Simply Energy WA U18s NAB AFL All Stars Exhibition MatchThursday, October 8, 2020 - 12:09 PM - by Lenny Fogliani

THE Simply Energy WA State U18s squad is set to play its two NAB AFL U18s All Stars Exhibition games on October 10 and 17.

Given the NAB AFL U18 National Championhips were cancelled for season 2020 due to COVID-19, each state is hosting its own set of fixtures to showcase talent before the AFL Draft later this year.
 
Game one will be played at Leederville Oval on Saturday October 10, starting at 11.30am.

Game two will be played at Leederville Oval on Saturday October 17, starting at 11:30am.

The 2019 Claremont colts premiership coach and current WAFC coach coordinator Ross McQueen and West Perth colts coach Ryan Lasscock will coach a team each with a number of WAFL colts coaches contributing as assistants.

Spectators will be allowed into the venue.

Both matches will be livestreamed at www.thewest.com.au.

There are a number of players to keep a close eye on during the two matches. Below are the most notable players.

JOEL WESTERN – CLAREMONT
The Fremantle Dockers’ Next-Generation Academy member is a small forward who has the capability to push into the midfield. Across seven games for Claremont’s colts’ team, Western averaged 22 possessions, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s, 3 tackles and kicked 5 goals. His best performances came against Subiaco in Round 1 (29 possessions, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal), and East Fremantle in Round 7 (20 possessions, 7 inside 50s, 5 marks, 3 tackles). In 2019, he finished second in Claremont’s fairest and best, and seventh in the WAFL Colts Coaches Award. He was also instrumental in Claremont’s 2019 Grand Final triumph over Peel Thunder with 23 possessions and 6 tackles.

LOGAN MCDONALD – PERTH DEMONS
The Coorow-Latham product is an athletic key forward who is a strong in the air and is a sound kick for goal. In nine games for Perth’s oeague team, McDonald kicked 21 goals to finish second in the Bernie Naylor Medal. His best games of the season came against East Perth in Round 2 (15 possessions, 7 marks and 4 goals), and West Perth in Round 5 (15 possessions, 6 marks, 3 goals). In 2019, McDonald played three games for the WA U18s at the NAB AFL U18s Championships. In 2018, he was named All-Australian at the NAB AFL U16s Championships.

DENVER GRAINGER-BARRAS – SWAN DISTRICTS
The 2019 Jack Collins-Alan Schwab AFL Life Members Scholarship winner is a key defender who is effective at shutting down his direct opponent, but also reads the game well to intercept the opposition’s attacking entries. In eight games for Swan Districts’ league team, Grainger-Barras averaged 10 possessions, 5 marks and 2 tackles. His most notable performances came against Subiaco in Round 3 (10 possessions, 4 marks), South Fremantle in Round 5 (13 possessions, 6 marks) and Perth in Round 8 (16 possessions, 8 marks). In 2019, he played for WA at the NAB AFL U18s Championships. In 2018, he won All-Australian honours at the NAB AFL U16s Championships.

HEATH CHAPMAN – WEST PERTH
The 2020 WAFL Colts Coaches Award winner is a key defender who reads the play well to intercept the opposition’s attacking entries. In eight games for West Perth’s colts’ team, Chapman averaged 22 possessions, 7 marks, 2 tackles and 2 inside 50s, with his best performance coming against Subiaco in Round 9 (24 possessions, 8 marks, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s). He also made his WAFL league debut in Round 8 against Claremont, and looked comfortable at the level, finishing with 11 possessions and 5 marks. In 2019, Chapman finished second in West Perth’s fairest and best, and ninth in the WAFL Colts Coaches Award.