The Dockers, Eagles prospects in action during AFL National U18 ChampsTuesday, June 3, 2025 - 2:48 PM - by Jordan McArdle

There’s plenty of Fremantle and West Coast prospects to keep an eye on at the upcoming AFL National Under-18s Championships.

Both the Dockers and Eagles will be well represented from a Next Generation Academy perspective, there’s also a father-son gun in the mix.

AFL Academy member and dangerous small forward Wes Walley is West Coast’s leading NGA prospect involved in WA’s National Under-18s Championships campaign.

The Subiaco youngster has kicked multiple goals in his last three colts games and is averaging 17 disposals and three tackles this season.

Perth forward Koby Evans is also highly rated but won’t feature in the championships due to a back injury.

Evans had 28 possessions and two goals in his team’s colts season opener and also featured in the AFL Academy’s clash against Coburg VFL but hasn’t played since.

Father-son talent Charlie Banfield, the son of dual Eagles premiership hero Drew, is another one to watch.

The Claremont teen is part of WA’s leadership group and plays a mix of wing and forward.

“It’s a great year for both clubs with potential NGA talent,” WA Football’s State Talent Manager Adam Jones said.

“West Coast have some really good Indigenous boys, starting with Wes Walley who’s been really good.

“He’s a Subi kid, a small forward but very good overhead.

“Tylah Williams is another one, he’s at Swan Districts and his GPS running has been off the charts the last couple of games so I’m really excited about what he can bring.

“Probably the best of them, Koby Evans, unfortunately wont feature in the campaign over the next few weeks.

“He’s got a stress fracture in his back so he’ll be working his way back into the season at the latter stages.

“Then they’ve got father-son Charlie Banfield, who’s a great wing-forward prospect and the son of Drew.”

The Dockers are also stacked with NGA talent, headlined by South Fremantle ball magnet Toby Whan.

Whan is putting together an impressive campaign at EGT WAFL Colts level, averaging 29 disposals, 3.5 tackles and a goal per game.

Whan’s Bulldogs teammate Ryda Luke, a medium-sized forward who burst onto the scene with an eight-goal half in the colts earlier this season.

East Fremantle product Tom Phillips, who’s been labelled WA’s first FIFO under-18s player, is another on the Dockers’ radar.

Phillips lives in Melbourne where he boards at Scotch College, but played WAFL Futures for the Sharks back in 2023 and has flown over the recent trial games.

“Across town, Freo is equally as exciting with Toby Whan leading the pack,” Jones said.

“He’s a hard-working midfielder from South Freo.

“Ryda Luke has bobbed onto the scene, his name would be familiar after he kicked eight goals in a half for South Fremantle colts.

“He’s a powerful medium-sized forward.

“They’ve also got Tom Phillips, who’s a boy that’s boarding in Melbourne at Scotch College but he’s flown back over for trial games and will fly over for our championship games.

“And Basil Hart is another one, he’s Indigenous boy from Peel Thunder who’s a medium-to-small forward with a fair bit of talent.”

WA’s National Under-18s Championships opener is against Vic Country at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday, kicking off at 10am.