West Coast Eagles father-son prospect Charlie Banfield, Next Gen Academy product Tylah Williams impress for WA

A West Coast father-son draft prospect and a Next Generation Academy product were among the standout performers in Western Australia’s loss to Vic Metro on Sunday. Charlie Banfield - the son of dual West Coast premiership player Drew - notched 18 disposals, five marks and three clearances in WA’s final national championships game at The Good Grocer Park. State talent manager Adam Jones said WA were really pleased with both Banfield’s game and U18 championships as a whole. “He’s shown amazing work ethic throughout,” Jones told The West Australian of the Claremont product, who featured for the Black Swans in all four games across the carnival. Speedy small forward Tylah Williams, tied to the Eagles through the club’s Next Gen academy, had 19 disposals, six marks and four tackles against Vic Metro and also kicked an impressive goal. “We feel like he’s got a real future,” Jones said of Williams, who also had four inside-50s and three score involvements. “His GPS numbers consistently are just off the charts and he had some good opportunities (on Sunday), kicked a nice goal and he’s got a lot of attributes that will transfer really well to the next level.” Leading West Coast NGA prospect Wes Walley was quiet, kicking two behinds from five disposals, while fellow Eagles NGA product Koby Evans did not feature in the carnival but was boundary-side on Sunday, assisting the team with a role on the bench. For the Dockers, South Fremantle ball magnet Toby Whan had 14 disposals, while forward Ryda Luke managed one behind from his eight touches. Bottom-ager Lucas Robinson laid a game-high seven tackles and had 11 touches in his first game of the championships, while Tom Phillips was quiet with just five disposals. WA captain Fred Rodriguez, who is not linked to any club, continued to stake his claim as WA’s leading prospect with 23 disposals and a game-high eight clearances in the 35-point loss. Rodriguez told The West Australian that leading the side inspired him to perform in the carnival, averaging 18 disposals. “It was something I definitely enjoy (the captaincy) and it was something I definitely tried to work on during the pre-season, as one of the older boys being here last year, trying to set the tone,” Rodriguez said. Claremont forward Cody Curtin, the younger brother of Adelaide rising star and former first-round pick Dan Curtin, also impressed with his strong contested marking, finishing with three goals of WA’s five goals. “He came into the carnival with big raps on him and started really well and really grew,” Jones said. “Probably the two middle game weren’t his strongest, he was a little sick coming into the game against the Allies. To see him finish like that was really pleasing for him.”