Leading 2027 draft prospect James Artemis is among six West Australians to have been selected in the AFL National Academy squads.

Artemis — the cousin of Jaxon, who was taken by Essendon with the first pick in May’s mid-season draft — is one of four players from WA in the boys group, alongside West Perth pair Campbell Creyk and Maxim Collins and Perth’s Fynn Tomasini.

The East Fremantle product featured in all four games of Western Australia’s under-18 national championships campaign as a bottom-ager, kicking two goals in an impressive first-up win over South Australia, before starring in the Sharks’ run to the WAFL colts premiership.

A hard-running utility who is capable of playing as an inside midfielder, wingman or half-forward, the 17-year-old was not among the first seven players pre-signed by Tasmania ahead of their entry into the AFL in 2028, despite having drawn interest from the competition’s newest club. The Devils can sign up to five more 2027 prospects in the coming months.

Artemis is now viewed among the very best players who currently remain in the open draft pool, which is without his long-time WA teammate Axel Walsh after the near-certain No.1 pick committed his future to Tasmania.

Key defender Collins and utility Tomasini both featured for WA at the under-18 national championships as bottom-agers, while inside midfielder Creyk averaged 29.2 disposals across nine WAFL colts appearances for the Falcons.

The quartet will begin their commitments with the Academy by heading to New Zealand to take part in a high-performance camp in December. They will also each be integrated into either West Coast or Fremantle for a week over the AFL pre-season.

Peel Thunder’s Tiama Collard and Claremont’s Hannah Seaborn are the two WA representatives in the girls squad.

WA players in 2027 AFL National Academy: James Artemis, Maxim Collins, Campbell Creyk, Fynn Tomasini (boys), Tiama Collard, Hannah Seaborn (girls).