Ruck father-son prospect Kalani White to train with Melbourne and Gold Coast over pre-season

A father-son ruck prospect who has soared past 200cm will train with Melbourne and Gold Coast in coming months as he faces a big choice before his draft year.

A month of training across two clubs could decide where growing ruck prospect Kalani White is drafted next year, as his grandfather sees the young tall as better than his No.1 pick father Jeff.

Young White was on Monday announced as part of the AFL’s national academy, as he prepares for his draft year in 2025.

Kalani White playing in a futures game on grand final day. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

Already well over 200cm, White faces a choice as he is eligible as a father-son to Melbourne and is part of Gold Coast’s academy, given he lives in Queensland.

The talented teen will get a glimpse at working under ruck captains Max Gawn and Jarrod Witts over the summer period, when he trains with both the Dees and Suns.

He will first train with Melbourne – where Jeff played 236 games after 32 with Fremantle – in December.

Then after Christmas he will join the Suns for a pre-season stint.

White played in the annual under-17 future stars game on the MCG on grand final morning in September.

Having a choice between an academy or a father-son club is not unusual in recent years.

In 2018, Nick Blakey and Bailey Scott both had multiple choices.

Not a bad way to end the game tonight from Kalani 😲 I may have put a little MJ audio on it 😜😜 sound on 🔊 pic.twitter.com/sebu7ZnqWg

— Jeff White (@JeffWhite34) October 16, 2024

He didn’t want me to post BUT…. Super proud of Kalani’s National U/16 carnival in front of AFL scouts this week #prouddadpic.twitter.com/6zx2a020j5

— Jeff White (@JeffWhite34) July 6, 2023

More father-son goodness ❤️💙

Kalani White, son of Jeff, joins Max in the rooms. #DemonSpirit | #AFLDeesLionspic.twitter.com/cw2aay2N9Q

— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) July 14, 2023

Blakey chose the Sydney academy when he was father-son eligible with both North Melbourne and Brisbane, while Scott followed his dad Robert to the Roos when he could have gone as a father-son to Geelong or in Gold Coast’s academy.

Jeff White said Kalani had grown beyond 200cm and recently cleared that height in a high jump competition.

“He has just evolved and he has got taller, he is 6ft7 (204cm) now,” Jeff White told SEN.

“He has got taller, he has just recently jumped 2m in high jump. His leap is bigger than mine. He has all the athleticism there.

“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.”

Kalani White has grown to be taller than 200cm.

Jeff White was plucked with the first overall choice in the 1994 draft by the Dockers and went on to an All-Australian and best-and-fairest year in 2004, while also playing State of Origin for Victoria.

But despite Jeff’s stellar resume across 268 games, Kalani has the better talent according to his grandfather.

“It’s just his athleticism that is really impressive and it always has been as a young kid, not being biased but he has been very clean below his knees,” Jeff said.

“I remember my dad watched him as a 15-year-old and I said to him, ‘You have obviously seen me play, what do you think of him?’.

“And he watched him for the first half and turned around and said ‘sorry son he has got you covered’.”