Another Banfield makes his mark for the Eagles

AFL Draft prospect Harper Banfield was grateful to become the latest member of his family to don the blue and gold when he stepped out for West Coast’s WAFL side late last month.

The Claremont product, coming off a strong AFL National Under-18s Championships campaign for WA, made his senior WAFL debut against West Perth at HIF Health Insurance Oval in Round 16, helping the Eagles to an important victory.

The Eagles father-son prospect, whose dad Drew won two premierships for the club, impressed in his first taste of senior football.

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One year after his older brother Charlie made his debut for West Coast’s WAFL side, the competitive and hard-working youngster tallied 20 disposals and four inside 50s to be named his team’s best player by coach Kyal Horsley in the hard-fought 12-point win over the Falcons.

He followed that up with 17 disposals, five tackles, three inside 50s and a goal in last Sunday’s shock upset victory over reigning champs South Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park to show that he’s got what it takes to match it with the big boys.

“It was a great opportunity, I’m very grateful for them putting my name in the mix and getting the chance to go out and play alongside some AFL-listed and WAFL-listed players and see the standard that I have to be to go to the next level and the way they go about football,” Banfield told the official WAFL podcast Seven Point Play.

Banfield admits he was nervous pre-game heading into a relatively new role on the wig but was grateful for his new teammates for getting around him and helping calm his nerves.

“It was a great game to be a part of,” Banfield said.

“I was very fortunate that Finlay Macrae gave me a handball in the first 30 seconds of the game so that got me right into it.

“It’s just about playing my role, that’s what they were big on, just holding my width as a winger.

“I haven’t played too much wing before so I was a bit nervous and the boys got around me and showed me the structure and where to position and fortunately enough I got a bit of it.”

The 17-year-old is looking to join Charlie, who was snapped up by St Kilda last year despite West Coast having priority access, in the AFL later this year.

Brothers Charlie and Harper Banfield won a Colts premiership together for Claremont last season. Credit: Adam Crane/Salt Diaries

But he’s not taking anything for grant after seeing both Charlie and eldest brother Bailey miss out on getting to the Eagles.

“I’ve just got the perspective that nothing is guaranteed on draft night,” he

“There’s nothing I can control really in that aspect, it’s all up to them and the way they value me as a footballer.

“It’s their decision ultimately, I just want to put my foot in the door for other clubs as well. I’d be grateful to go anywhere really.”

While he grew up supporting West Coast, Banfield revealed he models his game on someone from their cross-town rivals – Andrew Brayshaw – and even had a poster of them on his wall.

“I don’t know if dad likes it too much but he’s one of my favourites and I’ve got a poster of him up on my wall,” he joked.

“I love the way Andrew Brayshaw goes about football, his pressure on the ball and leadership are things I try to resemble in my game and I’ve looked up to him for a long time now.”

Banfield will now go back his PSA footy school Scotch College, who are currently on top of the Alcock Cup standings, before returning to Claremont as he aims for back-to-back EGT WAFL Colts premierships alongside fellow AFL Draft hopefuls including Heath Mellody, Benji van Rooyen, George Gale, Tom Brown and Noah Braun.

He was full of praise for Tigers, Scotch College and State 18s teammate Brown, who caught the eye down back during the National Under-18s Championships.

“He puts everything out there on the field and is the sort of person you’d want to play with every week,” Banfield said.

“We were grateful to have him on the State team.

“He’s got the player comparison of Reuben Ginbey and plays like him as well, he just goes 100 per cent and trains like he’s going to play so in the contest he’d knock a few boys over.”