Spawton by name, sportin' by nature.
Western Australian key position utility Harvey Spawton-Guy has put himself on the radar as one of his state's most promising AFL Draft prospects in 2026.
But he could have pursued a cricketing career if he so chose.
Spawton-Guy averages an impressive 27 with the bat for Joondalup and in 2023 played alongside Victorian state-contracted cricketer Liam Blackford, in a Cricket Mentoring squad coached by former BBL tweaker Peter Hatzoglou.
“I went to India in 2023 on a cricket camp I applied myself for,” Spawton-Guy told Zero Hanger.
“It was an unreal experience, like nothing I've experienced before. Seeing how much people appreciate sport and cricket made me realise how lucky we are in Australia.
“I think the competitive side of footy and team support (meant I chose footy). I pride myself on being a pretty good athlete, so I get to showcase that a bit more in footy, and I enjoy playing footy a lot more with friends."
Spawton-Guy also competed at the Western Australia schools competition for Master Dei College at Under-15s level and played representative cricket as a junior, with those experiences helping shape his mindset as a footballer.
“There are times as a batter you might not make the runs you want, and you have to go back to what works,” Spawton-Guy said.
“I think this year I found a strength of mine was my set shot, but at times my set shot was a little bit off, so training that and not changing because the game didn't go my way, so going back to what worked.”
After opting for footy over cricket ahead of his bottom-aged season when pre-season training became more intensive, last year's AFL National Draft locked him in for having a serious crack at the top level.
Spawton-Guy saw schoolmate and West Perth teammate Jacob Farrow selected in the top 10 by Essendon on night one, before being at Sam Swadling's house when Collingwood read out his name on night two.
“Seeing those boys get drafted was unreal…Me and (fellow draft prospect) Koby (Lecras) had a pinch-ourselves moment and said to each other, ‘let's work as hard as we can, and hopefully this can be us one day',” Spawton-Guy reflected with a gushing smile.
“But they've been great; they've been in Perth the last month or so, so being able to catch up with them and pick their brain about the combine and pre-season has been really good.
“I've always wanted to play AFL footy but that moment where (Sam's) name got called out by Collingwood, and everyone jumped for joy, was when I realised there is a chance for it to happen to me if I work really hard.”
Farrow has offered insight into life on an AFL list, with his rise from fringe prospect into the top 10 and then establishing himself as a key cog in Essendon's lineup this year proving to Spawton-Guy what is possible.
“(He's talked about) how hard you've got to work to do it. Him and Sam have said getting drafted is the easiest part. After that, no-one really cares what pick you go so the ability to work hard and stay grounded is important,” Spawton-Guy said.
The West Perth product was the Black Swans' spearhead forward throughout the U18s Championships, and without putting together a full carnival, he still showed glimpses that have positioned him as one of the most draftable talls.
Northern Knights forward Sam Gayfer, Gippsland's Wil Malady and injured Geelong goal kicker Jack Pickett all sit in first-round contention, with Spawton-Guy in the next band of marking forwards alongside Werribee mature-ager Brady Wright and South Australian overager Jack Slattery.
A point-of-difference for Spawton-Guy, alongside his crash-and-bash competitiveness and ability to impact high up the ground with his work rate, mobility and field kicking, is that he can also play in defence.
“I think the majority of this year I played up forward, but wherever my footy is next year, I think I've got the ability to play forward and back, whatever a team needs,” Spawton-Guy said.
“I think I read the ball pretty well in the air and general play, so my ability to roll off and intercept marks and use my skills for a tall player, I pride myself on my ball use.”
The teenager played four senior games for WAFL wooden-spooners West Perth, kicking nine goals.
Of key-position talent since the pandemic, only Jobe Shanahan, kicking 11 goals in three Essendon VFL games, has put together such a compelling body of work in their draft year at senior level.
“I put a fair bit of work in during pre-season, putting on muscle mass and getting fitter and playing league footy. I found it helped; in the past I'd get pushed around by bigger bodies, but I think just growing in confidence as well has been important,” Spawton-Guy reflected.
Those games at senior level restricted his capacity to play in defence through the year at Colts level, which was an area the club was keen to get him more exposure to – but allowed Spawton-Guy to show his strength against big bodies, which he has been critiqued for as a junior.
“While he's tall, he wasn't the heaviest in terms of muscle, so he often would get moved easily by direct oppo so to get the exposure and learning against the elite defenders has given him exponential growth,” West Perth interim chief executive and former Talent Manager Luke Richardson told Zero Hanger.
“Playing at league level, to kick goals every game, it means he's picking and finding his moments, and he's calm enough to execute in his moments.”
Richardson emphasises his elite kicking – both field kicking and set-shot routine – in projecting his role at the next level.
“He's a swingman. No doubt,” Richardson said.
“Because he hasn't yet grown into his body, which will come with a dedicated gym program. What he's learned when he plays behind the ball is how to protect the drop of the ball with body positioning.
“When he gets his name called out, he will provide a weapon at either end.”
