Banfield, Sutherland, Luke and more impress at WA State Draft CombineSunday, October 12, 2025 - 3:12 PM - by Jordan McArdle

Claremont young gun Charlie Banfield capped off a massive season by winning the 2km time trial at the WA State Draft Combine at WA Athletics Stadium on Sunday.

The West Coast father-son prospect continues to enhance his draft stocks, less than a month after winning the Mel Whinnen Medal as best-afield in the Tigers' EGT WAFL Colts grand final victory over South Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Banfield posted a blistering PB time of 6:08, which would've been fifth overall at last week's AFL National Draft Combine, in hot conditions to finish just ahead of South Fremantle gun and Fremantle Next Generation Academy talent Toby Whan who returned from a shoulder injury in style with 6:11.

“From the start of the championships to the end of the season, he just went from strength to strength, and Sunday’s running will help solidify that,” WA Football's State Talent Manager Adam Jones said about Banfield's year.

“No doubt he’ll be under the attention of a number of clubs. West Coast will be hoping there’s no bid put on him — but the way he’s gone, I won’t be surprised if there is.”

Swan Districts midfielder Blake Kelly was third on 6:14, with Subiaco's Hudson Walker (6:24) also getting under the 6:30 mark.

In the girls combine, Perth's Sienna Timmermans prevailed in the 2km with a time of 7:34, ahead of Swan Districts' Ava Stewart (8:18), East Perth's Lucy Greenwood (8:39) and East Fremantle's Maya Louvel-Finn (8:42).

Perth defender Dale Sutherland was another stand-out performer on the day, winning the agility testing with a rapid time of 7.85 seconds which was quicker than any West Aussie at the AFL National Draft Combine.

Sutherland posted a sub three-second time in the 20m sprint as well alongside Kelly and Walker, with the trio just behind South Fremantle forward and Dockers NGA prospect Ryda Luke who starred with 2.85 seconds to be the fastest WA player at either combine.