WESTERN Australia’s initial Under 18 squad has been revealed ahead of a series of trial games before this year’s National Championships. The 39-player roster is slated for five fixtures against WAFL Reserves sides, before a showcase match against the WAFL Under 20s on Saturday May 16.

The revamped schedule marks an expansion of the state pathway, which held only two trials last year. There will be opportunities for those not named in the squad to make their way in, including five train-ons. The Sandgropers’ first trial will be against Swan Districts’ reserves this weekend.

A total of nine players, including two train-ons, have been added from outside the summer squad. Among them is Subiaco ruck Frazer Rickson, who missed out last year due to a broken leg. He’s one of three players with League experience, alongside midfielders Lucas Robinson and Leo Steed.

Rickson is one of three over-agers on the list, while eight are bottom-aged. Robinson is also among the 10 total club-tied players to have made the cut. He is one of three prospects linked to Fremantle, and there are seven players with father-son or Next Generation Academy (NGA) ties to West Coast.

Three-time reigning premier Claremont boasts a high of nine representatives in the state setup, unchanged from the preseason group. Bottom-age midfielder Lachlan Sheldrick – the brother of Sydney’s Angus – and small forward Damien Newry have also been added as train-ons.

2025 Grand Finalist South Fremantle is the next most represented club with six players, tied with rival East Fremantle. Mobile Bulldogs ruck Conor Bushe-Jones and key defender Hudson Graham have made their way in, along with Oscar Richardson from the Sharks.

Western Australia will kick off its campaign against reigning champion South Australia at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday June 13. Another home fixture against Vic Metro follows, before dual fixtures over in Melbourne at the start of July. Times and venues for the latter two games are to be confirmed.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA U18 FIXTURE

vs. South Australia – Saturday June 13
vs. Vic Metro – Saturday June 20
@ Vic Country – Friday July 3
@ Allies – Wednesday July 8

2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA U18 SQUAD

CLAREMONT (9): Benji van Rooyen, George Gale, Heath Mellody, Robert Farmer, Elijah Dennis, Harper Banfield, Elijah Williams, Jacob Kee*, Tom Brown
EAST FREMANTLE (6): Cooper Ramsay**, Finlay Yeo, James Artemis, Oscar Richardson*, Marcus Motton, Ben Wood
EAST PERTH (4): Garrison Kenh, Axel Walsh*, Lachlan McGlade, Ethan Turner
PEEL THUNDER (1): Mitch Stirling
PERTH (3): Jayden Clarke, Fynn Tomasini*, Cody Lee
SOUTH FREMANTLE (6): Heath Wilson, Byron Foster, Lucas Robinson, Cam Maynard, Conor Bushe-Jones, Hudson Graham
SUBIACO (3): Kyan Perera, Frazer Rickson**, Sam O’Brien*
SWAN DISTRICTS (2): Leo Steed, Sheldon Pickett**
WEST PERTH (5): Koby LeCras, Harvey Spawton-Guy, Rafe Williamson*, Maxim Collins*, Campbell Creyk*

TRAIN-ONS (5): Lachlan Sheldrick (Claremont), Damien Newry (Claremont), Noah Hannaford* (East Fremantle), Hunter Hearn* (East Fremantle), Taj Allan* (Swan Districts)

* – denotes bottom-age
** – denotes over-age

INS & OUTS

IN: Oscar Richardson (East Fremantle), Ethan Turner (East Perth), Conor Bushe-Jones (South Fremantle), Hudson Graham (South Fremantle), Frazer Rickson (Subiaco), Sam O’Brien (Subiaco), Sheldon Pickett (Swan Districts), Lachlan Sheldrick* (Claremont), Damien Newry* (Claremont)

OUT: Joshua Nathan, Kye Ormerod, Seb Royle, Xavier Little, Finn Gunton, Jamayson Ketchup, Angus Abbonizio, Jaxon Ozanne, Kalum Smith, Xavier Daniel, Noah Hannaford*, Hunter Hearn*, Taj Allan*

* – denotes train-on player

BREAKDOWN

Bottom-age (2009-born): 8 (plus four train-ons)
Top-age (2008-born): 28 (plus one train-on)
Over-age (2007-born): 3

League experience: 3 – Lucas Robinson, Leo Steed, Frazer Rickson
AFL Academy: 4 – Benji van Rooyen, Heath Mellody, Garrison Kenh, Koby LeCras
Club-tied: 10 – Robert Farmer (West Coast NGA), Harper Banfield (West Coast F/S), Elijah Williams (West Coast NGA), Garrison Kenh (West Coast NGA), Lachlan McGlade (West Coast NGA), Cody Lee (West Coast NGA), Kyan Perera (West Coast NGA), Finlay Yeo (Fremantle NGA), Lucas Robinson (Fremantle NGA), Damien Newry (Fremantle NGA)