Rodriguez earns WA under-18s captaincy honour as leadership group namedFriday, May 23, 2025 - 9:45 AM - by Jordan McArdle

Highly-rated South Fremantle talent Fred Rodriguez will captain WA's under-18s for the upcoming national carnival as part of a four-person leadership group.

Coach Marc Webb announced the leaders to the playing group ahead of training at Subiaco Oval on Thursday evening, saying Rodriguez would "lead us the right way with the Black Swan efforts and the desire we want".

“Fred is an outstanding character and leader who’s in his second year of our under-18s program,” Webb said.

“He’s always looking to find the edge and get better and he’s certainly got leadership capabilities as well and will lead with his on-field actions and training standards.

“He played our entire under-18s carnival last year and played consistent football and we believe he has taken his game to another level this year.

“He’s been part of the AFL Academy and is a strong-bodied inside mid who’s got a high work-rate and really good skills on both sides of his body so he can use the ball well.”

Webb said while Rodriguez was the standout choice as skipper, he will have plenty of strong leaders around him.

Claremont tall Cody Curtin, who like Rodriguez is part of the AFL Academy, was named vice-captain, with Swan Districts midfielder Blake Kelly and Tigers utility Charlie Banfield also in the leadership group.

“We’re really lucky to have a strong leadership group this year with Cody Curtin named as vice-captain," Webb said.

“Blake Kelly and Charlie Banfield are among the others setting the standards on the track who we’ve rewarded with inclusion in the four-man leadership group.”

WA will have two more trial games before their AFL National Under-18s Championship opener against Vic Country at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday 7 June.

The side takes on West Perth reserves against Joondalup's HIF Health Insurance Oval on Saturday with South Fremantle pair Toby Whan and Ryda Luke returning from injury.