward and often outnumbered, Hebron has provided an incredibly strong target in attack to start the season, averaging 13 disposals, 4.5 marks, and three goals per game across the first two weeks.
Hebron, Bell, and Hooper’s selection in the State squad add further flavour to the VFL State side following the recent appointment of GIANTS VFL assistant coach Trent Dennis-Lane as one of the assistant coaches for the VFL State Team.
The Smithy’s VFL State Team will be looking for back-to-back wins on enemy territory in 2026 after last year recording its first victory over the SANFL since 2002 in an 11-point triumph at Tanunda Recreation Park.
The match will feature as part of a representative double-header, with the men’s game to be played from 2:30pm following the women’s clash between the VFLW and SANFLW from 12:00pm.
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
