World Champions (of U16 Aussie Rules)
Plus the Brayshaw streak, a key Eagle who is still uncontracted, Mim goes forward, Boorloo win a thriller and Cam Maynard backflips again.
G’day friends! The Dockers are now three games clear on top of the AFL ladder and WA are the AFL’s U16 Boys National Champions.
After some tough years, WA footy is in a pretty good spot across the board.
Thanks as always to everyone who takes the time to read these bulletins on the Monday.
If you haven’t yet joined up as a paid subscriber, now’s the time to do it, with a full U16 deep dive later this week and a host of features to come over the next month.
In today’s newsletter: The Andy Brayshaw streak, an Eagles tall who is impressive and uncontracted, the new Warner on the block, Mim moves forward, Boorloo make a claim and Cam Maynard backflips.
Let’s get stuck in. Oh, and happy Derby week!
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FREMANTLE
Dockers 15.13 (103) def Power 11.9 (75)
This stat (courtesy of our man Robbo) is cool. Probably easier if you start better though…
Chris Robinson@CJKRobinsonMost half-time comebacks in a home-and-away season, AFL era: 7: Carlton, 1993 7: FREMANTLE, 2026 #AFLPowerFreo5:48 AM · Jul 18, 2026 · 7.38K Views4 Replies · 9 Reposts · 81 LikesHere is a snapshot of Andrew Brayshaw’s current run: 30 disposals and five tackles against the Power; 25 and nine inside-50s against the Swans; 22 and eight tackles against the Giants; 29 and eight inside-50s against the Suns; 35 and seven tackles against the Cats; 30 and nine clearances against the Kangaroos. He can sometimes be forgotten, but Brayshaw has been their best mid these past couple of months.
Hasn’t Jye Amiss grown as a player this season? The sharp improvement in his contested marking and one-on-one contests means he can play that deepest forward role to perfection. He blew past his previous best haul for a season (41 goals) on the weekend and is sitting sixth in the Coleman with 43 goals.
WEST COAST
Lions 13.15 (93) def Eagles 10.9 (69)
Harley Reid doing his ankle by tripping on the bench is one of the great what-ifs of West Coast’s season. If he was out there, could they have stretched the lead far enough to hang on? Unlikely, but people are allowed to dream. They’ll need him out there against Freo on Friday, particularly given Liam Baker’s suspension.
Officially joining the Rhett Bazzo fan club. Nobody could point a finger at him amid the late-game fade out. He held Logan Morris to one goal for the first time since round 12, and finished with eight intercept possessions to his name. Still out of contract at the end of the year unless I’ve missed something.
We mentioned Amiss earlier, and in checking his stats realised that somehow Jake Waterman - despite his issues in front of goal - has sneaked into the top 10 goal-kickers in the comp. His 40 goals are equal with Jack Gunston in eighth spot. Shows just how lethal he’s been this season in all but one aspect, which is now coming good. If kicking behinds had a medal, he’s winning that with 43 - three ahead of fellow Marist Junior Football Club product Mitch Georgiades. Might need a new goal-kicking coach in Churchlands.
UNDER 16 CHAMPIONSHIPS
WA are the AFL U16 Boys National Champions for the first time in almost a decade. They went undefeated through three games. In fact they were so dominant that they were barely challenged despite kicking a total of 25.52 for the championships - that’s a 32.4% conversion rate not counting complete misses.
Troy Warner - youngest brother of Chad - took home the Kevin Sheehan Medal as player of the championships. A skilled, creative and balanced player who will likely be speaking Tasmanian late next year.
Fremantle NGA prospect Aiden Martignago was another who had a brilliant champs, racking up clearances and bursting away from stoppages. Jayke Taylor’s radar in front of goals was off a bit but you can see why he’s considered a high-level forward prospect.
Later this week we’ll drop a full 16s wrap for our paid subscribers. Keep an eye on your inboxes and if you haven’t upgraded yet, there’s no time like the present.
AFLW PRE-SEASON
Fremantle are two from two this pre-season after a 15-point win over Port Adelaide in South Australia at the weekend.
Mim Strom kicked two goals and appeared to spend a decent amount of time forward. Freo needed more firepower, and traded for it in Eden Zanker, but adding their AA ruck to the mix could be interesting.
West Coast went down to Adelaide by 18 points. There’s not much info from these games outside club media and the Eagles haven’t posted anything yet so that’s all I got for you.
WAFL
Perth (known as Boorloo for NAIDOC Week) are second on the ladder thanks to Oscar Hine-Bastion kicking a late goal in the final minute of the game. East Fremantle were in front all day until a late Demons surge had them in striking distance. Hine-Bastion won a holding the ball free kick about 45m out and nailed it.
South Fremantle also jumped up to third in similar circumstances against Swan Districts. They looked shot at the final break before kicking four goals to one in the final term for a win. Will cross their fingers that Matty Parker recovers quickly after missing with a hamstring injury.
Claremont have dropped from second to fourth without even playing. They’re on a bye so have a game in hand, but it would have stung regardless.
Four goals and 16 touches from Jack Mayo helped Subiaco sneak into fifth spot - essentially the ‘best of the rest’ spot this year.
WAFLW
Subiaco pulled off one of the upsets of the season with a one-point win over Claremont. The Lions’ big three all racked up the footy, but now they are complemented by U18 and U16 guns like Caitlin Boss, Bea Crane, Macy Fair and Marley Kelman. Still a chance to play finals if they keep the three-game win streak going.
Perth/Boorloo also made the most of their returning U18 talent with newly-crowned All-Australian Mia Carlshausen (20 disposals) named best-on in a win over West Perth. Isabella Shannon’s Dhara Kerr push continued too, with 24 and two goals.
Lexi Strachan had 26 and a goal in that game for the Falcons, continuing her great U18s form.
WAFL COLTS
The backflip king Cam Maynard pulled one out again in his first game since the U18 champs - he kicked 3.4 from 15 disposals for South Freo in a big win over Swan Districts. Chace Vanderhoek had 29 and two goals for the Dogs too.
Thatcher Simmons kicked four goals from 19 disposals for Subiaco in his first colts fixture after a four-game reserves stint.
Likely future Tasmanian James Artemis is still a bottom-ager but was one of East Fremantle’s best with 20 disposals, 11 tackles, six inside-50s and a goal. The Sharks beat Boorloo to hold onto second spot on the ladder.
That’s us all caught up.
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Catch you next week.