EGT Young Talent Time: Leading Jack Clarke Medal contendersFriday, September 12, 2025 - 12:27 PM - by Denholm Melrose - Perth is OK!

The Jack Clarke Medal is awarded to the fairest-and-best played in the EGT WAFL Colts competition.We take a look at the leading contenders to win the prestigious award. 

Blake Kelly (Swan Districts)

It was a brilliant season for Swan Districts draft hopeful Blake Kelly who led from the front for his side at Steel Blue. The gritty midfielder averaged 26.6 disposals and 5.3 tackles per game, while kicking goals in almost half his appearances at Colts level. He was named in the best in eight of his 11 games and stood tall in Swans’ final game of the home-and-away season to seal a must-win victory to give his team another finals berth.

Toby Whan (South Fremantle)

Electric Bulldogs’ midfielder and Fremantle Dockers NGA prospect Whan was mightily prolific in 2025, averaging 28.9 disposals and booting a goal per game. He had multiple standout performances including in Round 18 where he produced a 41-disposal and four-goal outing that left fans speechless. Given South Fremantle finished on top of the ladder, their stars would be expected to poll well, and Whan is every chance to hear his name called out on Monday night.

Max Hansen-Knarhoi (Claremont)

Max Hansen-Knarhoi was phenomenal for the Tigers this season, named in the best more than any other Claremont player throughout the year. The nuggety midfielder-forward was third in the competition for tackles laid, fifth for marks taken and equal 13^th for goals kicked, all whilst leading his side to third on the ladder and a Preliminary Final this weekend. He produced a spectacular two-game stretch in Round 8 (27 disposals, nine marks, eight tackles) and Round 9 (23 disposals six marks, four goals) that could well each earn him maximum votes.

Sam Swadling (West Perth)

You can’t mention season 2025 of WAFL Colts football without remembering the absurd production of Falcons’ ball magnet Sam Swadling. The 187cm midfielder averaged an insane 35.4 disposals, including a four-game patch where he collected 168 possessions. Given his amazing ball-winning ability and West Perth’s nine-win season, Swadling will be a chance to poll plenty of best-on-ground efforts.

Tom Grylls (East Fremantle)

Just one player laid more tackles than Grylls in the entire competition, proving why this Sharks hard nut is a genuine contender for this year’s medal. A 32-disposal, nine-tackle and two-goal performance against Peel Thunder in Round 15 cemented his position among the best in the league, and with a Preliminary Final upcoming this weekend, Grylls has led his side deep into September.

Who else is in with a chance?

There is so much talent across the WAFL Colts competition, there are any number of deserving winners. East Fremantle’s Kaiden Summerell and East Perth’s Max Donnelly both produced magnificent seasons, as did Swans’ Leon Kickett and Falcons utility Judd Marcello. Lucas Cattalini and Fred Rodriguez of the Bulldogs would be hot chances, as would East Perth’s Liam McAlister and Subiaco’s Dwayne Ryder. Don’t count out Perth pair Dale Sutherland or Seth Clark, South Fremantle skipper Jacob Donald, Peel Thunder’s Lachlan Birch or big-time goal-kickers Benjamin Wood or Cody Curtin.

What about the Prendergast Medal?

The WAFL Reserves competition also has plenty of red-hot favourites to take out the 2025 honour. Swan Districts quartet Ayden Cartwright, Luke Kelly, Connor Blakely and Otis Harvey were all prolific this season, as were Perth duo Brodie Gray and Liam Dellamarta. East Perth’s Adam Boules and West Perth’s Matt Galjaardt both won plenty of the football, while Joshua Mathey (Peel Thunder), Lachlan O’Keefe (Subiaco) and Ronin O’Connor (Claremont) all had stellar seasons. Luke Cotellessa (Swan Districts) and Nicholas Stuhldreier (South Fremantle) could feature heavily in the voting, as could goal-kickers Samuel van Rooyen of Claremont and Harry Quartermaine of Perth.

Young Talent Time - presented by EGT
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