WAFL Colts25 players to watch as EGT WAFL Colts season kicks off
Jordan McArdle
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2 Apr 2026
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The newly-renamed CTF WAFL Futures season kicks off this weekend, with the State’s best 16-and-under talent doing battle over the next seven weeks.
The competition features 10 teams from across Perth, Peel and the South West.
The South West Talent Academy host Swan Districts in the opening game of the season at Bunbury’s Hands Oval under lights on Friday night, with three more games on Saturday across Perth before East Perth complete the round against Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday morning.
South West, which will have four home games at Hands Oval, will be skippered by Sebastian Murray, with Bernie Edmondson and Noah Thompson his deputies.
“We are pumped to be playing four home games at Hands Oval with our first game being on Friday night at the venue,” South West talent and coaching manager Garry Moss said ahead of his side’s opener against Swan Districts.
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“Players have been working hard through the pre-season to develop their games and build connections with each other.
“Our second-year head coach, Clint Ernst, is a former East Perth Colts coach and State Academy assistant coach who has added a real level or professionalism to the program and is well supported by Josh Rayson, former Brisbane Lion James Hawksley and Richard Graham, with Michelle Harris, Kelsey Della Bosca and Craig Shaw making up the coaching panel.”
Claremont will have plenty of familiar names in their Futures program including four sons of guns.
Jack Wira (son of Brad), Oscar Wilson (son of Leon), Louis Gale (son of Mark) and William Stone (son of Nick) will all follow in their fathers’ footsteps at the Tigers.
There’s also some brotherly links with Louis Gale joining his older sibling George who’s part of the club’s Colts program and dual Colts premiership player Jaxon Douglas’ younger brother Archie also in the squad.
Sam Gooch made last year’s State 15s side and will be a part of Claremont’s program this year, as will Kimberley products Kobe Brooker and Beau Donovan who have both caught the eye.
There’s another Warner at East Fremantle with Troy, who represented WA in the under-15s and under-16s carnivals last season, following in the footsteps of Sydney Swans brothers Chad, Corey and Sharks senior squad member Ashton.
Warner is a smooth-moving midfielder with great running capacity.
He will be joined by State teammate Jayke Taylor – a tall mobile key-position player -who’s another exciting talent for the Sharks.
Midfielders Lachlan Wall, Nate Pauline, Aiden Martignago and raw 196cm tall Raf McRae are among the others to watch for East Freo.
The Sharks’ leadership group is made up of Warner, Will Davy, Beau Romaniello and Jayden Makanza.
Damian Champion, the younger brother of West Coast small forward Malakai, is one to watch for South Fremantle.
The Bulldogs are also expecting big things from Joshua Websdale, Boden Newboult and Henry Synnot who’s from Narrogin in the club’s regional zone.
Luke Websdale Jnr was recently announced as Souths’ captain, with Brody Peake his deputy and Thomas Short, Tiago Florenca and Jon Morris also in the leadership group.
Subiaco’s charge will be led by midfielder Toby McLaren, speedster Levi Ord, ruck Josh King and exciting Kalgoorlie product Zinzan Clark.
Dylan Paap, son of former Subi league player Shane, was named in the Lions’ leadership group alongside Ben Hawkins, Ollie Santoro and Tom Bloxsome.
Paap isn’t the only familiar name running around for Subiaco, with Sam Seirakowski -son of ex-St Kilda and West Coast tall David and grandson of St Kilda premiership player Brian – also making the squad.
West Perth will be skippered by Whitford product Alex Brown, with Jonah Smallman vice-captain and Caleb Richardson, Theo Hall and Jed McGuane also part of the leadership group.
Richardson and McGuane appeared primed for a big season, with Travis Clarke and Whitford pair Owen Bowes and Charlie Lihou also set to impress.
Peel Thunder will have plenty of State experience in their leadership group with captain Jai Keene, vice-captains Reid Gellatly and Rory Walton all representing WA at 15s level last year.
Lachlan Hewick and Eden Serjeant are also previous State 15s representatives.
Ezekial Little and emerging leader Tyrell Woods will also form part of a six-player leadership group.
Ryan Funazzi is set to follow in his older brother Jayden’s footsteps at Peel after selection in the Futures squad.
Perth were undefeated from seven matches in last season’s Futures competition, but will have a new-look squad this time around with the just four players returning, to go with coach Mark Longton, as the rest eye regular Colts matches as bottom-agers.
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