THE 2023 WAFL Colts season is set to get underway this week, bringing an all new crop of West Australian talent to the fore. Ahead of Friday’s triple threat of games, we break down all you need to know and highlight each clubs’ players to watch.

>> Ones to watch: WA Under 18 summer squad

CLAREMONT:

After missing the finals for the first time since 2018, Claremont enters 2023 looking to bounce back into finals contention with arguably the state’s best prospect at its disposal.

Last Season: Sixth
Pre-Season Result(s): def. East Fremantle by 44 points.

Draft Fancy – Daniel Curtin

The 195cm prospect shapes as one of Western Australia’s top talents this year, with his strong overhead marking and ability to play at both ends of the ground making him an appetising option for clubs at the top end of the draft. He won the best afield in the u17 Futures game on AFL Grand Final day playing in defence, but looks as though he will start his season for the Tigers in the front half having kicked three goals in a pre-season match against East Fremantle.

Others to watch:

Outside of Curtin, the Tigers do not have any members in the u18s state squad but have a number of other prospects worthy of attention. Austin van de Stuyf featured at the State 16s carnival last season and was amongst the Tigers’ best in their pre-season hit out and will be one to watch across both Colts and PSA level for Christ Church. The likes of Bailey Banfield, Jett Sibasdo and Joe Matthews will look to convert strong form at school level to colts level after graduating from Scotch while Sam van Rooyen will be an interesting name to watch, particularly after his brother Jacob’s outstanding debut for Melbourne on the weekend.

EAST FREMANTLE:

East Fremantle has traditionally been a breeding ground for AFL talent and while the Sharks may not have the same amount of highly touted prospects as other years, they generally produce strong sides at Colts level and will be looking to bounce back into the top 5 in 2023.

Last Season: 7th
Pre-Season Results: def. West Perth by 10 points, def. by Claremont by 44 points.

Draft Fancy – Koen Sanchez

Despite being small in stature, Sanchez is a crafty and clever player who is a lovely distributor of the ball on both sides of his body. The 18-year-old has only notched up three Colts appearances in his career due to school football commitments with Wesley College, but having finished his schooling he will be more available for the Sharks and shapes as one of their prime movers heading into 2023.

Others to watch:

Outside of Sanchez, the Sharks have a couple of overage players returning from PSA football commitments that will bolster their on-ball stocks in James Spadanuda and Phoenix Knight, alongside tough midfielder Chadd Dunscombe who was impressive in his bottom-age year. Half-back Presley Campbell is another one to keep an eye on as a smokey while Ashton Warner, brother of Sydney superstar Chad and 2021 draftee Corey, has featured in the Sharks pre-season games as a bottom-ager and will be one to monitor for the Sharks and for Aquinas at PSA level.

EAST PERTH:

East Perth has put together a strong Colts program in recent times and will be looking to build on its finals appearance last season to bridge the gap to the competition’s heavyweights.

Last Season: Fifth
Pre-Season Results: def. South Fremantle by two points.

Draft Fancy – Mitch Williams

The key forward shapes as the Royals’ most likely prospect having been a consistent player at colts level over the past two seasons and featuring in the Team of the Year last season. The Noranda product has a good set of hands and is a penetrating and reliable shot for goal. He booted 21 goals from his 10 matches last season before missing the backend of the camping with a knee injury.

Others to watch:

East Perth is set to benefit from the increased availability of midfield duo Mitch Miller and Will Cassidy, who only made fleeting appearances for the Royals due to school football, with the overaged Miller one to watch in particular with his beautiful ball use from a wing. Other to track in blue and black include prolific on-baller Adam de Masi, exciting bottom-age small forward Bienfat Kifusa and ruckman Bailey Maxwell, who returns to the Royals colts squad after receiving a state combine invite last season.

PEEL THUNDER:

Last season’s premiers look in an excellent position to conduct an assault on back-to-back premierships at Colts level, led by a battery of highly talented top-age talents in what shapes as a fruitful year for the Mandurah based club.

Last Season: First
Pre-Season Results: def. by Subiaco by 25 points.

Draft Fancy – Mitchell Edwards

Amongst a bumper crop of Peel talent, ruckman Mitch Edwards shapes as the most exciting. The Fremantle NGA product towers over many of his young teammates at 205cm but possesses elite athleticism and dexterity for a big man that sees him able to find plenty of the ball around the ground in the mould of a Tim English. Having led the ruck division for WA as an under-ager at the state carnival last season, Edwards will look to take that experience into his top-age year which should see him in the mix to play senior football. 

Others to watch:

Apart from Edwards, Peel have a plethora of young talent that will be catching the attention of recruiters this year. Clay Hall and Reece Torrent are two players who could consider themselves unlucky to miss out on being part of the AFL Academy Squad, with the smooth-moving Hall a player who can be expected to feature at League level having trained with the seniors for the pre-season. Ethan Logan is another prospect who is highly touted, having feature in the u17 Futures game last season while the likes of Darcy Petersen, Joel Rush and bottom-ager Deian Roberts are others who impressed in Peel’s premiership campaign last season.

PERTH:

Despite not having made the finals since 2016 at Colts level, Perth enter into 2023 with some optimism, with the Demons having a couple of talented prospects who will look to lead them back to the promised land.

Last Season: Eighth

Pre-Season Results: def. by South Fremantle by seven points, def. Swan Districts by 26 points.

Draft Fancy: Coen Livingstone

The West Coast NGA product is an exciting ruck/forward prospect who will look to continue his excellent finish to 2022 at Colts level. The York native was a key component of Scotch College’s Alcock Cup winning side but will be fully available throughout the season for the Demons having graduated last year. The 197cm product is a terrific overhead mark and showed the ability to impact the play around the ground as well, having averaged 18 disposals and six marks in his final three colts games last season.

Others to watch:

Alongside Livingstone, Aiden O’Driscoll shapes as the Demons’ most likely draft prospect heading into the campaign. The skilful and mercurial talent will be tied up with school football at Wesley but will certainly be one to watch whenever he features at colts level. Rangy defender Elijah Scoble and tough midfielder Mitch Keene are others to keep an eye on, while over-ager Samuel Cameron was solid last season and shapes as an important player for the Redlegs this season.

SOUTH FREMANTLE:

The Bulldogs are coming off a successful season in 2022 where they snapped a four year finals absence and will be looking for some new talent to emerge in 2023 to help them secure a second straight finals appearance.

Last Season: Fourth
Pre-Season Results: def by East Perth by two points, def. Perth by seven points.

Draft Fancy – Jacob Whan

The medium defender enters the campaign as the Bulldogs most promising prospect, having showed plenty of promise in his bottom-age season to earn a place in the state training squad over the pre-season. The Fremantle NGA product is strong for his size and showed the ability to play on opponents both tall and small, although will look to increase his productivity this season.

Others to watch:

While the Bulldogs don’t have the strongest top-age contingent, there are enough players to suggest they will be competitive again in 2023. Fremantle NGA product Iiaiah Hayden will look to build on his debut season at colts level last season while returning over-agers Jordan Douglas, Ed Graham and Callum Copeland will bolster the Bulldogs stocks. Amongst their bottom agers, Hudson Pivac and Orlando Keleman were impressive across the pre-season matches and will be ones to watch.

SUBIACO:

Subiaco has been home to one of the most successful Colts programs in recent times and off the back of a preliminary final appearance in 2022, the Lions have put together another very talented squad that puts them in a position to look to challenge again in 2023.

Last Season: Third
Pre-Season Results: def. Peel Thunder by 25 points, def. by Swan Districts by 23 points.

Draft Fancy – Koltyn Tholstrup

The Esperance product set the competition alight in last season as a bottom-ager, demonstrating his power, versatility and goal-kicking ability to earn selection in state squad as a 17 year-old. Tholstrup has been training with the senior squad and lined up at league level across the pre-season, indicating that he will likely receive plenty of opportunities to impress at league level throughout the season.

Others to watch:

While Tholstrup may be featuring at league level, the Lions have a number of talented players to help fill his void in the colts. Lance Collard is an extremely skilful player who trained with the state squad over the pre-season while the likes of Lachlan Macrae, Riley Mayfield, Tyreize Clark and Dylan O’Dea all featured heavily in the Lions’ run to the preliminary final last season. Hulking key forward Luker Kentfield has played both pre-season games at senior level, so may be a top-ager to monitor.

SWAN DISTRICTS:

After winning the premiership in 2021 off the back of a very talented top age contingent, Swan Districts finished last in 2022 but enter the new season having blooded a number of talented bottom-age prospects who will look to lead the Swans back up the ladder.

Last Season: Ninth
Pre-Season Results: def. Subiaco by 23 points, def. by Perth by 26 points.

Draft Fancy – Riley Hardeman

The AFL Academy member established himself as Swan Districts’ best prospect coming into 2023 after an excellent bottom-age season which saw him play in the state carnival and get a taste of senior football. Hardeman is an outstanding runner who uses his pace to break-lines off half back and through the wing. He played in the league side through the pre-season and will look to make himself a fixture at senior level throughout the season.

Others to watch:

Despite taking out the wooden spoon last season, Swans blooded a number of bottom age players and they could reap the benefits of giving those players opportunities this season. Chayse Martinson, Otis Harvey and Thomas Cathcart all featured at colts level after impressing at the u16s state carnival and will be looking to put their names in the mix for the u18s squad as bottom-agers. Graduating Guildford Grammar duo Luke Kelly and Lewis Zolnier-Owens will also be fully available for the Black Ducks, with Kelly one to watch after an outstanding PSA campaign last season.

WEST PERTH:

Last season’s minor premiers and runner-ups come into 2023 having seen a number of their talented top-age group graduate into senior football and will be looking for the next wave of young Falcons to emerge to ensure they remain one of the competition’s heavyweights.

Last Season: Second
Pre-Season Results: def. by East Fremantle by 10 points, def. by Peel Thunder by 19 points.

Draft Fancy – Eli Alexander

Despite having no draft-aged players selected in the first intake of the state squad in the summer, West Perth has a couple of players who could emerge as draft smokeys. Eli Alexander is one who impressed as a mobile key forward at the end of last season, booting 11 goals from eight games and being one of the Falcons better players on Grand Final Day. The Wanneroo product didn’t feature in the pre-season campaign for the Falcons but could put himself in the mix for the state squad if he hits the ground running.

Others to watch:

Bottom-ager Trent Hiscock was the only Falcon to feature in the u18s summer squad and will look to build some form at colts level after breaking into the Falcons side during the finals last season. The Falcons have a number of other players from their Grand Final side such as Tjad Gianoncelli, Jye Skender and Mitch Lonnie who will be important throughout the season while Odin Jones booted five goals from two goals in the pre-season matches and will be one to keen an eye on early in the season.