WA talents to feature in AFL National Draft Combine

Seven Western Australian draft hopefuls will get the opportunity to push their case in front of AFL recruiters at the AFL National Draft Combine in Melbourne in October.

WA under-18s captain and MVP Fred Rodriguez of South Fremantle, Claremont tall Cody Curtin, West Perth pair Sam Swadling, Jacob Farrow, Perth utility Koby Evans, Subiaco small forward Wes Walley and Swan Districts goalsneak Tylah Williams were among the 64 players Australia-wide invited to take part in the three-day combine from October 3-5.

Evans, who’s part of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy, missed WA’s AFL National Under-18s Championship with a back issue but is set to return for the Demons colts as early as this week.

Rodriguez, Swadling and Farrow were rewarded for their Under-18s All-Australian selection, with all three also featuring in the seniors for their respective WAFL teams.

Farrow and Swadling were named among the Falcons’ best in their derby loss to East Perth last weekend and have played the last two games, while Eagles NGA product Williams will debut for West Coast’s WAFL side this weekend against East Perth.

In addition to the seven national combine invitees, WA will also have six players testing at the annual State Combine in Perth on October 12.

West Coast father-son prospect and Claremont talent Charlie Banfield and Fremantle Next Generation Academy pair Toby Whan and Ryda Luke, who both play for finals-bound EGL WAFL Colts outfit South Fremantle, headline the State Combine talents.

Melbourne-based East Fremantle product Tom Phillips is also tied to the Dockers’ NGA.

More players will be added to the State Combine list in the coming weeks.

“We congratulate the 13 West Aussies who have been invited to the National and State combines later in the year,” WA Football’s State Talent Manager Adam Jones said.

“It’s great to see players rewarded for their performances at National Under-18s and WAFL levels and we expect to have more WA players added to the State combine list on the back of strong form in the back end of the season and finals.

“It’s also a fantastic opportunity for guys like Koby Evans and Cooper Ramsay who missed the national champs through injury and Ryda Luka who had an interrupted campaign to test in front of AFL recruiters.”

WA draft combine invitees

National: Cody Curtin (Claremont), Fred Rodriguez (South Fremantle), Koby Evans (Perth), Wes Walley (Subiaco), Tylah Williams (Swan Districts), Jacob Farrow, Sam Swadling (West Perth).

State: Charlie Banfield (Claremont), Tom Phillips, Cooper Ramsay (East Fremantle), Ryda Luke, Toby Whan, (South Fremantle), Hudson Walker (Subiaco).