The SANFL saw off a fast-finishing VFL outfit to post a 14-point win at Glenelg's Stratarama Stadium as part of this weekend's Gather Round festivities.
The clash was the first between the two states since 2016, with a healthy crowd of over 4,000 people in attendance - including plenty of fans of the Big V.
With AFL recruiters also watching on ahead of the upcoming mid-season draft, players from both sides put their hands up for consideration.
Central District defender and former Gold Coast player Jez McLennan won the Fos Williams Medal as the SANFL's best player, collecting 26 disposals and eight marks as he provided plenty of drive from the back half.
Former North Melbourne forward and Glenelg premiership hero Lachlan Hosie was also in the race for the medal, kicking four goals and proving a constant threat up front.
Magarey medallist Harry Grant was among South Australia's best, finishing with 25 disposals and nine tackles.
For Victoria, former Collingwood midfielder and current Box Hill star Callum Brown won the Frank Johnson Medal as the best on ground for the Vics with 30 disposals and six inside 50s.
Boyd Woodcock was also busy for Victoria, collecting 29 disposals, six clearances and a goal.
Up forward, Ned Long kicked two goals from 17 disposals while Trent Bianco, Hugh Dixon and Roarke Smith were all dangerous in patches and kicked a goal each.
VFL defender Tom Highmore was engaged in a fascinating battle with South Australia's Jackson Callow, finishing with 21 disposals and seven marks while Callow took several big contested marks and kicked 1.2 from 12 disposals and eight marks.
A close contest throughout, South Australia were cleaner and more clinical in the big moments, while the VFL were left to rue several wasted chances in front of goal.
The only sour note from the SA victory was an ankle injury to Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Riley Knight, who came off in the third term and didn't return.
Victoria got off to a flying start, kicking three of the first four goals of the game to take a 13-point lead into the first break.
The Vics' fast ball movement caught the SA defence out early, with Roarke Smith and Ned Long both the beneficiaries of sharp pieces of play that ended in majors.
Hosie helped keep the Croweaters in the game early, slotting the SANFL's first three goals of the contest.
At the other end, Josh Ryan and Jack Heard battled valiantly to hold the VFL at bay under the weight of repeat inside 50s.
The South Australians kicked into gear in the second quarter, booting the first four goals of the term to take a ten-point lead after Luke Reynolds took a big pack mark and kicked truly.
SA's engine room began to fire during this period, with Grant and Mitch O'Neill winning plenty of the ball at the stoppages, while key forwards Liam McBean and Callow started to dominate the aerial battle.
The South Aussies kicked the only three goals of the third term while keeping the Big V to just one behind, with Norwood teammates Callow and Baynen Lowe scoring within two minutes of each other to extend the lead to 16 points nearing the final change.
A second goal to Long to start last quarter gave the VFL plenty of hope and they looked to be in again when Sam Lowson was streaming towards goal unattended, but his kick was errant and failed to score.
It would prove a costly error, with the Croweaters taking the ball the length of the field and Hosie nailing his fourth goal with a classy check-side kick from the boundary.
Trailing by 24 points midway through the term, Victoria stormed home with the final five scoring shots of the match, but could only manage 1.4 in return as they fluffed several chances.
A set shot miss from Lowson from 40 metres and a flying shot from George Grey that also went wide proved costly.
South Australia has now won its past five state clashes, while Victoria remains winless in state football since its defeat of Tasmania in 2012.
SA will take the field again on May 19 for a clash against Western Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium.
