New draftee Ethan Stanley hadn't contemplated being on an AFL list less than a month ago, and now he finds himself playing for the Walyalup Football Club after being selected in the 2023 AFL Mid-Season Draft on Wednesday night.
Stanley has enjoyed a rapid rise in 2023, where he transitioned from Frankston’s YCW’s under 19 team to playing for Box Hill Hawks in the VFL.
“I was one of the more dominant players in the under 19s, but I didn’t think I would be here (on an AFL list) right now,” Stanley said.
“I played about four senior games for Frankston’s YCW, majority under 19s and was lucky enough that Box Hill had scouts come watch me and picked me up out of an under 19s game last year.
“It is unreal that I am even on an AFL list at the moment.”
It wasn’t until the winger was invited down to the Young Guns Series where the 19-year-old started to believe he could play at the top Level.
“I wouldn’t even say I believed I could play at AFL level when I started playing VFL,” Stanley said.
“I think it was when I got invited to the Young Guns game a month ago, that I thought I might have a real shot here to show the recruiters what I have got.
“I was just stoked with the way that I played and after I played one of the games, I thought I might have a shot here to get drafted."
The Young Guns team was selected by AFL recruiters, playing a two-game series against the best U18 talent in Vic Country and Metro.
The team comprised of players eligible for selection in the 2023 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, with three of Wednesday night's top 10 mid-season draft selections in Ryan Maric (West Coast), Clay Tucker (Hawthorn) and Stanley all playing in the side.
Stanley impressed recruiters in the second game against Vic Country where he had 15 disposals and two goals from the wing.
The 19-year-old said the prospect of playing an AFL game might be tough with Walyalup’s current form on field, but with his recent trajectory, he feels anything is possible.
“The move from Victoria to WA is going to be a big one but I think that once I’m settled in and at training, it will be just football from there on,” Stanley said.
“I have high standards when I train and obviously want to do as much as I can to show the team that I can get a spot this year.
“I understand that (Walylaup) are going well at the moment, so it’s going to be tough to crack a spot in the side but the way that my footy has been going the past year, anything’s possible really at this stage.”
Stanley said he has family in Western Australia, which he said would help with the move, but that there is also a familiar face within the Walyalup side.
“Hayden Young went to my school, Mornington Secondary College,” Stanley said.
“I grew up with his younger brother who was my age, he was a friend of mine through school and his older brother was helping at the school when he was about 19.
“When he finished high school helping the sport teachers, so I got to chat with him a bit as well.”
Tribunal: O'Meara suspension upheld
Final four home games on sale now!
Draper's new deal
