WAFL Colts mid-year top 20: Declan Pauline, Bailey Banfield, Kayle Gerreyn and the best players so far this season
We’ve officially reached the midway mark of the WAFL Colts season. So, who’s the No. 1 player in the competition? And who’s enhanced their draft standing? See the top 20 and exclusive stats here.
With round 12 in the books, we’ve officially reached the midway mark of the WAFL Colts season.
And so it’s time to look back on the year so far as we reveal who the top 20 best players for the season to date.
According to Champion Data, East Fremantle midfielder Declan Pauline is currently the most damaging player in the competition. The Sharks midfielder is averaging a whopping 148.8 ranking points per game and he’s been a constant in our weekly rankings.
Pauline’s breakout season started with a bang when in round 1, he recorded the third-best WAFL Colts game on record, joining the likes of Jesse Hogan and Jack Darling in the history books.
Pauline scored 282 ranking points after racking up 37 disposals, seven marks, 12 tackles and two goals in East Fremantle’s 51-point win over Peel Thunder.
Hogan retains the title after kicking 6.3 from 20 touches playing for Claremont back in round nine of 2012, a performance that yielded 320 Champion Data ranking points. While Darling posted 287 points in round one, 2009.
The 18-year-old is currently averaging 25.3 touches a game and has relished the additional responsibility he’s taken on in the absence of state under 18s star Luke Urquhart.
“He played the back end of 2022 as a 16-year-old and showed some promise then but he played within himself and played quite safe,” East Fremantle talent manager David Depane said.
“He was new to the team.
“Last year, he missed the first game through injury and then played every game. I noticed that change in him last year. The switch flicked. He was selected from the outset and he knew that he fitted and his confidence grew knowing that he belonged.
“He’s a medium-sized player who plays mainly as an inside midfielder for us this year. He uses the ball well and obviously finds the ball. He works hard and he’s a good link-up player for us.”
Claremont midfielder Bailey Banfield is the second-most consistent player in the league, averaging 134.6 ranking points so far this season. Son of two-time premiership Eagle Drew, Banfield has been one of the big reasons behind Claremont’s 8-1 start to the season.
The 19-year-old averaged 24 touches in his six games at Colts level so far this season and he’s recently graduated to Claremont’s reserves side as he chases a senior debut.
West Perth draft hopeful Kayle Gerreyn’s dominant start to the season sees him ranked third at the midway point of the year. Arguably the best tall in WA’s draft pool, Gerreyn’s tap work is his greatest asset but his forward craft continues to improve, kicking three goals against South Australia in WA’s recent U18 Championships win.
Subiaco captain Charlie Burke has come in fourth as he continues to push his draft case. The wingman boasts great game awareness and endurance, playing the outside perfectly at both Colts and U18 levels. He’s averaging 125.9 ranking points.
East Perth midfielder Adam De Masi rounds out the top five with an average of 125 ranking points. The 19-year-old only played six games for the Royals last season due to PSA commitments at Trinity College, captaining his team. But the inside midfielder has been one of East Perth’s most consistent players this season despite missing out on state squad selection.
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Under-18 squad members and draft hopefuls Hamish Davis (121.2), Austin van der Strufy (113.7) and Jaxon Douglas (109.8) also feature in the top 20 as does West Perth midfielder Jack Wooden (121.1), son of former Eagle Josh.
Dashing midfield Urquhart, who’s been one of the state’s best at the national carnival, has averaged 159 ranking points in his two games for East Fremantle this year, while bottom-age talent Fred Rodriguez boasts a 121-point four-game average.
The state’s top draft prospect Bo Allan, who also doesn’t qualify under the five-game threshold, has recorded ranking-point tallies of 114 and 120 in his two junior games after dropping back from Peel Thunder’s senior side.
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