RECENTLY drawing lofty comparisons to Fremantle’s Hayden Young, West Perth utility Jacob Farrow is a prospect primed to explode. The powerful 188cm midfielder/defender has plenty of comparable traits; from his size and power, to penetrative left foot kicking and sound aerial ability.

Farrow was part of Western Australia’s midfield in a thrilling final-minute win over Vic Country on Saturday, which saw the Sandgropers make a winning start to this year’s National Championships. Given the hype surrounding him, we put Farrow’s performance under the Player Focus microscope.

>> Scouting Notes: Western Australia vs. Vic Country

West Perth, Western AustraliaMidfielder-Defender

Jacob Farrow

Height: 188cm

Weight: -

DOB: 21-09-2007

SEASON AVERAGES:

2025 WAFL Colts (6 games)
25.8 disposals, 7.2 marks, 3.7 tackles, 2.2 inside 50s, 0.3 goals

STRENGTHS:

+ Aerial ability
+ Defensive pressure
+ Power
+ Size
+ Speed

PLAYER FOCUS

2025 Under 18 National Championships
Western Australia 12.9 (81) def. Vic Country 11.12 (78)

#24 Jacob Farrow (Western Australia)
Stats: 13 disposals (85% efficiency), 3 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

FIRST QUARTER:

Farrow featured at the opening centre bounce, spending plenty of time with the Willem Duursma matchup at stoppages. He was often the sweeper, getting sucked into the contest at times, but also dropping back in open play to support the defence in transitioning the ball.

With two of his three first-term touches, Farrow went by hand at stoppages and was lucky with one not to be pinged in the midst of a defensive 50 tackle. Keen to fend and explode out of the contest, he looked most effective with a clean forward handball through the middle.

SECOND QUARTER:

Rotating into the centre bounce after five minutes, Farrow offered his usual physicality over the ground ball. After it was noted his quick handballs at stoppages only transferred pressure, Farrow adjusted to drive his legs out of a centre clearance.

Said adjustment saw him step out the front of the stoppage, take ground and pump a long kick inside 50 for Cody Curtin to mark and goal. Next was a lovely wide pass after intercepting in the corridor to start the chain for Blake Kelly’s goal, which put WA ahead.

The big-bodied prospect also looked to fend-off and use brute force to break tackles, which landed him in trouble with a contentious holding-the-ball call on the wing. He was sure to pay his opponents back in that regard, applying terrific pressure with his imposing size and closing speed.

Farrow’s lift in output, albeit slight with four disposals, one clearance and a mark for the quarter, helped swing the momentum in WA’s favour. It proved that at his best, he is capable of hurting the opposition with explosive speed and penetrative kicking.

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THIRD QUARTER:

Western Australia streaked out to six consecutive goals to start term three, with Farrow continuing to provide a way forward or out of congestion. He was constantly allowed to wheel onto his favoured left side, though perhaps could have taken ground forward more often.

He also got a chance to provide overlap run in one instance, receiving on the move at half-back but missing his handball – Vic Country spun it around to score. Farrow redeemed himself with continual pressure to either force stoppages or spills, making his presence felt.

FOURTH QUARTER:

Farrow got on the board in term four, tracking inside 50 where he positioned front and centre to a contest before gathering, steadying, and converting the goal. His score extended Western Australia’s buffer out to 15 points to start the final quarter.

He again used his punchy left-foot to thump a kick from the top of defensive 50 to the wing where Charlie Banfield took a hanger. Farrow was also denied another strong overhead mark when the umpire deemed a jump ball out at half-back, though his aerial ability was evident.

With WA getting over the line via Hudson Walker‘s last minute set shot, Farrow could hold his head high for helping swing the game in his side’s favour. He only had short bursts of possession, but made many of them count and has traits which lend to a continued ascent up draft boards.