2021 Simply Energy Colts Season Preview Thursday, April 1, 2021 - 5:05 PM

The Simply Energy WAFL Colts competition is set for an exciting season in 2021.

The season will commence on the Easter weekend in April, and will revert back to a 21-round home-and-away season inclusive of byes, with all teams to play each other twice before the finals series. 

The traditional top-five will return, seeing the best teams battle it out over a four-week finals series, with the Simply Energy WAFL Colts Grand Final date and venue yet to be confirmed.  

There are a host of exciting players in the competition to keep tabs on throughout the season. Below are some of the more notable talents to keep a keen eye on.

JACOB VAN ROOYEN – CLAREMONT/MARIST JFC/WEMBLEY DOWNS JFC
The Wembley Downs junior is one of the standout key position players in the 2021 Simply Energy WAFL Colts competition. He has already demonstrated an ability to influence games due to his athleticism, skilfulness, toughness, and competitiveness. In 2020, Van Rooyen kicked 19 goals and averaged 13 possessions, 4 marks and 2 tackles across 10 games, with his best performance coming against Peel Thunder (19 possessions, 5 marks, 2 inside 50s, 5 goals). He also demonstrated that he is a strong finals performer with two standout games against Subiaco in the Qualifying Final (14 possessions, 7 marks, 7 inside 50s, 2 goals) and the Grand Final (17 possessions, 5 marks, 1 goal). He is a member of the 2021 AFL Academy.

JUDD MCVEE – EAST FREMANTLE/ROVER FC (GNFL)
The Geraldton product is a small midfielder who can also be a threat inside attacking 50. In 2019, he won All Australian selection at the AFL U16s Championships, after he averaged 16 possessions (10 contested), 4 clearances and 4 tackles with a dominant outing against Vic Metro (16 possessions, 7 clearances, 2 goals). McVee is clean and creative with ball in hand, regularly makes sound decisions with his disposal, and shows explosive traits around stoppages.

JACK WILLIAMS – EAST FREMANTLE/ROSSMOYNE JFC
The Rossmoyne junior is a powerful key position player who can play in defence or up forward. In 2020, Williams booted 11 goals, and averaged 10 possessions, 4 marks, and 2 tackles across 10 games. He had standout performances against Peel Thunder in round two (18 possessions, 10 marks, 3 hit-outs, 2 marks), and West Perth in round six (10 possessions, 5 marks, 2 inside 50s, 4 goals). He is a strong mark overhead, powerful in one-on-one contests, reads the game well and has good skills for a key position player.

MATTHEW JOHNSON – SUBIACO/NORTH BEACH JFC
The North Beach junior is one of the leading midfielders in the 2021 Simply Energy WAFL Colts competition. Johnson has an exceptional balance of aggression and class, which is rare for big-bodied inside midfielders. In 2020, Johnson averaged 19 possessions, 5 tackles, 4 marks, 3 inside 50s and kicked 7 goals across 10 games. He was influential in Subiaco’s Colts’ Grand Final triumph over Claremont with 21 possessions, 6 tackles, 5 marks, 5 inside 50s and a goal. He is a member of the 2021 AFL Academy.

RHETT BAZZO – SWAN DISTRICTS/SOUTH MANDURAH FC
The son of the late Swan Districts champion Steve Bazzo, Rhett is a versatile defender, who has made a name for himself as an intercept marking machine, and who can also distribute the ball well by foot. Over the past two seasons, Bazzo has averaged 11 possessions and 4 marks across five games. In 2019, Bazzo won All-Australian selection at Centre Half Back at the AFL U16s Championships, after he averaged 11 possessions, 5 marks and 3 rebounding 50s. He is a member of the 2021 AFL Academy. 

OTHERS
Richard Bartlett – East Fremantle/Chapman Valley FC (GNFL)
Joshua Browne – East Fremantle/Applecross-Mount Pleasant JFC
Jye Amiss – East Perth/Busselton JFC (SWFL)
Oscar Armstrong – East Perth/Augusta-Margaret River (SWFL)
Ethan Regan – East Perth/Morley JFC
Kade Dittmar – East Perth/Augusta-Margaret River (SWFL)
Luke Polson – Peel Thunder/Warnbro Swans JFC
Mitchell Brown – South Fremantle/Boddington FC (UGSFL)
Jesse Motlop – South Fremantle/South Coogee JFC
Lachlan Turley – South Fremantle/Jandakot Jets JFC
Neil Erasmus – Subiaco/Sorrento-Duncraig JFC
Max Chipper – Swan Districts/Caversham JFC
Lochlan Paton – West Perth/Joondalup-Kinross JFC