State Focus West Australian Junior Talent: 2026 Draft

[Futbolista]

I hope Newry comes back into the system at some stage. He is a jet.

I guess he could travel down to Perth in March after his current stint in Darwin. Will be probably be nice and fit too.

 

[eagleyed25]

Kehn, LeCras, Mellody & van Rooyen all been named in the 2026 AFL Academy

 

[Futbolista]

Kehn, LeCras, Mellody & van Rooyen all been named in the 2026 AFL Academy

But no Robinson which is a shock to me. Surely he's in the best 25 in the country.

 

[Freezin]

But no Robinson which is a shock to me. Surely he's in the best 25 in the country.

Doesn't make sense.....Mellody is good, but not better then Robinson.....ditto Le Cras and Robinson.......where's Mrs O's lad mate?

 

[Futbolista]

Doesn't make sense.....Mellidy is good, but not better then Robinson.....ditto Le Cras and Robinson.......where's Mrs O's lad mate?

In the state squad at least and determined to make the most of it I hear mate.

 

[eagleyed25]

Doesn't make sense.....Mellidy is good, but not better then Robinson.....ditto Le Cras and Robinson.......where's Mrs O's lad mate?

Totally agree.

 

[eagleyed25]

But no Robinson which is a shock to me. Surely he's in the best 25 in the country.

My sentiments exactly.

 

[Futbolista]

My sentiments exactly.

Maybe not top 10 as I first thought but surely 15-25. It doesn't say much for our other draft hopes really. Another year of fighting for just the chance for these guys to be noticed.

 

[Freezin]

In the state squad at least and determined to make the most of it I hear mate.

The lad will have a stand out 2026, rocket up your standings and kick multiple bags in the blue n white this year......well that's what I am hoping....lol

 

[SaintLoopy]

The lad will have a stand out 2026, rocket up your standings and kick multiple bags in the blue n white this year......well that's what I am hoping....lol

Who’s Mrs O’s lad?

 

[Freezin]

Who’s Mrs O’s lad?

state squad member, blue n white, and plays forward.....not sure anymore needs to be said.

 

[SaintLoopy]

I see the summer squad has a sprint coach & a tackle coach. Is this new or do they have them every year.

 

[Futbolista]

I see the summer squad has a sprint coach & a tackle coach. Is this new or do they have them every year.

Not sure but they could do with an attitude and effort coach as well. I thought the players gave very little in 2025 and they have paid a big price because the rest of the country no longer rates most of them even though they do have talent.

TBH I'm sick to death of it. The carnival is brief and there are only so many opportunities to impress.

Even if the talent doesn't exist in 2026, I'm hoping that they at least give a proper 100%

 

[Jaygee1976]

Not sure but they could do with an attitude and effort coach as well. I thought the players gave very little in 2025 and they have paid a big price because the rest of the country no longer rates most of them even though they do have talent.

TBH I'm sick to death of it. The carnival is brief and there are only so many opportunities to impress.

Even if the talent doesn't exist in 2026, I'm hoping that they at least give a proper 100%

little harsh to say these players arent putting the effort in, most of these boys are working everyday on their skill and body fitness. I know one that is in the gym everyday pushing to be ready for a big 2026 season.
yes they have a sprint coach, not sure about tackling coach but they are set up well for a big 2026

 

[Futbolista]

little harsh to say these players arent putting the effort in, most of these boys are working everyday on their skill and body fitness. I know one that is in the gym everyday pushing to be ready for a big 2026 season.
yes they have a sprint coach, not sure about tackling coach but they are set up well for a big 2026

Good!

I was criticising the 2025 group for their lack of effort in the championship games - and to an extent the 2023 group also.

If the 2025 think they brought 100% effort to those four matches then they have a diffent concept to 100% effort than me.

They have to understand that this is ruthless. Recruiters and list makers rate nearly everything to do with WA footy on the championships.

I'm not being harsh. It's the reality and that will show at the 2025 draft.

 

[SaintLoopy]

I believe the effort was there in the 2025 team but I think the state program seems to be more about who they think will be of draft interest rather than who is really performing & don't really care if they win or lose. I wont name any players but I believe that there were at least 5 players (2007 born) in the best 23 that didn't deserve to be there. I think that this also goes into the 2026 crop. On form in the 2025 colts, the best 8 players weren't sent to the exhibition game but more the one's they believed are their top 8 to be drafted in 2026. This also goes for the AFL academy & the non inclusion of Robinson. He is by far the best mid in the state.

 

[Futbolista]

I have no doubt that the lads trained the house down but the championships are high quality. You have to be very very good and totally comitted to every tackle and every play. I didn't see that effort this year or in 2023. Losses by 88 v Allies (2023), 81 v Vic M (2023), 76 v SA (2025) and 35 v Vic M (2025) breaks my heart and I'm normally very positive as you know.

Three consecutive losses to the Allies 88, 20 and 5 in three years is not a good look despite their improvement.

In 2026 the boys have to bring effort to game day - when it counts.

I know that they are better than those results. Now is the time for the WA comeback. Bring effort - results will follow.

Hopefully Robinson can work on the areas that scribes are questioning.

I think he's still the best player we have but if he can add some outside speed it will silence the critics and bring him back into the national top 25. (I assume the recruiters have a large say in the academy squad)

 

[Futbolista]

WA Junior Talent: 2026 Draft: November Update (Updated 17/11/2025)
*=WA state 18's summer squad
1-Lucas Robinson (SF)*
2-Garrison Kenh (EP)*
3-Benji Van Rooyen (CL)*
4-Heath Mellody (CL/PSA)*
5-Harper Banfield (CL/PSA)*
6-Koby LeCras (WP)*
7-George Gale (CL/PSA)*
8-Ben Wood (EF)*
9-Harvey Spawton-Guy (WP)*
10-Kye Ormerod (EF)*
11-Leo Steed (SD)*
12-Mitchell Stirling (PT)*
13-Byron Foster (SF)*
14-Kyan Perera (S)*
15-Lachlan McGlade (EP/PSA)*
16-Thatcher Simmons (S)
17-David Shanahan (SD/PSA)
18-James Barnard (EP)
19-Tom Brown (CL/PSA)*
20-Damien Newry (CL/NT)
21-Jamayson Ketchup (P)*
22-Jayden Clarke (P)*
23-Luca Boczar (WP)
24-Harrison Gilford (S)
25-Joshua Nathan (EF)*
26-Drew Clarke (PT)
27-Elijah Williams (CL)*
28-Heath Wilson (SF)*
29-Finlay Yeo (EF)*
30-Robert Farmer (CL/PSA)*
31-Ben O'Shea (S)
32-Cameron Maynard (SF)*
33-Jai Debono (SD)
34-Corbin Boylson (S/PSA)
35-Jett Abbott (EF)
36-Elijah Dennis (CL)*
37-Quentin Bacich (EF)
38-Cooper Edwards (CL)
39-McKenna Pringle (PT)
40-Connor Lally (S)
41-Ethan Turner (EP/PSA)
42-Cooper Trovarello (CL)
43-Cody Lee (P/PSA)*
44-Tazzi Faithfull (PT)
45-Jayke Cooper (PT)
46-Zack Hately (P/PSA)
47-Lincoln Martignago (EF)
48-Nate Scott (EF)
49-Harry Brooks (CL/PSA)
50=Jackson Muir (CL)
50=Kalum Smith (SD)*
50=Jaxon Ozanne (SD)*
50=Marcus Motton (EF/PSA)*

Others to Watch: Zac Godwin (SF), Noah Braun (CL), Jack McAuliffe (SF), Levi Morgan (S), Sam Hookham (SF), Sam Irving (CL/PSA), William Taboni (EP/PSA), James Whelan (PT), Adam Schmechtig (S), Thomas Hamon (SF), Tom Stewart (SF), Riley Wiltschut (PT), Latrell Thomas (S), Kalan Rigoll (WP), Hurricane Clark (S), Matthew Edgelow (P)

Colts or WA 18's overagers in 2026
1-Bol Makuach (PT)
2-Cooper Ramsay (EF)*
3-Seb Royle (EP)*
4-Jimmy Aylmore (S)
5-Tom.Phillips (EF)
6-Ngor Athol (WP)
7-Lucas Clarkson (EF)
8-Xavier Bianchini (P)
9-Jack Clarey (EP)
10-Cooper Clark (P)
11-Thomas Martin (SD)

2025 Colts Votes
*** = 2009 DOB
Leaderboard M V Ave G
Campbell Creyk*** (WP) 1 9 9.00 -
Lucas Robinson** (SF) 7 54 7.71 5
Heath Mellody** (CL) 8 51 6.37 6
Jayden Clarke** (P) 6 27 4.50 7
Kyan Perera** (S) 4 16 4.00 1
Thatcher Simmons** (S) 1 4 4.00 -
Hudson Ramm** (CL) 1 4 4.00 -
Leo Steed** (SD) 10 37 3.70 1
Drew Clarke** (PT) 13 47 3.61 1
Byron Foster** (SF) 17 60 3.52 5
George Gale** (CL) 10 34 3.40 1
Josh Nathan** (EF) 8 25 3.12 -
Harper Banfield** (CL) 10 31 3.10 4
Jai Debono** (SD) 15 38 2.53 8
James Barnard** (EP) 10 25 2.50 -
Kale Nordgard-Lee** (EP) 2 5 2.50 -
Mitchell Stirling** (PT) 13 32 2.46 2
Koby LeCras** (WP) 10 24 2.40 15
David Shanahan** (SD) 6 14 2.33 -
Luca Boczar** (WP) 13 30 2.30 3
Benji Van Rooyen** (CL) 14 31 2.21 -
Reid Foot*** (EF) 7 15 2.14 5
Garrison Kenh** (EP) 16 32 2.00 -
Karo Flessis*** (EP) 2 4 2.00 -
Lachlan McGlade** (EP) 8 15 1.87 11
Tom Brown** (CL) 9 17 1.88 -
Corbin Boylson** (S) 10 18 1.80 12
Finlay Yeo** (EF) 18 30 1.67 9
Fynn Tomasini*** (P) 6 10 1.67 -
Benjamin Wood** (EF) 17 27 1.58 34
McKenna Pringle** (PT) 14 22 1.57 -
James Artemis*** (EF) 9 14 1.55 1
Zac Godwin** (SF) 18 27 1.50 -
Dylan Dunlop*** (P) 4 6 1.50 3
Xavier Little*** (PT) 4 6 1.50 -
Sam Irving** (CL) 2 3 1.50 1
Lincoln Martignago** (EF) 7 10 1.42 5
Harvey Spawton-Guy** (WP) 17 24 1.41 26
Tadhg Barrowclough*** (WP) 5 7 1.40 -
Jack McAuliffe** (SF) 13 18 1.38 1
Finn Gunton*** (P) 3 4 1.33 5
Joel Mildwaters** (PT) 3 4 1.33 -
Ethan Turner** (EP) 8 10 1.25 3
Adam Pryce** (PT) 4 5 1.25 -
Cameron Maynard** (SF) 13 14 1.07 18
Harrison Gilford** (S) 14 15 1.07 2
Heath Wilson** (SF) 16 17 1.06 1
Kye Ormerod** (EF) 19 20 1.05 22
Nate Scott** (EF) 13 13 1.00 1
Josh Detata** (S) 7 7 1.00 5
Adam Schmechtig** (S) 5 5 1.00 -
Merlin Bew** (CL) 4 4 1.00 -
Kye Inferrera*** (P) 3 3 1.00 2
Beau Falloon*** (PT) 2 2 1.00 -
Axel Walsh*** (EP) 1 1 1.00 2

 

[Futbolista]

I'm speculating that David Shanahan (SD) and Thatcher Simmons (S) will be fit, injury free and ready to go in 2026. Key talents for WA in 2026. Potentially could end up in the WA top 10.

Shanahan is a tall (196cm) key defender of African heritage with great athletic capacity while Simmons is a busting, competitive 185cm mid.

 

[Tundrawolf]

I'm speculating that David Shanahan (SD) and Thatcher Simmons (S) will be fit, injury free and ready to go in 2026. Key talents for WA in 2026. Potentially could end up in the WA top 10.

Shanahan is a tall (196cm) key defender of African heritage with great athletic capacity while Simmons is a busting, competitive 185cm mid.

Is Shanahan West Coast NGA?

 

[Futbolista]

Is Shanahan West Coast NGA?

I think he is actually.

 

[Futbolista]

I think he is actually.

Fingers crossed he is injury free in 2026. Let's keep a close eye on him. I would have put him in the WA summer squad despite injury. Better to be in the program and get him the right rehab.

 

[SaintLoopy]

Fingers crossed he is injury free in 2026. Let's keep a close eye on him. I would have put him in the WA summer squad despite injury. Better to be in the program and get him the right rehab.

Are you going to put a best 23 by position out or is it too early. I'm really interested in peoples thoughts.

 

[Futbolista]

Are you going to put a best 23 by position out or is it too early. I'm really interested in peoples thoughts.

Bit early for me mate.Do you want to give it a crack?

 

[SaintLoopy]

Bit early for me mate.Do you want to give it a crack?

There's only 4 SF boys. What do I do with the other 19