Talented small forward Malakai Champion has emerged as one of Western Australia's best draft prospects after a string of impressive performances at WAFL senior level over the past month.
The 18-year-old made his league debut for Subiaco in the club's 19-point win against West Coast a month ago and was a shining light finishing with three goals.
He continued his strong form over the following fortnight, posting consecutive two-goal performances against both Swan Districts and Perth as his draft stocks continued to rise.
Champion – who made his senior football debut for Goldfields Football League club Mines Rovers in 2021 – noted to WA Football that it felt like a big step up to play at WAFL level.
"The step up is obviously pretty huge and to come up against the bigger and more experienced bodies, it kind of feels like I'm a 15-year-old again back in Kalgoorlie playing league," he said.
"But it feels good just getting used to how fast the game is and how strong the men are that are out there.
"I just have to stick to my strengths which is speed and to keep low, and outrun the older bodies, but I'm just thankful to (Subiaco coach) Beau Wardman for giving me the opportunity and showing faith in me.
"He has just told me to play to my strengths and that is to back my speed 100 per cent of the time."
Champion has spent most of his time playing deep in the Lions' forward-line where his speed and elusiveness has been a clear highlight.
Along with hitting the scoreboard, Champion has terrorised opposition defenders with his pressure on the ball carrier.
"I'm definitely happy with the way I've started," he said.
"In the pre-season I did play a bit of league footy with the boys and obviously I really wanted to play from the start of the year, but I started out with the Colts and then we had the two months with the state program.
"Then after that, I was just waiting for my moment and once I got that then I knew that I could put show everyone that I was capable of playing against the men."
Champion enjoyed a solid AFL National Championships campaign with WA, which netted six goals from four appearances, including a three-goal effort against Vic Metro.
The 172cm forward is a member of West Coast's Next Generation Academy and could find himself in blue and gold colours at the end of the year should the AFL's proposed changes to NGA access eventuate.
He has been named among a list of 65 players who have been invited to attend the 2024 AFL Draft Combine, which is a three-day event set to be held in Melbourne in early October.
