Former Minyip-Murtoa star Lachlan Delahunty was somewhat of a shining light for WA in their state match against the SANFL at Adelaide Oval on May 15.
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The 2019 Sandover Medalist picked up 26 possessions for Sandgropers in their 53-point loss to the South Australians.
Delahunty playing in his fifth state game, said it was a "disappointing result".
"That's the fifth one I've played in and I've been fortunate to win three of them," Delahunty said.
"But they only come around every so often, so it was flattening to get beaten, but more so probably to get beaten by the margin we did."
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WA's Jye Bolton picked up the Simpson Medal as WA's best player, however Delahunty's effort didn't go unnoticed by the opposition.
"I was fortunate enough, they gave me their jumper as a token," Delahunty said.
"Each club gives their best player and we gave our best player to Gibbs (Bryce) and they awarded that to me, so that was pleasing."
"It's good to get recognised by the opposition, that doesn't mean a lot when you lose but I tried to battle hard particularly in the last half when the chips were down, I did what I could."
There was plenty of AFL experience on show for both side's during the game including ex-magpie Bolton (WA), former Blue and Crow Gibbs (SA) and former Power utility Matthew Boadbent (SA).
"I think there was about 18 players who'd previously been on an AFL list," Delahunty said.
According to Delahunty "the noticeable difference was just the maturity level of each side".
"We had a young team, it was full of talent, but they had a very experienced team," he said.
"I think they had eight club captains in their team so that sort of experience you can't replace and that was evident in how they just controlled the ball so well.
"They'd played plenty of state footy before and had plenty of AFL experience."
Delahunty wasn't the only Wimmera-raised player running around the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Current Glenelg co-captain and Former Horsham Demon Chris Curran was plying his trade for the SANFL side against a familiar face in Delahunty.
"We (Curran and I) have played against each other twice now, once when he was over here in Perth two years ago and we actually lined up against each other on both occasions," Delahunty said.
"It's always great, we grew up and played Rebels football together, probably a decade ago so it was quite fitting that we're now playing state footy against each other.
"He was centre-half back and I was centre-half forward and he played a really good game.
"I felt that he was one of their better players and it's always good fun to play on a local Wimmera boy out in the middle of the Adelaide Oval.
After the game the teammates turned foes made sure to catch up and reminisce.
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"We always make an effort to have a few beers, he's always a great host," Delahunty said.
"We actually had quite the evening together, just like we did when he was in Perth so that's good to have that bond still a decade after we played together."
Delahunty's focus now turns to his WAFL club side Subiaco, who are well-placed at the top of the ladder.
"It hasn't been a perfect start, we've sorta crawled across the line a couple of games," Delahunty said.
"But just before the bye we managed to beat the top team by eight goals and probably put a more clinical display on, which was really, really pleasing and given us a lot of confidence."
Delahunty would love to win a fifth premiership with Subiaco in what is "shaping up to probably be [his] last year".
"If I can finish with a flag that would be a dream come true, It's gonna be a tough grind," he said.
"We probably necessarily don't have the playing group that we had in the previous years when we've won premierships from 2015-2019.
"So we're gonna have to do it the hard way and we're gonna probably have to overachieve to do it, but it'[s a big challenge and there's a huge carrot at the end of it if we can somehow pull it all off."
As for potentially pulling on a Minyip-Murtoa jersey again, Delahunty said "I'd like to think so".
"But you know subject to no COVID its only a three hour flight into a three hour drive, so it's manageable.
"There's no doubt I will endeavour to come back to play for Minyip-Murtoa and if they'll still have me I'll come back.
"They've got it pretty right at the moment, it's not like they need me to be honest.
"It's such a family club, if I couldn't commit to a full year and play majority of the games I just don't think it would interest them all that much in the sense that they'd hate to push out a kid or I don't think they would take that on.
"They're really big on promoting younger players which is great.
"If I can I'd love to, I've never played in a premiership at Minyip-Murtoa, dad played in one for Murtoa, that would also be another dream come true."
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