“Still a chance”: WA young gun set for Carlton training stint

Western Australia capped off a successful season of player development, with 10 talented prospects entering the AFL system in 2026.

Having six selected in the National Draft, two in the Rookie Draft and two Category B rookies, WA featured heavily on all three nights of the AFL Draft.

Jacob Farrow led the line, selected by Essendon with the 10th overall pick, while Sam Swadling (Pick 37 to Collingwood), Koby Evans (38 to Brisbane), Tylah Williams (39 to West Coast), Charlie Banfield (41 to St Kilda) and Cody Curtin (43 to Brisbane) were all selected on the second night.

Fred Rodriguez was also snapped up by West Coast with the first overall pick in the Rookie Draft, alongside Leon Kickett, joining Fremantle with Pick 8. The Dockers also snapped up Toby Whan and Ryda Luke as Category-B selections.

Expecting between 8-12 talents to land on AFL lists over the off-season, WA Talent Manager Adam Jones was delighted with the outcome despite the nervy wait.

“It was a pleasing result,” Jones told SEN WA Breakfast.

“It sort of played out how we thought it would, albeit we thought Fred Rodriguez and Leon Kickett would have gone in the National. They ended up getting there as rookies, and the numbers played out how we were hoping.

“It was a bit nervy up until about Pick 40, and then they all started to fall and panned out how we would like.

“All the boys need to do is get there way onto a list, and then they are exactly the same as every other player in the squad. These days, the rookies don’t need a long-term injury – they are able to play regardless of a long-term injury.

“There is really not much difference except their contract is one year instead of two.”

While the talent out of WA was rewarded on draft night, Jones listed a handful of players he believes were unlucky not to have heard their name called, including one small forward talent who will get his opportunity to train on in Victoria.

“There was a couple of boys (that were unlucky),” he said.

“Dale Sutherland had a really strong finish to the year. Blake Kelly, Swan Districts boy, had a little bit of interest and a pretty solid carnival, and Hudson Walker, Subiaco boy who also was pretty close at some interviews of late.

“Another Subi boy, Wes Walley, but we believe he is getting an opportunity to travel over to Carlton and do some training with them, so he is still with a chance to find his way onto a list.”

Walley, a classy small forward drawing comparisons to Michael Walters, boasts elite athleticism, and at 184cm can play anywhere within the front half of the ground. Passed on at the National draft, Walley is said to have been offered a chance to earn a train-on spot with the Blues over pre-season.

Back out west, the West Coast Eagles walked away with a stellar draft haul, headlined by first overall pick Willem Duursma.

Vic Metro ruckman Cooper Duff-Tytler joined the club with Pick 4 and Geelong Falcon Josh Lindsay marked their third first round selection, while Sam Allen also heads West from Victoria via the second round.

The Eagles’ final pick of the National Draft saw Academy prospect Tylah Williams remain in WA, matching Fremantle’s bid at Pick 39. Williams was prioritised over fellow Academy talent Koby Evans, who was taken one pick prior to the Brisbane Lions.

Without the points to match on Evans, the Eagles were also unable to match St Kilda’s bid on father-son prospect Charlie Banfield, son of 265-game Premiership Eagle Drew.

“I am a bit surprised (that they didn’t look to match),” Jones said.

“I know these days you can be a little bit more flexible with your list in terms of dropping players from your senior list back to the rookie list, so for him, and for Kobe Evans as well, he was another one that was from their Academy, (I am surprised).

“They took the four boys ahead of them, which you can’t begrudge them for, but it was interesting that they didn’t free up some list spots to be able to put them on.”

The Eagles opted to instead utilise their extra rookie slots to home WA’s U18s captain and MVP Fred Rodriguez via the Rookie Draft.