Checkside Chats with Jade Rawlings and Will Patton

By ZAC MILBANK

West End State coach Jade Rawlings is well versed on the significance of State Footy.

A proud Tasmanian, the Norwood premiership mentor grew up idolising the Apple Isle’s elite players as they took on the might of the Big V, the Croweaters and the Sandgropers.

Now, he suddenly finds himself in charge of South Australia as it seeks to retain the Haydn Bunton Junior Cup with a fourth successive win against Western Australia.

Speaking on Checkside Chats, the man known as ”Twig” tells why he was so keen to assume the mantle from Jade Sheedy while providing an in-depth preview of the Kia State Game at Adelaide Oval this Friday.

Newly-appointed Torrens University SA U18 captain Will Patton also makes an appearance on this week’s edition of Checkside Chats.

The talented West Adelaide utility chats about his season to date, which has included two appearances representing the AFL Academy against Port Adelaide’s SANFL team and Carlton’s VFL line-up.

Projected to be one of the first South Australians selected in this year’s AFL Draft, Patton will be joined by vice-captains Alex Holt (Sturt) and Ashton Moir (Glenelg) as well as deputy vice-captains Kane McAuliffe (North) and Patrick Weckert (Eagles) in the leadership group.