There is optimism that Western Australia will have ‘double digits' players drafted in 2025 despite a disappointing U18s National Championships raising external question marks over the strength of the crop.
Defender-midfielder Jacob Farrow is now consensually viewed as the best Western Australian prospect, and could push the top 10, while West Coast Eagles-tied players Tylah Williams and Charlie Banfield, 19-year-old bolter Leon Kickett and midfielders Fred Rodriguez and Sam Swadling are also among the leading prospects.
Eagles-tied pair Koby Evans and Wes Walley, who has missed most of 2025 with injury, and Fremantle-tied Toby Whan are also in the mix to be selected.
Versatile goalkicker Cody Curtin received a National Combine invite, while Fremantle-tied pair Ryda Luke and Tom Phillips, WA ruck Cooper Ramsay, role-playing forward Hudson Walker, midfielder Blake Kelly and defender Dale Sutherland all got State Combine invites.
West Coast's assistance package, enabling the wooden spooners to list four additional rookies, provides further hope that the state will reach 10 players listed.
“The hope is double digits, and sort of anything above that 10-11 mark would be an added bonus,” said Western Australian draft expert Ethan Roth from the Bray and Ethan Podcast.
“I would be pretty disappointed if we didn't have at least sort of eight to nine at a minimum, including rookie positions - there's some players that aren't being talked about as much as some others that we're hopeful will go.”
Williams, in particular, was highlighted as one who could surprise some people, with the dynamic forward getting two late-season WAFL senior games after a promising campaign.
The West Coast-tied player then recorded top 10 finishes in the 20-metre sprint, running vertical jump and AFL agility test, making him one of the most impressive overall athletes at the AFL Draft Combine.
“It wouldn't surprise me if Tylah is the second Western Australian called out,” Roth said.
“He brings real X-factor, and being a left footer is a massive point of difference, his (AFL Draft National) Combine was great and he showed outstanding signs at the 'Champs'.”
Roth noted Whan as an underrated prospect, with the South Fremantle midfielder piecing together a brilliant WAFL Colts campaign either side of an uncharacteristically quiet spell of games at the U18s National Championships.
Whan won the Jack Clarke Medal for the most promising prospect in the WAFL Colts competition after training with Fremantle across the pre-season and he has spent plenty of time learning off South Freo's leading prospect and close mate Rodriguez.
“I just feel like he could impact AFL a lot sooner than some of the others,” Roth said of Whan.
“He's versatile, can play inside, outside, has got a good left foot on him and he's just a smooth mover.
“I think he's been forgotten about a lot so I think he's been stiff.”
Kickett has been the significant riser from the west in 2025 and is viewed as one of Western Australia's likely early selections.
A high-flying 172cm small forward from Swan Districts, Kickett played eight Colts games and two league games in the second half of 2025 as an over-ager.
“He doesn't need a lot of the footy to make an impact,” Roth said. “He can just kick goals in a flash; neon Leon has a good ring to it.
“He's bolted from the blue but he seems to have taken it in his stride but not in a way that's getting ahead of himself.
“He's embracing it and being mature.”
Swadling's numbers in the midfield for West Perth suggest he should be able to make the step up to the next level, averaging a staggering 35 disposals in nine WAFL Colts games in 2025, while also showing his talent at league level on four occasions.
Concerns have been raised over his ball use, however Roth noted the positives he would bring to an AFL club.
“The good thing is he can kick left and right foot and I think that sort of separates him a little bit,” Roth said.
“I think his tank is really good he's pretty coachable.
“He knows what he needs to work on, so he's not naive in that sense.
“I think he could play a role forward as well so I don't think he has this guy who's just a ball magnet and nothing else.”
Evans is another who has earned widespread praise this season.
The AFL Academy member was noted by several coaches for his enthusiasm and energy around the group.
Evans won 25 and 28 possessions in his only two WAFL Colts games this season before a call-up to senior footy, where he had two scoring shots playing forward on debut, before getting injured the following week, ruling him out of the rest of the season.
“He's a down-to-earth, humble kid, obviously he missed out on the ‘Champs', but had the headset on the whole time during the home games and was getting around the boys as well,” Roth said.
“He's trained with the Eagles and to come back off a long injury layoff and have 25 (disposals) says a lot about him.
“He probably would have held his spot for finals if he didn't get injured again so I definitely think he's worthy of a spot on an AFL list.”
Hyped as Western Australia's leading prospect entering 2025, Rodriguez is one who has slipped down the order but is still expected to get taken given his acumen as a strong-bodied contested ball-winner.
The South Freo prospect took out the Black Swans' U18s MVP and skippered the side.
“You hear about what he does off the field with his diet and recovery and it's next level,” Roth said.
“He leads by example and is a typical one who says ‘come with me boys so is a natural leader.”
The AFL Draft is on November 19-20.
