AFL Draft 2025: News, stats and scouting notes from SA v WA under-18 national championships
In a huge under-18 carnival clash, a No. 1 pick contender went berserk, a forward bolter emerged and WA’s top prospect starred. See all the exclusive stats and every player’s ranking points.
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South Australia remains unbeaten in the under-18 national championships after a seven-goal haul from a mid-sized marking forward helped propel the side to a thumping 76-point win over Western Australia on Sunday.
The home side was dominant from start to finish at Alberton Oval, working their way to a game-high margin of 82 points during the final term before eventually running out victors, 17.14 (116) to 6.4 (40).
South Australian captain and top-10 draft prospect Dyson Sharp was again a class above, rotating between midfield and forward roles and finishing with 33 disposals, six clearances, seven tackles and two goals.
However, the performance of one of Sharp’s Central District teammates – Cameron Nairn – was also a big talking point out of the match.
The 189cm Nairn kicked seven goals in his side’s win, in what was the best haul by a forward at the championships since Melbourne key forward Matthew Jefferson booted seven goals for Vic Metro in a match against Western Australia in 2022.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EVERY PLAYER’S RANKING POINTS
Nairn had three goals on the board by quarter-time, making the most of his opportunities and not kicking a single behind for the day.
He cleverly gathered the footy, stopped, propped, spun around and snapped a nice goal for his fifth major early in the third quarter.
Nairn took a mark at the top of the goalsquare for what would have been his eighth goal during the final term, but the umpire determined he had pushed out his opponent in the process and awarded a free kick against the on-fire forward.
Nairn had kicked one goal in each of South Australia’s first two matches of the championships, after averaging two goals across his first seven games of the season in the SANFL under-18s this year.
But this was a breakout game which is likely to spike his AFL interest.
Fellow South Australian forwards Mitchell Marsh (two goals) and Aidan Schubert (one goal) also had their moments but were not as potent as they had been across their first two games of the tournament.
For Western Australia, captain Fred Rodriguez (20 disposals) and fellow midfielder Jacob Farrow (17 disposals) worked hard throughout the day, as did Fremantle Next Generation Academy product Toby Whan (18 disposals).
Defender Matthew Becker did his best to try and stem the tide down back with 19 disposals, including eight intercept possessions.
South Australia meets Vic Country in its fourth and final game of the tournament at Marvel Stadium on June 29.
SCOUTING NOTES
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Dyson Sharp
33 disposals, 6 clearances, 7 tackles, 10 score involvements, 2 goals
The South Australian captain continued a brilliant carnival with another huge game, looking to be a class above at Alberton Oval. Rotating between the midfield and forward line, Sharp showed some excellent clearance work, used the ball well going forward and applied some hot tackling pressure to win back the footy for his team. Recruiters were unsure just where Sharp sat in the draft pool heading into the championships, but he looks on track to win the Larke Medal as the player of the tournament and is every bit a top-five prospect in this draft.
Cameron Nairn
11 disposals, 6 marks, 9 score involvements, 7 goals
It was a breakout game for Nairn, who came out of the shadows of fellow forwards Aidan Schubert and Mitch Marsh and made himself the No. 1 man inside 50 in this game. He took some strong and courageous marks overhead and made the most of his opportunities when lining up for goal. Nairn had got to work on his fitness over the off-season and is covering the ground well. He looked poised to kick an eighth goal in the last quarter after taking a mark at the top of the goalsquare, but the umpire determined he had pushed out his opponent in doing so and paid a free kick against. Nairn did go on to set up Sharp for a goal moments later, though, with a lace pass inside-50.
Aidan Schubert
21 disposals, 7 marks, 4 clearances, 12 hit-outs, 1 goal
After kicking seven goals across his first two games of the championships, this 198cm mobile tall spent more time playing up the ground and in the ruck against Western Australia. When he was forward, he led up strongly at the ball and took some nice marks. Schubert kicked the first goal of the game from point blank range after receiving a 25m penalty, which would be his only major of the day. But he did some good tap work, took the ball out of the ruck himself when the opportunity presented and found targets by foot going forward.
Harley Barker
19 disposals, 7 marks, 5 score involvements
The hard-running wingman was a solid contributor throughout the day. He missed one shot on goal in the first quarter, but showed some creativity and got involved in some other scoring chains. He also used the ball well going forward, with just one or two exceptions.
Matthew LeRay
17 disposals, 3 marks, 4 score involvements
On the opposing wing to Barker, this wasn’t LeRay’s best game of the championships but he still found a way to find the footy. A running machine, LeRay holds his width well on a wing and can be a neat ball user when in space.
Louis Kellaway
21 disposals, 5 marks, 6 score involvements
The Richmond father-son prospect started at the first centre bounce and was particularly lively in the first half, winning 13 disposals to the main break. He hit targets by foot going inside-50, but hit the post from a shot on goal after taking a mark inside the arc himself in the third term.
Sam Cumming
15 disposals, 3 marks, 5 score involvements, 1 goal
It wasn’t a huge day out for the vice-captain in terms of numbers, but he had some nice moments where he showed his class as a midfielder and forward. Cumming also displayed some good defensive actions and took a great contested mark at the top of the goalsquare in the third quarter, going back to slot a major for his side.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Fred Rodriguez
20 disposals, 4 marks, 3 clearances, 6 score involvements
The captain worked as hard as anyone for his team across the afternoon. A bull in the contest, he drove his legs forward out of congestion at stages and made things happen going forward.
Toby Whan
18 disposals, 3 marks, 2 clearances
The Fremantle Next Generation Academy member started strongly in the midfield and had eight disposals to his name by quarter-time. He won his own footy – including ground ball – but some of his kicking going forward let him down.
Cody Curtin
12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 clearances, 9 hit-outs
The towering 200cm forward-ruck looked to be spending more time around the ball, after kicking three goals in Western Australia’s first game of the championships. He flew for his marks in the air and got around the ground fairly well for a player of his size.
Matthew Becker
19 disposals, 2 marks, 8 intercept possessions
Playing in a backline that saw plenty of ball coming its way, the 191cm Becker worked hard under pressure. He provided some rebound coming out of defence and took one nice intercept mark in the second quarter. But he was a little quieter after halftime, logging only six touches in the second half.
Wesley Walley
6 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles
It was a tough day to be a small forward for Western Australia and this AFL Academy member and West Coast NGA product struggled to get himself into the game until he worked high up the ground to find a touch in the second half. He missed everything from his one set shot from a tight angle in the third quarter, leaving Walley goalless from his first two games of the championships.
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Originally published as AFL Draft 2025: News, stats and scouting notes from SA v WA under-18 national championships
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