AFL Draft: The “X-factor” prospects set to headline Western Australia’s 2026 crop of kids

The 2025 AFL Draft is still three weeks away but Western Australia already has a keen eye on next year's crop, announcing its U18s State Summer training squad earlier this month.

Reigning Colts premier Claremont and East Fremantle spearhead the squad with nine names from each club, while highly-rated bottom-agers Axel Walsh, James Artemis and Angus Abbonizio made the cut after playing starring roles at the U16s National Championships

Koby LeCras, the nephew of former West Coast Eagle Mark, and Benji Van Rooyen, the brother of Melbourne forward Jacob, are among the familiar names in the squad.

West Coast Next Generation Academy half-back Garrison Kenh, father-son prospect Harper Banfield, and Fremantle Next Generation Academy midfielder Lucas Robinson are all highly regarded.

“Garrison Kenh is a very smooth mover who can find the footy and uses it well with his left foot,” said Western Australian draft expert Ethan Roth from the Bray and Eth Podcast.

“He's maybe not a household name just yet but I wouldn't be surprised if he's one of sort of handful of guys putting themselves up to be one of the leading contenders for a 2026 draft perspective.

“Lucas Robinson is probably the leading contender.

“We know it doesn't always pan out that way and he's certainly not a lock yet but he takes a seriously good mark, he's a good size, he hits the scoreboard as well, which adds a lot to his CV.”

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Roth said the squad had plenty of “X-factor”, pointing to Lecras, jumping Jayden Clark, the athletic Finlay Yeo and South Fremantle's Cameron Maynard as ones who could entertain throughout next season.

“A lot of those guys can turn a game when needed and have a lot of X-factor,” Roth said.

“Having said that, does it raise questions about consistency if you don't have more of those meat and potatoes guys?

“That's something we'll find out, but there's plenty to get excited about.”

Heath Mellody is one who is slowly starting to gain some traction both within and outside of Western Australia after a promising bottom-aged campaign.

The Claremont product averaged 23 disposals and five tackles in 2025.

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“You can't really tell the difference between his right and left foot,” Roth said of Mellody.

“He's a slight frame, but I think he's extremely agile and he can play off half back and play on the wing.”

“Mitch Sterling is another one who's a really good prospect.

“He can play multiple positions and is a really good size.

“He's been one that's sort of been on the radar for a little bit.”

2025 draft-eligible ruck Cooper Ramsay, who missed this year's U18s National Championships due to injury, was also included, though he received a State Combine invite, indicating a level of AFL interest for this draft.

He was consensually viewed as the state's best ruck this season and played strong footy early in the season, before van Rooyen and Cody Curtin shouldered the ruck duties for Western Australia in his absence.

Western Australia's leading prospects this year are Jacob Farrow, Cody Curtin, Fred Rodriguez, Toby Whan, Koby Evans, Tylah Williams, Sam Swadling and Leon Kickett.

All except Farrow and mature-ager Kickett were part of last year's summer squad.

Western Australian summer training squad