Great Southern pair in State squad

Great Southern pair Angus Litherland and Declan Mountford have been included in the initial 31-man WAFL State squad named yesterday ahead of WA’s clash with the South Australian National Football League next week.

The WAFL will take on the SANFL at Optus Stadium on May 12 as a curtain-raiser to the Fremantle and Richmond AFL game.

The Ongerup-bred Litherland played in his first WA State game last year as they beat South Australia and is again in line to pull on the Black Swans jumper after being named in the initial squad by head coach Michael Broadbridge.

Litherland, who spent time with Hawthorn in the AFL, has been superb in defence for Subiaco in the first few weeks of the season.

Mountford, in his return from the AFL system, has also been selected after a promising month for Claremont.

The North Albany product is averaging 24.5 possessions a game at league level this season after coming back to WA after his de-listing by North Melbourne.

It will be a senior State debut for Mountford if selected among a strong group of WA midfielders next week.

Katanning pair Kade Stewart and Haiden Schloithe were also named in the squad.