AFL Draft 2025: Western Australia v Vic Country news, stats, scouting notes as top picks fire
A Carlton father-son prospect and a trio of top-10 pick fancies it up an under-18 national championships clash between Western Australia and Vic Country — which was decided in the final minute.
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A goalkicking half-forward and a Carlton father-son prospect made their mark for a Vic Country side which was pipped at the death by Western Australia in the under-18 national championships on Saturday.
The home side pinched a thrilling three-point victory – 12.9 (81) to 11.12 (78) – at Mineral Resources Park in Perth, with Hudson Walker displaying nerves of steel to boot the winning goal from a set shot in the final minute of the match.
West Coast father-son prospect Charlie Banfield found Walker with a kick inside-50, after taking a vital intercept mark tight on the boundary line to set up the play.
The late goal from Walker came after a huge second-half from Noah Hibbins-Hargraves, who had helped Vic Country take the lead in the last quarter.
The 186cm half-forward or wingman from the Dandenong Stingrays booted four goals after the main break, including two in a row in the last quarter.
Hibbins-Hargraves, who once kicked 20 goals in a game as a 14-year-old, was all class as he hit the scoreboard in multiple ways just weeks after returning to the field following an early-season shoulder injury.
The AFL Academy member had missed two exhibition matches for the Australian under-18 team in April due to the injury.
Carlton father-son prospect Harry Dean was also hugely influential for Vic Country as he continues to rise up draft rankings.
The son of two-time Blues premiership player Peter, the 193cm defender from the Murray Bushrangers let little past him against Western Australia.
He read the play well, defended strongly one-one-one, showed good bodywork and came off his opponents to intercept the footy when the time was right.
Dean finished with 14 disposals, 10 marks (three contested) and seven intercept possessions as he stamps himself as a top-30 prospect following a strong start to the season in the Coates Talent League.
Potential top-five picks Willem Duursma (26 disposals) and Josh Lindsay (29 disposals) were also impressive for Vic Country, while Western Australia captain Fred Rodriguez (17 disposals) led the way for his side.
SCOUTING NOTES – WESTERN AUSTRALIA v VIC COUNTRY
VIC COUNTRY
Josh Lindsay
29 disposals, 8 marks, 3 rebound 50
The left-footed super boot from the Geelong Falcons had 11 disposals in the first quarter alone coming out of defence – nine of them kicks. Teammates wanted the ball in Lindsay’s hands and he pulled the trigger on some daring options through the corridor – and continually hit them. He is fast firming as a potential top-five pick in November.
Will Malady
6 disposals, 6 marks (3 contested), 2 goals
One to watch for next year’s draft, this lightly-framed 190cm forward from the Gippsland Power has vice-like hands overhead and is usually a very accurate set shot on goal. He booted Vic Country’s first goal of the game from a set shot after taking a nice contested mark in the opening minutes and had two goals on the board within the first 15 minutes of the game, but Malady was kept a little quieter after that.
Riley Onley
22 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 4 clearances
A solid performer playing onball throughout the day, this big-bodied midfielder cracked in hard to win his own footy. He logged more contested possessions than anyone else on the ground, while also showing off his booming kick and some good centre clearance work. However, Onley’s disposal of the ball let him down at times.
Zac Harding
13 disposals, 23 hit-outs, 3 clearances
The No. 1 ruckman for Vic Country – who is an overage player after turning 19 in January – was dominant across the match, displaying some nice tap work to his midfielders. Measuring 199cm, he also found the footy around the ground, with a couple of nice overhead marks including an intercept mark pushing back to support his defence.
Tairon Ah-Mu
8 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals
An exciting 198cm big man from the Dandenong Stingrays who has been tearing it up in school football for Haileybury, Ah-Mu didn’t have a huge game but had a presence when the ball was in his area. A strong and big-bodied key forward, he got on the end of two goals in the second half – both from tight angles. Ah-Mu also spent time in ruck and even across halfback.
Harry Dean
14 disposals, 10 marks (3 contested), 7 intercept possessions
Get excited, Carlton fans. This father-son prospect is shaping as a top-30 pick after another big game down back. Standing 193cm, Dean did not let much past him in defence and took some huge intercept marks. He was composed under pressure, read the play well, used his body nicely to edge out opponents and showed good speed getting after the loose ball.
Willem Duursma
26 disposals, 7 marks, 4 clearances
The top-five pick contender was a little off his game early, struggling to find the footy and having a case of the fumbles a couple of times when he did. However, the Gippsland Power star lifted in the second half to almost get his team over the line. He showed some tricks with a one-handed mark, got involved in some one-two’s as a link-up runner. There was also a lovely intercept mark in defence and some dart passes going forward.
Noah Hibbins-Hargraves
17 disposals, 6 marks, 7 score involvements, 4 goals
When the game was on the line in the last quarter, this man lifted to nearly pinch it for Vic Country. The AFL Academy member was relatively quiet in the first half, spending time on a wing and across half-forward. But he booted four goals in the second half – including two in the space of a few minutes to give his side the lead late in the game. He hit the scoreboard in different ways, including one amazing goal from a tight angle in the right forward pocket and converting a set shot from a free kick for holding the ball after applying some good forward pressure on an opponent. It was another reminder of just how exciting Hibbins-Hargraves can be after he missed some games with a shoulder injury across the first half of the year.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Toby Whan
18 disposals, 4 clearances, 5 inside-50s, 1 goal
A member of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, Whan spent most of the game onball and worked hard both sides of the ball. He read the ruckmen’s hands nicely to win clearances and drive the ball forward. His goal came after he pounced on an intercept inside forward 50 in the third quarter.
Fred Rodriguez
17 disposals, 4 clearances, 8 score involvements, 6 tackles, 2 goals
Discussed as a potential top-10 pick this year, the Western Australian captain did not do those chances any harm. Playing onball, he kicked the first goal of the game on the run and burst out of centre clearance at pace to slot a second goal from 50m on the run during the third quarter. Along with showing good pace, Rodriguez was also composed with ball in hand and hit targets going forward to get himself involved in scoring chains.
Wesley Walley
7 disposals, 5 score involvements, 2 tackles
A small forward who is part of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy, Walley was relatively quiet but had some moments. He missed two shots on goal, but showed some good speed and tricks selling some candy to evade opponents.
Sam Swadling
12 disposals, 8 contested possessions, 6 score involvements, 1 goal
Having dominated through the midfield for West Perth in the WAFL Colts so far this year, Swadling was used in a different role as a forward in this match. He was lively in the new role, winning his own footy and showing some good agility inside-50. Swadling leapt on a loose ball and snapped a goal in the third quarter, but he recorded three behinds and one out on the full from his other opportunities to his the scoreboard.
Jacob Farrow
12 disposals, 2 clearances, 6 tackles, 1 goal
A halfback for West Perth in the WAFL Colts in the early part of the season, Farrow was thrown onball for this match. He was accountable to his opponents – which included Willem Duursma – and applied some good tackling pressure. Farrow also pushed forward to kick a goal on the run in the last quarter.
Cody Curtin
9 disposals, 6 marks (2 contested), 7 hitouts, 3 goals
A well-built 200cm tall, the younger brother of Adelaide young gun Daniel continued a strong year to date. Curtin – who had played as a key defender last year – spent most of the game as a forward while also assisting as a back-up ruckman. He led up well at the footy when forward, took some nice marks and made the most of his opportunities in front of goal. He also got back to take an important intercept mark in defence in the last quarter.
Charlie Banfield
11 disposals, 7 marks (3 contested), 5 score involvements, 1 goal
A father-son prospect for West Coast as the son of two-time Eagles premiership player Drew, this 191cm forward provided a strong target in attack for Western Australia throughout the match. He took some strong contested marks, as well pushing up the ground and being hit up on the lead. Banfield’s biggest moment game in the final two minutes, though, as he took a big intercept mark on the boundary line from 50m and kicked the ball in to Hudson Walker who converted the matchwinning goal.
Hudson Walker
16 disposals, 4 clearances, 7 tackles, 1 goal
This Subiaco product was tough in the clinches playing onball and ended up pushing forward to kick the matchwinning goal in the final minute of the game. He won his own footy and clearances, as well as applying good heat on his opponents. Walker laid the most tackles of any player on the ground and logged 10 contested possessions – the equal second-most.
Originally published as AFL Draft 2025: Western Australia v Vic Country news, stats, scouting notes as top picks fire
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