As we turn the corner into 2023, The West Australian’s resident draft guru Jordan McArdle has profiled 11 Western Australian young guns set to go high in this year’s draft.

Daniel Curtin

Club: Claremont

From: West Coast JFC/Scotch College

Position: Key defender/forward

Height: 196cm

Weight: 91kg

Claremont key-position talent Daniel Curtin has emerged as a genuine top-10 draft chance after a best-on-ground performance in the annual under-17s AFL grand final curtain raiser on the MCG.

The 17-year-old, who is more than capable at either of the end, has a great set of hands, an elite kick and reads the play well.

The 196cm Scotch College graduate missed the national under-18s carnival because of a nasty finger injury but returned for the final two games of the WAFL colts season for the Tigers, including a 17-possession, seven-mark and two-goal game in round 19 against East Fremantle.

Looms as WA’s top prospect alongside Peel Thunder giant Mitch Edwards and Subiaco’s Koltyn Tholstrup.

Mitch Edwards

Club: Peel Thunder

From: South Mandurah JFC

Position: Ruck

Height: 205cm

Weight: 85kg

The 205cm Thunder ruck giant did enough this year to justify getting drafted as shapes up as another top-10 contender from WA.

Edwards, part of Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy no chance of slipping outside of the top-40 protected zone, led the State’s ruck at the national under-18s carnival ahead of Peel teammate Jackson Broadbent.

He finished the year winning a WAFL colts premiership as wasn’t far off Mel Whinnen medallist Broadbent for best-afield honours.

Koltyn Tholstrup

Club: Subiaco

From: Newtown-Condingup

Position: Utility

Height: 188cm

Weight: 80kg

Don’t be surprised to see the talent utility push for early senior footy at Subiaco after a dominant bottom-aged colts campaign.

The Esperance product as booted 30 majors in 15 colts appearances for the Lions and can also have a big impact in the midfield, as shown by his 25-possession, eight-mark game against South Fremantle in round 18.

Like Curtin and Edwards, Tholstrup is part of the AFL Academy and is firmly in the mix to get drafted in the first round.

Riley Hardeman

Club: Swan Districts

From: Caversham JFC

Position: Midfield

Height: 188cm

Weight: 80kg

The hard-running midfielder burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old back in 2020 when he was a major part of Swan Districts’ colts premiership.

Averaged 25 disposals in the colts last season, including a staggering 37-disposal game against East Fremantle in round two, before finishing the year in the reserves where he featured six times.

Can run all day, find a lot of the footy and has an elite left foot.

Is the fourth and final West Aussie in the AFL Academy which shows just how highly he’s rated around the country.

Clay Hall

Club: Peel Thunder

From: Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault

Position: Midfielder

Height: 189cm

Weight: 80kg

Clay Hall should consider himself a little stiff to not be included in the AFL Academy after a brilliant bottom-aged campaign for Peel Thunder.

The son of former West Coast and Geelong forward Derek transformed from outside runner to a dominant inside midfielder.

Hall was a big reason behind Peel’s colts flag, putting together a consistent finals campaign including 23 disposals in the grand final win over the Falcons.

Has a massive engine, can win his own footy and uses it well.

Coen Livingstone

Club: Perth

From: York/Scotch College

Position: Ruck/forward

Height: 197cm

Weight: 86kg

Livingstone is part of West Coast’s Next Generation Academy but the club faces a nervous wait as to whether he’ll still be on the board outside of the top-40 protected zone.

The 197cm talent from York, who’s the nephew of Hawthorn great Chance Bateman, forced his way into WA’s team for the final two games of the national under-18s carnival and showed plenty as a ruck/forward.

Continued that form on for the back half of the colts season, averaging 18.5 disposals, 5.5 marks, 14 hit-outs and two goals in the final two games of the year before getting a call-up to play on AFL grand final day.

Koen Sanchez

Club: East Fremantle

From: Applecross-Mt Pleasant JFC/Wesley College

Position: Small forward/defender

Height: 176cm

Weight: 65kg

A groin injury hampered Sanchez’s bottom-aged season but there’s no denying the diminutive speedster’s talents.

Sanchez is a classy small forward with plenty of tricks who can also break lines at the other end with his blistering pace.

The East Fremantle and Wesley College product missed the start of the State 18s carnival due to injury but finished with a bang, booting two goals against South Australia.

With a bit of luck on the injury front, Sanchez will storm up the draft charts.

Reece Torrent

Club: Peel Thunder

From: Halls Head JFC

Position: Midfielder/defender

Height: 182cm

Weight: 82kg

Torrent put his name in lights with a stunning colts grand final performance against West Perth, racking up 24 possessions and kicking two goals.

The 17-year-old started as a rebounding half-back but also showed plenty as an inside midfielder, where he’s likely to feature for the Thunder and State 18s next year.

Aiden O’Driscoll

Club: Perth

From: Northam/Wesley College

Position: Midfielder

Height: 172cm

Weight: 60kg

There’s a third O’Driscoll on the AFL radar.

Aiden O’Driscoll capped off a stunning debut season of PSA with the Wesley College’s best-and-fairest award.

The younger brother of Fremantle Dockers Emma and Nathan tied with midfielder Will Cassidy for the award as a Year 11 last season.

Wesley coach Michael Broadbridge believes the 17-year-old from Northam will capture the attention of AFL recruiters in his draft year next year with his X-factor and running ability.

O’Driscoll, who also plays colts for Perth, averaged 22 disposals, six inside 50s and booted nine goals in 12 PSA appearances this season.

Ethan Logan

Club: Peel Thunder

From: Baldivis JFC

Position: Forward

Height: 186cm

Weight: 76kg

Logan missed the State 18s carnival with a knee injury but bounced back late in the season to put some big performances on the board for Peel’s colts.

In his first two games back from injury, the mid-sized forward booted nine majors including six on return against Swan Districts in round 20.

Is excellent in the air and at ground level and knows where the goals are.

Elijah Scoble

Club: Perth

From: Canning Vale JFC

Position: Key defender

Height: 195cm

Weight: 80kg

The 195cm tall is rated as one of the State’s best defensive prospects for next year after a breakout bottom-aged season for Perth in the WAFL colts.

Was one of the shining lights for the Demons, playing consistently in a defence which was at times under siege.

Has great running capabilities and tank for a player of his size and is a well-rounded player who can play lock-down roles and is improving his intercept-marking game.