Tairon Ah-Mu Draft Profile

Dandenong StingraysRuck Forward

#64

Tairon Ah-Mu

height: 198cm

weight:

D.O.B: 06-06-2007

Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Boys

Snapshot
Analysis
Summary

SNAPSHOT: “A beast of a prospect whose sheer size and physicality make him a difficult matchup up forward or in the ruck.” – Michael Alvaro

It’s hard to miss Tairon Ah-Mu when he’s playing football at his best. The hulking key position prospect is a man mountain capable of monstering his opponents, which he has done frequently over the years. He represented Vic Country at Under 16, 17, and 18 level, while making his debut for Dandenong Stingrays back in 2023. That year, he also helped Haileybury College take out the APS First XVIII flag.

Much of Ah-Mu’s tutelage has come under Essendon great Matthew Lloyd at Haileybury. Together, they helped put together another undefeated season to take out the 2025 title, and Ah-Mu has made great strides in refining his craft. He has also been part of the Melbourne Next Generation Academy, but the AFL’s current eligibility criteria means the Dees won’t have priority access to him come draft time.

Ah-Mu has also been a central figure for Dandenong between his school and representative commitments. He booted 22 goals in 11 games as a bottom-ager last year, before going on to kick 15 in eight appearances this year. Not once was Ah-Mu kept goalless as a top-ager in the Coates Talent League. He translated that form to the National Championships to slot seven majors in the Big V guernsey. That came after a six-goal trial match which ended up being one of the forward’s best games all season.

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STRENGTHS:

+ Aggression
+ Leading patterns
+ Physicality
+ Scoreboard impact
+ Size
+ Strength

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Endurance
- Speed

Much of Ah-Mu's game revolves around his physical traits and craft. He has the edge over just about any junior in the country for pure strength and size, and leans on it to dominate with imposing bodywork. Whether up forward in one-on-ones or jostling for position in the ruck, Ah-Mu is incredibly difficult to move off the line of the ball and gets into position early. What's more, his frame and clean hands make him difficult to spoil on the lead.

Ah-Mu's leading patterns are another facet of his craft. He stays active when he can and reads the cues quickly to make his move, finding ways to beat opponents to the punch. That's part of what makes Ah-Mu such a consistent goalkicker. He only needs a few opportunities to score and generally finishes well, possessing a booming kick over the mark. When he can't take a grab, he's strong over the ground ball and can set up others.

With no goalless games in eight Coates Talent League appearances this year, Ah-Mu's consistency was quite strong. He kicked multiples in five of those outings, with his standout haul of four coming in a quarter final loss. He was also among Vic Country's most reliable scorers, finding the goals in three of his four National Championship matches. His record proves he's a difficult player to tie down for long, and that he knows his craft well.

Along with his marking presence up forward, Ah-Mu offers value as a second ruck. He can make any opponent nervous in physical battles and uses that to his advantage. His presence also likely lifts the confidence of those around him. Ah-Mu averaged 11 hitouts per his eight Coates Talent League games this year, showcasing his ability to own the airways and compete hard when the ball enters his area.

On the flip side, Ah-Mu's improvement areas are clearly identifiable. He outlined endurance as one coming into the season, while his overall athleticism can continue to develop. While he is terrific at holding his space close to goal, modern day key forwards are required to move up the ground and that's something Ah-Mu can look to enhance. Continuing to work on his running power will allow his natural attributes to shine even brighter.

DRAFT RANGE: Late/Rookie

SUMMARY:

Tairon Ah-Mu can hang his hat on three years of consistently dominating his junior opposition. Recruiters will be torn on whether his current athleticism and running power are enough to make it at the top level, though he certainly possesses the physical weapons to compete against senior opposition. Pacific Islanders do not currently come under the Next Generation Academy eligibility, so the fallback of club-tied status won’t be an option for Ah-Mu. Although, that means that all 18 clubs will have had a good look at his attributes. If he lands on a list, expect it to be later on in the National Draft or as a rookie, where he can continue to develop in an elite environment.

AFL U18 Championships

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	HO	CLR	I50	R50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	HO	T	G	DC
2025	Vic Country	22	18	40	17	20	21	5	28	3	3	0	7	4	5.5	4.5	10.0	4.3	7.0	1.3	1.8	60
Total	-	22	18	40	17	20	21	5	28	3	3	0	7	4	5.5	4.5	10.0	4.3	7.0	1.3	1.8	60

Coates Talent League Boys

Season	Team	K	HB	D	M	CP	UP	T	HO	CLR	I50	R50	GL	GM	K	H	D	M	HO	T	G	DC
2023	Dandenong Stingrays	3	2	5	2	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	1	1	3.0	2.0	5.0	2.0	4.0	0.0	1.0	29
2024	Dandenong Stingrays	62	48	110	34	0	0	18	80	0	10	1	22	11	5.6	4.4	10.0	3.1	7.3	1.6	2.0	56
2025	Dandenong Stingrays	79	43	122	50	60	64	17	87	12	28	1	15	8	9.9	5.4	15.3	6.3	10.9	2.1	1.9	93
Total	-	144	93	237	86	60	64	35	171	12	38	2	38	20	7.2	4.7	11.9	4.3	8.6	1.8	1.9	178