TWO CLUBS, one gun prospect. Kalani White faces a difficult choice in his draft year, tied to a pair of clubs via father-son (Melbourne) and academy (Gold Coast) eligibility. While he is keeping his cards close to his chest with no timeline on a decision, White has already garnered plenty of attention.

The 17-year-old was born in Melbourne, where his father Jeff carved out a 236-game career with the Demons. That came after being traded from Fremantle, the club which took him with pick one in the 1994 AFL Draft. They’re lofty heights for Kalani to match, but he’s highly credentialed in his own right.

A key position utility who has grown to over 200cm, White junior was an Under 16 All-Australian and is part of the exclusive National Academy in 2025. His aerial ability and versatility have him slated among the Suns’ top handful of talents in a stacked crop, and he’s had plenty of role models to feed off.

We sat down for a chat with White at Queensland’s preseason testing event.

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PRESEASON Q&A

Q: Kalani, can you start off with your earliest footballing memories and when you fell in love with the game?

KW: I reckon just playing Under 9s with all my mates at school. That helped me gain my confidence and it was always good fun with dad helping me a lot. That’s why I just fell in love with the game.

Q: How involved is your dad in your football, does he give you a few tips?

KW: He’s given me heaps of tricks and tips. He’s been an unreal part of my life and with my footy. He’s helped me along my journey and just built up my confidence with every game I play, so it’s been good.

Q: What about mum, is she athletic at all?

KW: She was a high jumper back in school as well. I broke a few high jump records back in year six and year four. Yeah, good fun… I did high jump two years back, I think that was the last time I did it.

Q: How have your experiences been with the Allies and National Academy camps?

KW: Unreal. Just meeting all the Victorian boys, the SA boys, we knew a few of the NSW boys and some of the Tassie boys as well, and I think there’s a few from the NT and WA. They’re all good fellas, got around them really well. Tarkyn Lockyer is an unreal coach.

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Q: What kind of learnings did you take from those programs?

KW: I took a lot out of it. Just building memories and relationships. Meeting [other players] on the footy field is always a good feeling and you just know you’ll have those footy relationships for a long time.

Q: How would you describe yourself as a player? 

KW: Athletic, versatile, good overhead. A team player who builds relationships, has a crack and has fun. 

Q: You listed some strengths there, is there anything you’re still working on?

KW: I reckon a bit of my forward craft. That’s where I’ll be playing a bit this year. I’m sort of still deciding where I want to play. I wouldn’t mind switching to the ruck as well, dad’s given me a lot of tips on that. But I’m working on my positioning in the forwardline and being confident flying for my marks and going for my ground balls. Just keeping that in mind and practicing every day.

Q: Are there any players you look up to and mould your game on?

KW: A bit of Sam and Tom De Koning, just utility players that can play anywhere. Sam playing the backline as a tall pillar and Tom playing as a ruck and forward. I look up to them, unreal players.

Q: Which AFL club do you support?

KW: Not really anyone at the moment, but I was always a Melbourne fan my whole life. I’ve always had the red and blue on me. After that [2021] Grand Final, it was an unreal experience. Seeing my dad emotional, it holds a special place in my heart. But I keep my decisions to myself in the moment. I’m just seeing where I go and how I feel by the end of the year.

Q: Regardless, are you pretty set on ending up at either Gold Coast or Melbourne?

KW: Yeah, I trained with Melbourne in the preseason, same as Gold Coast Suns. I trained two weeks either way with them, first with the Gold Coast Suns. Mac Andrew helped me a lot. He’s a similar sort of height, similar type of player. He’s given me lots of tips and tricks, same as Jed Walter and Ethan Read – they’ve been unreal as well.

On the Melbourne side, a lot of Max Gawn and same with a few of the backliners, Steven May and Jake Lever. They’ve been an unreal support, just helping me while I was there.

Q: Lastly, are there any teammates you think we should look out for to have a big year?

KW: I reckon Dylan Patterson, he’s an absolute jet. Quick, just unreal speed. His vision of play and just to read the ball is unreal… He’s definitely one to look out for.

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