State Focus West Australian Junior Talent: 2026 Draft

[Freezin]

Just seen the WA summer academy squad....9 boys each from Cl and EF selected....with WP and SD also with a decent number of youngsters as well. Obviously only names on paper, but I wonder how the team on here rates that squad. I will rate it highly being a biased EF fan.

 

[Futbolista]

Thanks to Freezin for the notification about the 2025/26 WAFL State 18's Summer Squad.

WA Football Boys Summer Squad selected featuring EGT WAFL Colts young guns - WA Football

The WA Football Boys Summer Squad talent program has been selected, featuring the State’s best young footballers hoping to realise their AFL dreams over the

wafootball.com.au

+ = overager in 2026
** = below ager in 2026

WA Football - Boys Summer Squad
Benji van Rooyen	Claremont
Elijah Dennis	Claremont
Elijah Williams	Claremont
George Gale	Claremont
Harper Banfield	Claremont
Heath Mellody	Claremont
Jacob Kee**	Claremont
Robert Farmer	Claremont
Tom Brown	Claremont
Ben Wood	East Fremantle
Cooper Ramsay+	East Fremantle
Finlay Yeo	East Fremantle
Hunter Hearn**	East Fremantle
James Artemis**	East Fremantle
Joshua Nathan	East Fremantle
Kye Ormerod	East Fremantle
Marcus Motton	East Fremantle
Noah Hannaford**	East Fremantle
Axel Walsh**	East Perth
Garrison Kenh	East Perth
Lachlan McGlade	East Perth
Seb Royle+	East Perth
Mitchell Stirling	Peel Thunder
Xavier Little**	Peel Thunder
Cody Lee	Perth
Finn Gunton**	Perth
Fynn Tomasini**	Perth
Jayden Clarke	Perth
Jamayson Ketchup	Perth
Byron Foster	South Fremantle
Cameron Maynard	South Fremantle
Heath Wilson	South Fremantle
Lucas Robinson	South Fremantle
Angus Abbonizio**	Subiaco
Kyan Perera	Subiaco
Jaxon Ozanne	Swan Districts
Kalum Smith	Swan Districts
Leo Steed	Swan Districts
Taj Allan**	Swan Districts
Xavier Daniel**	Swan Districts
Campbell Creyk**	West Perth
Harvey Spawton-Guy	West Perth
Koby LeCras	West Perth
Maxim Collins**	West Perth
Rafe Williamson**	West Perth

Unlucky
Luca Boczar (WP)
James Barnard (EP)
Damien Newry (CL) Possibly Unavailable#
Thatcher Simmons (S) Possibly Unavailable#
David Shanahan (SD) Possibly Unavailable#
Drew Clarke (PT)
Harrison Gilford (S)
Kye Inferrera** (P) Possibly Unavailable#

 

[Freezin]

Thanks to Freezin for the notification about the 2025/26 WAFL State 18's Summer Squad.

+ = overager in 2026
** = below ager in 2026

WA Football - Boys Summer Squad
Benji van Rooyen**	Claremont
Elijah Dennis	Claremont
Elijah Williams	Claremont
George Gale	Claremont
Harper Banfield	Claremont
Heath Mellody	Claremont
Jacob Kee**	Claremont
Robert Farmer	Claremont
Tom Brown	Claremont
Ben Wood	East Fremantle
Cooper Ramsay+	East Fremantle
Finlay Yeo	East Fremantle
Hunter Hearn**	East Fremantle
James Artemis**	East Fremantle
Joshua Nathan	East Fremantle
Kye Ormerod	East Fremantle
Marcus Motton	East Fremantle
Noah Hannaford**	East Fremantle
Axel Walsh**	East Perth
Garrison Kenh	East Perth
Lachlan McGlade	East Perth
Seb Royle+	East Perth
Mitchell Stirling	Peel Thunder
Xavier Little**	Peel Thunder
Cody Lee	Perth
Finn Gunton**	Perth
Fynn Tomasini**	Perth
Jayden Clarke	Perth
Jamayson Ketchup	Perth
Byron Foster	South Fremantle
Cameron Maynard	South Fremantle
Heath Wilson	South Fremantle
Lucas Robinson	South Fremantle
Angus Abbonizio**	Subiaco
Kyan Perera	Subiaco
Jaxon Ozanne	Swan Districts
Kalum Smith	Swan Districts
Leo Steed	Swan Districts
Taj Allan**	Swan Districts
Xavier Daniel**	Swan Districts
Campbell Creyk**	West Perth
Harvey Spawton-Guy	West Perth
Koby LeCras	West Perth
Maxim Collins**	West Perth
Rafe Williamson**	West Perth

Thanks for listing the squad mate.....good to see Perth with 5 listed as well.....hopefully that will put a smile on a few Perth fans seeking zone equality.

 

[WCE777]

Thanks to Freezin for the notification about the 2025/26 WAFL State 18's Summer Squad.

+ = overager in 2026
** = below ager in 2026

WA Football - Boys Summer Squad
Benji van Rooyen	Claremont
Elijah Dennis	Claremont
Elijah Williams	Claremont
George Gale	Claremont
Harper Banfield	Claremont
Heath Mellody	Claremont
Jacob Kee**	Claremont
Robert Farmer	Claremont
Tom Brown	Claremont
Ben Wood	East Fremantle
Cooper Ramsay+	East Fremantle
Finlay Yeo	East Fremantle
Hunter Hearn**	East Fremantle
James Artemis**	East Fremantle
Joshua Nathan	East Fremantle
Kye Ormerod	East Fremantle
Marcus Motton	East Fremantle
Noah Hannaford**	East Fremantle
Axel Walsh**	East Perth
Garrison Kenh	East Perth
Lachlan McGlade	East Perth
Seb Royle+	East Perth
Mitchell Stirling	Peel Thunder
Xavier Little**	Peel Thunder
Cody Lee	Perth
Finn Gunton**	Perth
Fynn Tomasini**	Perth
Jayden Clarke	Perth
Jamayson Ketchup	Perth
Byron Foster	South Fremantle
Cameron Maynard	South Fremantle
Heath Wilson	South Fremantle
Lucas Robinson	South Fremantle
Angus Abbonizio**	Subiaco
Kyan Perera	Subiaco
Jaxon Ozanne	Swan Districts
Kalum Smith	Swan Districts
Leo Steed	Swan Districts
Taj Allan**	Swan Districts
Xavier Daniel**	Swan Districts
Campbell Creyk**	West Perth
Harvey Spawton-Guy	West Perth
Koby LeCras	West Perth
Maxim Collins**	West Perth
Rafe Williamson**	West Perth

Unlucky
Luca Boczar (WP)
James Barnard (EP)
Damien Newry (CL) Possibly Unavailable#
Thatcher Simmons (S) Possibly Unavailable#
David Shanahan (SD) Possibly Unavailable#
Drew Clarke (PT)
Harrison Gilford (S)

cheers

 

[WCE777]

cheers

Why Newry & Shanahan possibly unavailable?
Injured?

 

[Futbolista]

Why Newry & Shanahan possibly unavailable?
Injured?

I reckon Shanahan is injured from memory and Newry might not have relocated from the Kimberley region of Waringarri which is only 20km or 30km from NT.

 

[WCE777]

I reckon Shanahan is injured from memory and Newry might not have relocated from the Kimberley region of Waringarri which is only 20km or 30km from NT.

Legend

 

[Jaygee1976]

WA Junior Talent: 2026 Draft: Exhibition matches update (Updated 4/10/2025)

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

Others to Watch: Levi Morgan (S), Sam Hookham (SF), Cody Lee (P/PSA), Marcus Motton (EF/PSA), Lucas Mannion (WP), Sam Irving (CL/PSA), William Taboni (EP/PSA), James Whelan (PT), Jaxon Ozanne (SD), Kalum Smith (SD), Mitchell Callcott (WP), Merlin Bew (CL), Adam Schmechtig (S), Thomas Hamon (SF), Tom Stewart (SF), Riley Singleton (EF), Connor Lally (S), Riley Wiltschut (PT), Latrell Thomas (S), Kalan Rigoll (WP), Kale Nordgard-Lee (EP), Dylan Young (S), Cooper Edwards (CL/PSA), Hurricane Clark (S), Matthew Edgelow (P/PSA)

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

do we have an updated list after the summer squad announcements?

 

[txbyhull]

Is there anyone in particular for this cohort that you see having a large scope for improvement if they put their head down (or grow luckily) this off season either physically or skills wise?

 

[Futbolista]

do we have an updated list after the summer squad announcements?

Who have you got in mind?

I'm happy to push some guys up based on your recommendations for the next update.

I am for now going to keep backing in the guys like Boczar, Barnard, Clarke and Gilford who missed out.

I don't know much about Lee or Motton yet.

Smith and Ozanne based on form are rather lucky to be included. I assume Smith is the brother of Evan though, so I get the selection.

I'm going to keep faith in the unavailable players for now also and see if they can get on the park next year.

 

[Futbolista]

Is there anyone in particular for this cohort that you see having a large scope for improvement if they put their head down (or grow luckily) this off season either physically or skills wise?

Well, my rankings are quite conservative and I like to have a form element to them.

Naturally, the shorter more co-ordinated compact players feature highly early on but in the final year some of the raw talents can come to the fore.

Perhaps Elijah Williams (CL), Jamayson Ketchup (P), Harrison Gilford (S), Tom Brown (CL), Harvey Spawton-Guy (WP), Benji Van Rooyen (CL), David Shanahan (SD), Cameron Maynard (SF) and Ben O'Shea (S) are ones to get better.

Will be interesting to see how Ben Wood (EF) does also. Winning the goal kicking as a below ager is a great achievement but at this stage, he is inbetween height - not tall enough to take big contested clunks but probably not nimble enough to play a small forward role. He may grow of course or he may add some strings to his bow.

Byron Foster (SF) is another interesting prospect. Tall and lanky for now but a great competitor.

It would be nice to think that Thatcher Simmons (S) might finally get an injury free run and move up. He's clearly a better player than his 20 ranking but not much can be done until he adds to his solitary colts game. A 28 disposal game from a below ager mind you.

I like the way Jett Abbott (EF) moves. Quite silky. Scope for improvement there also.

 

[Jaygee1976]

Well, my rankings are quite conservative and I like to have a form element to them.

Naturally, the shorter more co-ordinated compact players feature highly early on but in the final year some of the raw talents can come to the fore.

Perhaps Elijah Williams (CL), Jamayson Ketchup (P), Harrison Gilford (S), Tom Brown (CL), Harvey Spawton-Guy (WP), Benji Van Rooyen (CL), David Shanahan (SD), Cameron Maynard (SF) and Ben O'Shea (S) are ones to get better.

Will be interesting to see how Ben Wood (EF) does also. Winning the goal kicking as a below ager is a great achievement but at this stage, he is inbetween height - not tall enough to take big contested clunks but probably not nimble enough to play a small forward role. He may grow of course or he may add some strings to his bow.

Byron Foster (SF) is another interesting prospect. Tall and lanky for now but a great competitor.

It would be nice to think that Thatcher Simmons (S) might finally get an injury free run and move up. He's clearly a better player than his 20 ranking but not much can be done until he adds to his solitary colts game. A 28 disposal game from a below ager mind you.

I like the way Jett Abbott (EF) moves. Quite silky. Scope for improvement there also.

I am a little bias on one of the players

Given Jamayson Ketchup only got to play back end of WAFL season due to injury I believe he has a lot of growth. he played half forward for Perth in last few games of the season for Perth. with a solid preseason and if given a chance to play some midfield time as he is a natural born ball hunter I feel he will be a big improver. look out for the hot sauce

agree with Williams, Maynard and Spawton.

 

[SaintLoopy]

I am a little bias on one of the players

Given Jamayson Ketchup only got to play back end of WAFL season due to injury I believe he has a lot of growth. he played half forward for Perth in last few games of the season for Perth. with a solid preseason and if given a chance to play some midfield time as he is a natural born ball hunter I feel he will be a big improver. look out for the hot sauce

agree with Williams, Maynard and Spawton.

Was Jai Debono unlucky

 

[Futbolista]

Was Jai Debono unlucky

I didn't see him in the last few matches. Maybe he was injured? His form did drop away a bit.

 

[Futbolista]

WA Junior Talent: 2026 Draft: WA 18's summer squad announcement update (Updated 18/10/2025)
*=WA state 18's summer squad

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

Others to Watch: Levi Morgan (S), Sam Hookham (SF), Lucas Mannion (WP), Sam Irving (CL/PSA), William Taboni (EP/PSA), James Whelan (PT), Mitchell Callcott (WP), Merlin Bew (CL), Adam Schmechtig (S), Thomas Hamon (SF), Tom Stewart (SF), Riley Singleton (EF), Connor Lally (S), Riley Wiltschut (PT), Latrell Thomas (S), Kalan Rigoll (WP), Kale Nordgard-Lee (EP), Dylan Young (S), Cooper Edwards (CL/PSA), Hurricane Clark (S), Matthew Edgelow (P/PSA)

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)

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]

Ok, Damien Newry (CL) is having a crack playing for Southern Districts in the NTFL this off-season.

Not a bad idea. Close to his home community also. That explains why he isn't in the WA 18's summer squad.

https://www.playhq.com/public/profile/8a90e8a9-7f43-42d6-a33f-a790b510391f/statistics

 

[Community_AFL]

Swans have recruited well with their new Colts coach!

 

[Futbolista]

Swans have recruited well with their new Colts coach!

Who's that mate?

 

[Community_AFL]

Who's that mate?

Scott Faulkner
https://swandistrictsfc.com.au/blog...a5r6IYajWfZSVN2BOQ_aem_oEqY_jXfKiUCgPRmyonCFQ

 

[Statler Waldorf]

Futbolista - interested on yours and others thoughts on the WA Summer Series picking 15 Underagers? Never really understand why as it cuts out 15 talented 17yos. And the underagers get their crack the following year.
The point of the State squad is to try and get kids drafted, even to the point of recruiters requested players be put in specific positions. So you would think trialing as many draft year kids would be the priority to dig up talent.
Speaking of talent- Jacob Farrow didn't make the summer squad last time but got into State on the back of his great first 3 rounds of Colts. Imagine if he'd got concussion early Round 1...
He's now WA's stand out draft prospect.

 

[Futbolista]

Futbolista - interested on yours and others thoughts on the WA Summer Series picking 15 Underagers? Never really understand why as it cuts out 15 talented 17yos. And the underagers get their crack the following year.
The point of the State squad is to try and get kids drafted, even to the point of recruiters requested players be put in specific positions. So you would think trialing as many draft year kids would be the priority to dig up talent.
Speaking of talent- Jacob Farrow didn't make the summer squad last time but got into State on the back of his great first 3 rounds of Colts. Imagine if he'd got concussion early Round 1...
He's now WA's stand out draft prospect.

Yes, mate I take your point 100%. I guess the academy are saying they don't think the 2026 draft group has much depth.

I do agree, it's a lot of below agers. Having said that, the 2027 draft group is pretty special.

Yes fair call with Farrow too!

 

[Chopper Squad]

Futbolista - interested on yours and others thoughts on the WA Summer Series picking 15 Underagers? Never really understand why as it cuts out 15 talented 17yos. And the underagers get their crack the following year.
The point of the State squad is to try and get kids drafted, even to the point of recruiters requested players be put in specific positions. So you would think trialing as many draft year kids would be the priority to dig up talent.
Speaking of talent- Jacob Farrow didn't make the summer squad last time but got into State on the back of his great first 3 rounds of Colts. Imagine if he'd got concussion early Round 1...
He's now WA's stand out draft prospect.

I don't think the numbers are that different to prior years. About 30 top age kids with the balance being under agers developing for next year. looks like it also helps being tall or NGA!

 

[#BallMagnet]

I assume most of those selected are also residing in metro areas or not too far away regionally. This way attendance numbers might be greater for the benefit of the program.

Like other states, if you’re based too far away regionally then you’re likely at a disadvantage regarding commitment to the program and maybe overlooked completely.

 

[Futbolista]

I assume most of those selected are also residing in metro areas or not too far away regionally. This way attendance numbers might be greater for the benefit of the program.

Like other states, if you’re based too far away regionally then you’re likely at a disadvantage regarding commitment to the program and maybe overlooked completely.

Yeah true. Most rural kids come to the city if they are serious. Very few don't. Damien Newry (CL) is the only one I can see who hasn't. It's one of the good things about NGA. Scholarships for country kids to a PSA school.

I guess the big smoke of Perth isn't what Newry wants at this stage. Can't blame him. He from an extremely remote community over 3000km away. Culture shock big time I would imagine.

 

[Chopper Squad]

Yeah true. Most rural kids come to the city if they are serious. Very few don't. Damien Newry (CL) is the only one I can see who hasn't. It's one of the good things about NGA. Scholarships for country kids to a PSA school.

I guess the big smoke of Perth isn't what Newry wants at this stage. Can't blame him. He from an extremely remote community over 3000km away. Culture shock big time I would imagine.

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