WAFL Ones To Watch - Cody Curtin (Claremont)Wednesday, April 16, 2025 - 11:05 AM

Cody Curtin is a leading key position talent hailing from Western Australia, boasting a strong combination of skills like his high marking ability, competitiveness and versatility.

The Claremont Colts product spent most of last season playing in defence as fellow key position players Lucas Ravenhill and Aiden Riddle competed up forward.

With Riddle now having been drafted by the Fremantle Dockers, Curtin appears to have been swung forward this season to pair with Ravenhill as a dynamic key forward duo for the Tigers.

Curtin was switched from defence to attack in the last three games he played in 2024, kicking 13 goals including back-to-back bags of six.

His goalkicking ability was on show in the preseason this year as well, Curtin having kicked eight goals from 12 scoring shots in a practice match against Subiaco.

Curtin, the younger brother of Adelaide Crows rising star Daniel, has trained with the Fremantle Dockers alongside leading WA draft hopeful Fred Rodriguez, and the two will continue to do so throughout the course of the year, learning valuable insight into the AFL system ahead of an exciting period for them.

What sets Curtin apart from the rest of the 2025 draft crop, particularly as a key position player is his size and athleticism.

Most players of Curtin’s height (he was listed at 200cm as a 17-year-old), must spend time chopping out in the ruck to give their main ruckmen a break, but Curtin’s athletic ability and aerial prowess means he us much more valuable playing as a full-time key forward.

He has shown the value of not using him in the ruck by kicking 26 goals in his last four outings for Claremont.

The ability to throw the versatile Curtin down back adds another string to his bow, allowing clubs the option of using him as an intercept defender or extra number behind the ball in late-game situations.

Not many players are capable of providing such flexibility, especially at over 200cm.

Like his older brother Daniel, recruiters are wondering if Cody could become a midfielder in the future, as Daniel has spent some time playing on the wing and inside contests for Adelaide in the early stages of 2025.

The silky footwork and smooth movement of Curtin are traits typically only smaller players possess.

A lot of Curtin’s on field success he credits to his work rate, a skill very much earned through hard work rather than gifted.

His ability to gut run and explode off the mark bode well for his forward craft, able to create large gaps between he and his opponent on the lead.

Perhaps the most technically proficient aspect of Curtin’s game is his ball use by foot.

He has a stable kicking action that leaves little doubt when lining up for goal.

Last season in the WAFL Colts Curtin converted his shots at goal at a ridiculous clip of 92.8%

For reference, the most accurate goalkicker in AFL history (among players to have had a minimum of 50 career scoring shots) is 76.8%.

Curtin played his first game of the season against Peel Thunder, where had a pretty handy game first up (to say the least), collecting 13 disposals and kicking 5 goals.

Article by Denholm Melrose - Perth Is Ok!