The state squads for u18s and u16s have been released and show many promising signs for the future of footy in WA.
WA State Talent Manager Adam Jones and his team have spent all summer identifying talent to select for the squad, and teams like Claremont, East Fremantle and South Fremantle have all excelled with 21 players selected between the three clubs for the 18s side.
Younger brother of Demons key forward Jacob Van Rooyen, Benji, is a top prospect for the 2026 AFL draft, and he’ll be looking to make an impact alongside Drew Banfield’s son, Harper.
An exhibition match scheduled on May 16 for the 18s and the WAFL’s best under 20, with 6 more games throughout the season against other interstate teams.
Players like Lucas Robinson who are making their way deep into their club’s League side will not be missing too much WAFL footy over the course of the season, with Jones saying those players will only need to play two state games which fall over the WAFL’s bye weeks.
The talent manager joined Sports Breakfast this morning.
“To be able to get all that talent together and be able to work with them over the next couple of months is really exciting and I’m really happy with the talent we’ve got in both 18s and 16s. I think we’re going to shape up for a really competitive campaign,” he said.
“We’ve got six trial games in the 18s this year, and if they’re playing league they’ll only be selected for two of those games.
“Guys like Leo Steed, Lucas Robinson, Frazer Rickson will be available for that game, and then for our last trial game we’ll play our best team as well. We want to keep those guys in league football, it’s important for their WAFL clubs and also for their individual development.”
In the u16s, East Fremantle are looking to repeat their 2019 draft class with 12 players selected including brother of Sydney Swans duo Chad and Corey Warner.
The Sharks presented the AFL with outstanding talent in 2019 with big names like Fremantle’s Luke Jackson at pick 3, as well as Jeremy Sharp, Chad Warner, Trent Rivers and Trey Ruscoe.
“We’ve got I think 12 from East Fremantle, one of the highest numbers we’ve had in the squad from one club, and I can tell you it’s one of the most talented groups of kids that I’ve seen.”
“It reminds me a little bit of 2019 when Luke Jackson… Chad Warner, those sorts of names came through. So I think East Fremantle might have a similar crop in the 16s this year.”
Jones said the jump from 16s to 18s is large in terms of professionalism and the standard of football, with the leap often differentiating the best footballers from the rest of their club.
The opportunity to represent the state at both 16s and 18s give players who develop later a chance to still make a name for themselves in the draft or potentially make the AFL later as a recruit.
“Hudson Graham, really late developer – I think he’s grown about eight centimetres since futures – but he’s a key position player. And his teammate Conor Bushe-Jones, he’s a really skinny sort of tall ruckman. They were both late developers and were involved at the 16s level and have come up to the 18s squad.”
South Fremantle might have some AFL material on their hands with Byron Foster and Heath Wilson both prominent on the talent manager’s radar.
It was Claremont who caught Jones’ eye the most with Heath Mellody standing out as the squad’s best player – a sweeping halfback midfielder hoping to add speed and rebound to the state side.
We could see another Wirrpanda in the AFL in the coming years, with David’s son, Eli, selected from East Perth for the 16s side – his Dad making his professional debut 30 years ago this week.
“Eli is only slight at this stage, he’s a little fellow with blistering speed and fantastic skills.”
“He’s got some of the stuff you can’t teach players with speed and skill and as we build his body over the next few years, West coast fans I think can get pretty excited.”
The first game for the 18s squad on May 16 provides them with an opportunity to gel as a team on the field before they take their skills interstate in June.
16s Squad
Claremont: Sam Gooch
East Fremantle: Aiden Martignago, Aiden Wilson, Clancy Gaspar, Jack Holland, Jayden Makanza, Jayke Taylor, Josh Waite, Naka Herwanto, Owen Hodge, Raf McRae, Tom De Jong, Troy Warner
East Perth: Eli Wirrpanda, Nate Cass, Noth Thompson (South West Academy)
Peel Thunder: Jai Keene, Xavier Stewart (South West Academy)
Perth: Ashley Clayton, Cruz Ingleton, Lincoln Workman
South Fremantle: Henry Synnot, Noah Haskell, Luke Websdale Jnr
Subiaco: Levi Ord, Toby McLaren, Zinzan Clark
Swan Districts: Bernard Edmondson (South West Academy), Coby Jackson, Dylan Wood, Ethan Wulf, James Kent
West Perth: Josh Oldroyd
Train-ons: Sam Keys (East Perth), Xavier Allison (Perth), Tye Subritzky (Perth), Josh King (Subiaco), Darcy Dingle (Subiaco) and Jed McGuane (West Perth)
18s Squad –
Claremont: Benji van Rooyen, George Gale, Heath Mellody, Robby Farmer, Elijah Dennis, Harper Banfield, Elijah Williams, Jacob Kee, Tom Brown
East Fremantle: Cooper Ramsay, Finlay Yeo, James Artemis, Oscar Richardson, Marcus Motton, Ben Wood
East Perth: Garrison Kenh, Axel Walsh, Lachlan McGlade, Ethan Turner
Peel Thunder: Mitch Stirling
Perth: Jayden Clarke, Fynn Tomasini, Cody Lee
South Fremantle: Heath Wilson, Byron Foster, Lucas Robinson, Cam Maynard, Conor Bushe-Jones, Hudson Graham
Subiaco: Kyan Perera, Frazer Rickson, Sam O’Brien
Swan Districts: Leo Steed, Sheldon Pickett
West Perth: Koby LeCras, Harvey Spawton-Guy, Rafe Williamson, Maxim Collins, Campbell Creyk
Train-on players: Lachlan Sheldrick (Claremont), Damien Newry (Claremont), Noah Hannaford (East Fremantle), Hunter Hearn (East Fremantle), Taj Allan (Swan Districts)
IMAGE: Blake Parry