Newly crowned Simpson medallist Callan England has declared state teammate Kane Bevan is “absolutely” ready for the AFL after they teamed up to drive the WAFL to victory on Saturday.
England was unanimously voted best on ground by the judges after racking up a game-high 32 touches and nine clearances in the WAFL’s 14.14 (98) to 9.8 (62) win against the SANFL at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.
Top West Australian mid-season draft hopeful Bevan boosted his AFL chances with a standout performance, finishing second with five votes.
The 22-year-old finished with 24 touches at 94 per cent efficiency as well as eight clearances, six tackles, five inside 50s and a goal in front of several recruits from a range of AFL clubs.
As revealed by The West Australian earlier this month, Bevan has drawn interest from both West Coast and Greater Western Sydney ahead of the mid-season rookie draft on Tuesday, May 26.
Asked if Bevan was ready for the AFL, England said: “Absolutely. Having been able to be on his side for the first time, you realise how good he is at football.
“If recruiters were here today watching and go ‘He’s not up to it’, I do not know what they’re bloody watching.
“He’s good enough for AFL football. I’ve played against a lot of AFL players throughout my career, and he’s definitely ready for it.
“As is a number of bloody players in the WAFL. It’s an absolute joke that more aren’t playing AFL football.”
WAFL coach Adam Read also praised the burly West Perth midfielder in his first state appearance on the back of a standout start to the year.
“He was elite. I thought his second half — his work-rate and ability to break open contests and just get to the next one was elite,” he said.
For former West Coast rookie England, it was a welcome return to representative football, having last played for the WAFL in 2021.
The Claremont Sandover medallist is in career-best form for the undefeated Tigers and carried it into the state clash as the WAFL beat the SANFL at home for the first time in 2015.
“I’ve been part of a losing state game where we got belted by 70 points five years ago, but sticking with it and getting the win means a lot,” he said.
“It’s an absolute honour. I didn’t have it my way a bit in those past five years, but just kept at it, and the best footy would always come.
“The biggest focus was gelling together. We had a big focus on our team defence, our contest and offence. We wanted to use the corridor; it was a big ground they’re not used to, and I thought some of our ball movement was slick and super hard to defend against.
“On the big ground, they’re not used to it, and we’ve got so many fast players on this team ... we killed them with speed.”
