Speedy forward Cameron Maynard’s draft stocks are on the rise, with the South Fremantle prospect among a group of Western Australian players to have earned an invite to the AFL’s national combine.

Maynard will be one of seven Sandgropers who will head to Melbourne in early October to complete testing and be interviewed by top-level clubs, alongside Heath Mellody, Leo Steed, George Gale, Benji van Rooyen, Koby LeCras and Harvey Spawton-Guy.

The 171cm small forward was a breakout star both on and off-field in WA’s under-18 national championships campaign, celebrating the two goals he slotted in a first-up win over South Australia with stunning backflips.

He went on to finish with five majors from his four games in the carnival, including another two to help inspire a remarkable comeback win over Victoria Country, and impressed AFL recruiters with his speed and athleticism.

The smooth-moving Mellody, who won the Larke Medal as the best and fairest player from any side in the championships, and in-and-under on-baller Steed are widely seen as the State’s two best draft prospects.

Gale and van Rooyen earned selections alongside the pair in the under-18 All Australian side on the wing and in the ruck respectively, while key forward Spawton-Guy slotted six goals in the carnival.

On Monday, The West Australian revealed LeCras — the nephew of West Coast legend Mark and son of West Perth champion Brent — had been given a national combine invite, despite having missed much of this season with a knee injury.

Harper Banfield, the son of West Coast premiership star Drew who is eligible to be taken by the Eagles under the Father-Son Rule, has missed out on a national combine invite despite impressive performances in the championships and will instead complete testing at WA’s State combine.

He will be joined by a number of AFL Next Generation Academy prospects in Lucas Robinson, Fin Yeo (both Fremantle), Garrison Kenh and Lachlan McGlade (both West Coast), as well as key defensive duo Tom Brown and Hudson Graham.

As revealed by The West Australian last month, 24-year-old Perth forward Kane Johnston and 20-year-old East Perth defender Jake Soutar will also test at the State combine.

WA Football State talent manager Adam Jones said having 16 players invited to the combines was a strong result.

“It’s great to see some of the unsung heroes of our improved under-18s campaign rewarded with State combine invitations, with Tom Brown so reliable in defence and Harper Banfield winning our Black Swan Award, given to the player that best displays team-first qualities and elite work ethic,” Jones said.

“We look forward to working with these young men over the next couple of months to make sure they’re in first-class condition to put their best foot forward in front of recruiters.

“For those who missed out, there’s still an opportunity to be added late on the back of strong performances across our WAFL, WAFL colts and PSA competitions.”

The AFLW national combine will be staged in the days before testing of AFL prospects begins. Under-18 All Australian ruck and WA’s most valuable player award winner from the national championships Cara Dziegielewski will be joined by State teammates Mia Carlshausen and Lexi Strachan in Melbourne.

WA invitees to AFL National and State draft combines

National: Heath Mellody, Benji van Rooyen, Koby LeCras, Leo Steed, George Gale, Harvey Spawton-Guy, Cameron Maynard (boys), Mia Carlshausen, Cara Dziegielewski, Lexi Strachan (girls).

State: Tom Brown, Harper Banfield, Fin Yeo, Lachlan McGlade, Garrison Kenh, Jake Soutar, Kane Johnston, Hudson Graham, Lucas Robinson (boys), India Bonadeo, Charli Bassett, Marie Polimeno, Tahlee McVee (girls).