Top WA draft prospects to train with Freo, Eagles

Some of Western Australia’s top AFL draft prospects will get the opportunity to train with Fremantle and West Coast over the pre-season.

Famous Eagles names Banfield and LeCras are back at West Coast.

Claremont midfielder Harper Banfield, the son of dual West Coast premiership hero Drew and younger brother of St Kilda draftee Charlie, will get the chance to impress at Mineral Resources Park over the next three weeks.

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Banfield will be joined by Next Generation Academy talents Garrison Kenh (East Perth) and Robbie Farmer (Claremont), who are also part of WA’s State 18s Summer Squad, each Wednesday for the next three weeks.

West Perth forward Koby LeCras, whose uncle Mark is one of the club’s greatest ever goal-kickers and a premiership player, will get an entire week with West Coast next week as part of his AFL Academy duties.

LeCras, the son of former North Melbourne tall and West Perth champion Brent, will have a familiar face alongside him in Kenh, who’s also part of the AFL Academy and State 18s squad.

Fremantle already welcomed NGA trio Lucas Robinson (South Fremantle), Finlay Yeo and Josh Nathan (East Fremantle) to their pre-season sessions before the Christmas break.

All three will train twice a week, including one gym session, throughout the summer at the Dockers’ Cockburn HQ alongside East Fremantle talent and father-son prospect Oliver McManus whose father Shaun is a former captain of the club.

Claremont and AFL Academy duo Benji van Rooyen and Heath Mellody will spend next week training with the Dockers in an exciting chance for the EGT Colts premiership pair.

Van Rooyen, the younger brother of Melbourne swingman Jacob, will follow in the footsteps of his middle sibling Sam who trained with Freo last pre-season in the hope of earning a spot on their rookie list.

Peel Thunder trio Darcy Peterson, Kyelan Sanders and Austin Polmear have also been involved at Fremantle training as part of their WAFL club’s alignment, taking part in the recent match simulation.

WA State 18s Summer Squad members training at AFL clubs

Fremantle: Lucas Robinson, Finlay Yeo, Josh Nathan (Next Generation Academy), Benji Van Rooyen, Heath Mellody (AFL Academy)

West Coast: Harper Banfield (father-son), Robbie Farmer (Next Generation Academy), Garrison Kenh (Next Generation Academy/AFL Academy), Koby LeCras (AFL Academy)