{"id":219398,"date":"2026-07-29T19:40:49","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T09:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=219398"},"modified":"2026-07-29T19:40:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T09:40:51","slug":"player-focus-state-stars-light-up-league-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/07\/29\/player-focus-state-stars-light-up-league-level\/","title":{"rendered":"Player Focus: State stars light up League level"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IT IS the time of year where an influx of junior talent begins filtering into the senior grades, and that is no exception in Western Australia. A year after elder brother Charlie <\/strong>did so, Harper Banfield<\/a> made his League debut for West Coast on Saturday, where he is father-son eligible via father Drew<\/em><\/strong>‘s 265 AFL games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Eagles failed to match a bid for Charlie, who instead landed at St Kilda, Harper is just as firmly on the radar. The lively midfielder, who models his game on Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw<\/strong>, was adjudged West Coast’s best player in the 12-point win over West Perth in Joondalup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Up the Grades: <\/strong>State teammates turn rivals in WAFL<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lining up on the opposite side was West Australian teammate Harvey Spawton-Guy<\/a>, also on debut. The high-marking forward earned a call-up to the top flight after notching seven marks and 3.2 in his maiden Reserves outing, fresh off a strong National Championships campaign for the Black Swans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also has ties to the elite level, with former Falcons Jacob Farrow <\/strong>and Sam Swadling<\/strong> having paved the way before him. Spawton-Guy also looks for inspiration from athletic key forwards like Nate Caddy <\/strong>and Charlie Curnow<\/strong>. Fittingly, he’s a supporter of the Saints, where Banfield’s brother is staking his claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom-placed Falcons put up a good fight against West Coast and its several AFL-listed players in Round 16, drawing level at half time but being overrun thereafter. We put the performances of Banfield and Spawton-Guy under the Player Focus<\/em> microscope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Player Focus: <\/strong>Eagles-tied prospects clash in Colts<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/div>
Midfielder<\/span><\/div>
Harper Banfield<\/h6>

181cm<\/p>\u25cf<\/span>

18-12-2008<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"\"<\/div>
Key Forward<\/span><\/div>
Harvey Spawton-Guy<\/h6>

194cm<\/p>\u25cf<\/span>

08-09-2008<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div> <\/div> \n

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