WA side locked in for AFL National U18 champs opener against Vic CountryFriday, June 6, 2025 - 12:52 PM - by Jordan McArdle

Western Australia’s team is locked in ahead of Saturday’s AFL National Under-18s Championship opener against Vic Country at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday morning.

Peel Thunder young gun Will York, one of three players in the squad with senior WAFL experience alongside State captain Fred Rodriguez and Subiaco midfielder/forward Hudson Walker, has been cleared to play after a minor foot injury.

Claremont midfielder Oscar Willis, coming off a career-high 29 disposals and 10 marks in the EGT WAFL Colts, is the other inclusion from the last trial game against West Perth.

South Fremantle forward and Fremantle Next Generation Academy talent Ryda Luke is out with a quad injury but is expected to return during the carnival.

WA Football’s State Talent Manager Adam Jones was excited about the Black Swans’ midfield brigade, which in-form players Rodriguez, Toby Whan (South Fremantle), Sam Swadling and Jacob Farrow (West Perth).

Swadling is averaging a competition-high 35 disposals per game in the colts ahead of his first game in WA colours at any level, while Rodriguez (30.5 per game) and Whan (29 per game) second and third respectively.

“When I speak about guys in form, they’re the key ones that have been playing well in the colts competition and the trial games,” Jones said.

“They’re the ones that we hope can step up and we’ve got some forwards in a bit of form so hopefully they can carry that form into the championship games.”

East Fremantle ruckman Cooper Ramsay, Perth forward/midfielder Koby Evans, Claremont forward Jay Hill and Sharks wingman Luke Carrello will miss the carnival through injury.

But Jones is hopeful a couple of other sidelined players will return during the carnival.

“Joey Hopkyns, one of our first-choice key defender, and Ryda Luke will be available for game two or three,” he said.

Six players features in last year’s carnival as bottom-agers – Rodriguez, Whan, Claremont swingman Cody Curtin – coming off five goals in the last trial game - Subiaco goalsneak Wes Walley and Swan Districts midfielder Blake Kelly.

HOW TO WATCH
All matches in the 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Boys will be live streamed on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
 
MATCH CENTRE
The 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 Boys match centre is available here. Live streams and stats will be available via the match centre.

WA FIXTURES

Saturday, June 7 at 10am: WA v Vic Country at Mineral Resources Park

Sunday, June 15 at 10.30am: WA v South Australia at Alberton Oval

Sunday, June 29 at 11am: WA v Allies in Victoria (venue TBC)

Sunday, July 6 at 12pm: WA v Vic Metro in WA (venue TBC)

(all times WST)