Luckless tall, Eagles NGA talent called up for WA’s 18s carnival finale

The AAMI WA Football State 18s Boys have named two debutants for their AFL National Under-18s Championship finale against the Allies in Ballarat on Wednesday.

Luckless East Fremantle ruck Cooper Ramsay will get his first chance to impress as an over-ager after a strong few weeks in the EGT WAFL Colts, where he’s averaged 13.3 disposals and 18 hit-outs.

Despite barely being sighted in 2025 due to shin stress fracture, the Sharks was invited to the WA State Draft Combine, and will no doubt be on the radar of AFL clubs once again.

Ramsay will be joined in the side by Perth defender and 193cm West Coast Next Generation Academy talent Cody Lee, who caught the eye earlier in the season when he took a staggering 15 marks in a Colts game against ladder leaders South Fremantle.

The pair replace South Fremantle’s Byron Foster and West Perth’s Maxim Collins, who are both emergencies, as the Black Swans aim to finish their carnival with a 3-1 record after a stunning come-from-behind victory against Vic Country at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

“It’s exciting and another challenge for the playing group, travelling from Melbourne and coming off a short turnaround,” AAMI WA Football State 18s Boys coach Marc Webb said.

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“I think we’ve taken that positively and prepared well and hopefully we’re in the right mindset tomorrow to play a hungry Allies side who didn’t bring their best against Vic Metro but nearly knocked off Vic Country a couple of weeks ago.”

The WA squad had the chance to train and use the facilities of AFL clubs Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn during the week.

Webb reflected on the comeback win over Vic Country which was WA’s first in Victoria since their carnival-winning campaign of 2019.

“I said if we kept bringing effort, the tide will turn, and not to worry about the scoreboard,” Webb said.

“It was a real credit to the group for their energy and effort and they showed the resilience to get back into the game and get a pleasing result.

“A lot of guys who probably weren’t playing their game in the first half were able to have an impact.”

The match will be streamed live on AFL.com.au and the AFL App from 11am WST on Wednesday.