AFL Draft 2025: Melbourne father-son and Gold Coast academy prospect Kalani White on his difficult decision

Kalani White, the son of Demons great Jeff, is one of the top prospects in next year’s draft. But will he pass up the father-son option altogether? A complicated, difficult decision awaits.

Kalani White in action during the 2025 Marsh AFL National Academy Boys training session at The Hanger on December 4th. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos

AFL Academy member Kalani White has a big decision to make next year: join Melbourne as a father-son or Gold Coast as an academy player?

It’s complicated.

White’s father Jeff, the No.1 pick of the 1994 draft, was an All-Australian and best and fairest winner across a glittering 236-game career with Melbourne after being traded from Fremantle.

One of the most promising talls in the 2025 draft pool, Kalani was born in Melbourne, but has spent most of his life up on the Gold Coast and has family in both spots.

Kalani remains torn on which club to choose, but the laid-back youngster won’t be rushing his decision.

Jeff White kisses Kalani in celebration of his 250th game.

Jeff White with Kalani, 16 month old at the time.

“I’m not too sure (when I will decide), just whenever I sort of feel like it,” White said.

“It’s a bit hard because I’ve got my mum’s sister down here and a few of my dad’s old teammates. I’ve stayed with Kynan (Brown) for a bit and I had such a good time with their family when I was with them in the middle (of) this year,” White said.

“Also got so much more family up on the Gold Coast, but I’ve been there my whole life. But I was born in Melbourne and moved straight up after Dad retired. It’s going to be a pretty tough decision.”

The key position utility – who Jeff said has grown to 6’7” (204 centimetre), nine centimetres taller than his dad – has been moulded by the Suns in their academy since under-16s with plenty of his school mates.

Kalani has worked with the Suns’ AFL side through the academy and has another athletic Suns marvel Mac Andrew in his corner.

However, Kalani trained with Melbourne for two weeks before the Christmas break with an AFL Academy camp sandwiched in between.

He spent some time during the year with the Demons’ father-son program and he has built a friendship with fellow father-son Kynan Brown, the son of Jeff’s teammate Nathan.

Complicating matters is the fact Gold Coast already has potential No.1 pick Zeke Uwland, U17 futures game medal-winner Beau Addinsall and U16 All Australian Dylan Patterson available to them in 2025 with revised father-son and academy rules set to make matching bids tougher.

All of this is a lot a 17-year-old to take in.

Kalani White at Melbourne training in December. Picture: David Caird

Kalani White (son of former Demon Jeff White) and Melbourne NGA prospect Toby Sinnema during training. Picture: David Caird

Jeff told SEN in August that he will have no say on his son’s decision.

“For him it is a big decision to make (between the Dees and Suns). It is not me, all of it is him. He is in a fortunate position where he can make the choice and he has just got to enjoy the journey,” Jeff said.

Brisbane father-son draftee Levi Ashcroft, who started his footy journey at Kalani’s local club Broadbeach, has given him some valuable advice.

White isn’t as highly-touted as No.5 pick Ashcroft, but the prolific midfielder had to make his own father-son call – albeit a very simple one with his brother, Will, already at the club.

But like White, Levi had connections to both Queensland and Victoria, having lived in Melbourne since he was 12.

White warms up for the Suns Academy at the U16 national champs. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/Getty Images via AFL Photos

White in action for Queensland in the U17 futures game in August this year. Picture: Rob Lawson/AFL Photos

“I’ve been around Will Ashcroft and Levi and they’re cousins of close friends and family at school and they were living in Melbourne, I think they wanted to move back up,” White said.

“Because he is a father-son Levi, I have learnt a bit off him and he said just go out there and play footy and just see what happens.”

White’s father-son and academy experience has had its challenges but overall he has been blessed with quality resources.

He has learned the ropes off his dad who was not only an AFL star, but also has his own AFL online coaching business called ‘First Use’.

“I love him so much. I get to learn what he went through as an 18 year old, of course he was the number one draft pick so it would have been a bit of pressure on him,” Kalani said.

“Drafted to Fremantle and then made his way over to the Melbourne Football Club. He’s been an unreal part of my life and so has my family, my brothers – my two twin brothers – and my mum.

“He just said go out there and play footy. Just go out there and have fun just like you were in under nines.

“He’s running an AI thing at the moment where you can just ask the AI any questions and it’ll give you all these type of footy drills, and it’s unreal. He’s going gone really well at the moment.”

Then there is another half a dozen first-round draftees who have taken him under their wing during his time at Melbourne and Gold Coast – Koltyn Tholstrup, Jacob van Rooyen, Mac Andrew, Jed Walter and Ethan Read.

Kalani White at Melbourne training with Koltyn Tholstrup. Picture: Melbourne FC Alex Ratcliffe/Melbourne FC

“(Jacob is) a good fella, he helped me out in the gym, helped me on the track as well. Also I reckon Luker Kentfield as well, so I’ve been staying with him and Koltyn Tholstrup,” White said.

“Bit of Mac Andrew, because sort of similar players. He’s just been unreal, and bit of Jed Walter, Ethan Read as well, more of those taller forwards. They have been really good to me.

“I’ve also trained with the Gold Coast Suns as well and they’ve got unreal facilities as well, but Melbourne’s just unreal and it’s just all the players that play at the highest level and just get to learn off that.”

Andrew, who signed a monster deal until the end of 2030 with a trigger to remain at the Suns until 2034 – has been arguably the most helpful, and it is fitting.

White likens himself to the rising Sun, having played mostly as a key defender in his bottom-age year, where he made his national championships debut for the Allies. He was also named at centre half back in the U16 All-Australian team in 2023,

“I think sort of a Mac Andrew. I reckon (I) can just play anywhere, to be honest,” White said.

“Play as a defender, but also can go forward. So I reckon just learning off (Andrew) and seeing how he trains and how he goes about it.

“He’s been texting me and wanting to have a coffee with me and stuff.

“So he’s been really good to me and a really good mentor, and what he has been going through being drafted at a high rate.”

Melbourne and Gold Coast fans will be watching the promising big man’s progress with interest next year, but at this stage it is looking too tight to call.

Originally published as AFL Draft 2025: Melbourne father-son and Gold Coast academy prospect Kalani White on his difficult decision