Walker's late goal gives WA thrilling win to start AFL National U18 Champs Saturday, June 7, 2025 - 12:49 PM - by Jordan McArdle

Western Australia kicked off their AFL National Under-18s Championship with a thrilling last-gasp win over Vic Country at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

Subiaco young gun Hudson Walker was the hero, converting set shot from 40m out in the final 30 seconds to give the Black Swans a three-point victory – 12.9 (81) to 11.12 (78).

WA trailed by as much as 19 points early in the second quarter before a stunning six-goal burst either side of half-time to take a stranglehold on the contest.

But Vic Country came storming back to snatch the lead at the 17-minute mark of the final term.

Then, in one last roll of the dice, West Coast father-son talent and Claremont midfielder Charlie Banfield took an intercept mark across half-forward before a spearing pass to Walker who held his nerve under pressure to take his mark and nail the resulting shot.

South Fremantle pair Toby Whan (18 disposals, five inside 50s, four clearances and a goal) and Fred Rodriguez (17 disposals, seven inside 50s, four clearances and two goals) were dominant in the midfield and also hit the scoreboard to further cement their status as first-round draft fancies.

West Perth’s Jacob Farrow (12 disposals and six tackles) also showed his class in the engine-room to continue his upward trajectory, Walker was lively with 16 touches, a game-high seven tackles and the match-winning goal and inclusion Oscar Willis from Claremont (16 touches) also found plenty of the footy.

Bottom-aged winger Heath Mellody (11 disposals and four inside 50s) was another key performer, while his Claremont teammate and top-10 draft fancy Cody Curtin booted three goals before taking an important intercept mark down back in the dying minutes.

WA opened the scoring through Rodriguez who capped off an impressive start to the contest with a cracking goal, picking the ball up cleanly in slippery conditions before kicking it on the run from 45m out.

Subi goalsneak Wes Walley laid a nice chase-down tackle, 2026 prospect Benji van Rooyen had some good moments in the ruck and Max Thomas had a team-high six disposals, but it was Vic Country up 13 by points at quarter-time after a strong finish to the opening term.

After conceding four goals in a row either side of the first break, the Black Swans turned to game on its head with a purple patch of their own.

Farrow provided the spark, driving the ball with class inside 50, while Rodriguez’s strong game continued alongside his partner in crime Whan.

After a few almost moments in the first, Curtin came to life with a couple of big goals on the back of some silver service from his midfield.

Curtin kicked his third, and the best of the lot from the boundary, shortly after the resumption with Banfield also hitting the scoreboard as WA booted six unanswered goals.

Whan was in absolutely everything, winning plenty of footy in the middle and even drifting forward for a major on the run followed by a goal assist for West Perth ball magnet Sam Swadling.

When Rodriguez burst out of the centre for a sensational goal, teaming up with his South Fremantle partner in crime Whan, it helped his State to a nine-point buffer with a quarter to play.

Vic Country came back hard in the final term to snatch the lead back at the 17-minute mark.

An injury to van Rooyen in a marking contest saw Curtin thrust into the ruck, with the Claremont big man also spending time down back where he took a crucial intercept mark.

Time appeared to be running out before Banfield and Walker combined to snatch a nail-biting win.

WA’s next assignment of the carnival is against South Australia at Alberton Oval on Sunday, June 15.

Western Australia 1.2 5.6 10.7 12.9 (81)

Vic Country 3.3 4.6 8.10 11.12 (78)

WA goals – C Curtin 3, F Rodriguez 2, B Kelly, C Banfield, T Whan, C Watson, S Swadling, J Farrow, H Walker.

WA best – T Whan, F Rodriguez, C Curtin, J Farrow, H Walker, H Mellody, C Banfield, M Thomas.