AFL Draft 2024: West Perth forward-ruck Kayle Gerreyn on following in his dad’s AFL footsteps

His father’s AFL career might not have panned out as planned. But, that has only fuelled top WA prospect Kayle Gerreyn’s determination to prove he belongs at the elite level.

Every time Kayle Gerreyn steps onto the football field, he’s chasing not just one — but two — AFL dreams.

Gerreyn’s dad Chris, also a forward, played for Claremont and East Perth in the WAFL during the 1990s.

In 1992, he was drafted by Hawthorn and while incredibly skilled, he didn’t play a match at AFL level.

Next week, the West Perth product has the opportunity to make both of their dreams come true at the AFL draft.

“Dad and I have a really strong connection,” Gerreyn said.

“He was my coach so we originally had that coach-player connection which we didn’t really enjoy.

Kayle Gerreyn is eager to take his chance at AFL level. Picture: Getty Images

“We butted heads a fair bit. So he exited that role which allowed us to have a father-son relationship and bounce off each other.

“He’s got some regrets from his playing days so I use that as motivation for my journey to try and achieve what he couldn’t. I want to make him proud.”

Gerreyn heads into the draft as Western Australia’s best tall prospect, some predicting his name could be called out as soon as the second round.

An athletically gifted ruck/forward, Gerreyn is gifted for his 199cm frame, finishing sixth at the national combine in the agility test with a time of 8.082.

He met with 11 clubs at the combine and is tipped to be one of the first three Sandgropers to find a home along with Bo Allan and Hamish Davis.

But his draft ambitions only really became a reality this season.

This time last year, Gerreyn was overlooked for WA’s Under-18s squad but found respite as an overager at the Under-16 championships.

“It’s always been an aspiration of mine to reach the top level,” he said.

“Last year I sort of got overlooked.

Gerreyn worked hard to put himself in a good position to be drafted. Picture: Supplied.

“In my 16s year, I missed a lot through injury and wasn’t playing great footy. I had a fair bit of feedback in my 16s year around training standards and diet which I had to take on.

“There’s still a lot of growth I need to go through. But that feedback has made me the late bloomer I am now.”

Even earlier this year, Gerreyn felt he wasn’t playing at the level required to break into WA’s U18s team. So he got to work.

“When it comes to your draft year, you know that you want to put your best foot forward,” he said. “It’s normal for kids to put heaps of pressure on themselves and that’s what I was doing.

“In-season, I felt like I probably wasn’t playing at the level I intended to at the start of the season which was around state level. That was both fitness-wise and mentally.

“I did a fair bit of work with a sports psychologist on that and I also did off-leg sessions to build up my fitness leading into the end of the year. It had a big impact on my performance and outlook.”

Not only did Gerreyn make WA’s squad, but he played every game.

Playing predominantly as a key forward, he kicked three against South Australia in WA’s opening game of the National Championships.

The Kinross junior was also outstanding at Colts level, averaging 21.5 disposals, 22 hit-outs and 1.6 goals in 11 games to finish 2024 with an average of 169.6 ranking points, the best in the competition.

It culminated in a league debut in the second last round of the home and away season. Gerreyn finished with six disposals against Subiaco in round 20 but kicked two goals against South Fremantle in round 21 before returning to Colts for finals.

“I was in talks to play the week before but was named emergency,” Gerreyn said. “Then I was lucky enough to get the call on Wednesday from the head coach.

“We spoke about how he felt as though I’d been going and then he broke the news that I’d be playing. I was pretty stoked.

“The ball moves really quickly so you need to be proactive rather than reactive. It’s something I need to work on and I know that. But it was a really fun experience.”

While Gerreyn is more comfortable in the ruck, he knows he’ll likely evolve as a key forward at AFL level thanks to a strong ground-level game and clean skills.

Gerreyn will need to master multiple positions. Picture: Getty Images

It’s a role Gerreyn is determined to perfect, spending time picking four-time Bernie Naylor medallist Tyler Keitel’s brain at training. Gerreyn has also identified a handful of more than handy role models already at AFL level.

“I don’t model myself on one player, more so aspects of individuals,” he said. “I look at someone like Luke Jackson with his ability to cover the ground as a tall.

“I’d love to get to that level but up forward, I’d love to be a Tom Hawkins type or like Riley Thilthorpe on the lead. Even someone recent like Jarryd Roughead who played mainly forward but could also pinch-hit in the ruck.

“I’ve done a lot of reflection and taken on a lot of feedback to get my craft to the level it needed to be. If I’m lucky enough to get a go at the next level, it’s going to be as a forward/ruck.

“It’s something I’ve put a lot of time and effort into but I’ve still got more growth.”

All that’s left for Gerreyn to do is to get his AFL opportunity.

“It would mean the world to me,” he said. “If my name is lucky enough to get called out, it would be an unreal experience.”

Originally published as AFL Draft 2024: West Perth forward-ruck Kayle Gerreyn on following in his dad’s AFL footsteps