By Janakan Seemampillai
GWS GIANTS Academy youngster Ethan Matthews has confirmed his credentials as a potential first round draft pick in this year’s AFL National Draft, with a scintillating performance for the Allies against a strong Vic Country outfit in the opening game of the U-18 Boys National Championships at Blacktown Sports Park yesterday.

Despite the 13 point loss for the Allies, 17-year-old Matthews was superb across the four quarters, with 35 quality possessions, nine score involvements, 11 clearances and 11 inside 50s in a best-on-ground performance.

Henry Meaney was also excellent for the Allies today with 28 touches, while Keenan Boi and Tanner Armstrong stood out for the visitors.

Cody Walker, touted as the number one draft pick this year, had 16 touches for Vic Country before coming off the ground in the third quarter due to injury. The son of former Carlton star Andrew Walker, is expected to be grabbed by the Blues under the Father-Son rule.

When Matthews’ wasn’t hitting team-mates lace out, he was laying tackles and putting on shepherds in an outstanding all round performance, which ramps up the pressure on the GIANTS to select him with their own first pick, using the AFL’s much talked about points system.

With Matthews’ performances now well known across all 18 clubs, the GIANTS will be engaged in a major fight to keep their local youngster who is also part of the AFL Academy.

Matthews’ form this season has been superb, he averaged a League high 35.3 touches, 5.3 tackles and 2.7 goals per game for the GIANTS Academy in the Talent League competition, against powerful opponents from Victoria.

He has carried that form over to the U-18s Boys National Championships, which is where the cream of the crop play under the watchful eye of talent scouts across the 18 AFL clubs.

Matthews’ story is the kind that would make AFL executives proud, considering the significant investment they’ve made into the Western Sydney region over the past 15 years.

Matthews grew up in Appin in South Western Sydney, kicking his first footy for the Ingleburn Magpies. He has also represented the South West Sydney Devils at youth level and the South West Sydney Blues in the NSW AFL Senior Men’s competition. He also featured for the GIANTS in their VFL setup both in 2025 and this year.

Despite still being in his teens, the St Gregory’s College HSC student already carries the maturity of someone who understands the demands of elite football, blending natural athleticism with a football IQ that belies his age.

The scholarly Matthews – he was School Dux in Year 10 – is more than someone who relies on instinct, he actively seeks to understand structure, timing and the subtleties that separate good juniors from genuine AFL prospects.

His progress through the GIANTS Academy system has been rapid, developing into a versatile and tactically aware player. He has the power and burst to impact stoppages, the clean hands to operate in tight spaces, the forward craft to hit the scoreboard when pushed inside 50 and the ability to create turnovers with his excellent defensive skills.

His left foot has become a weapon, capable of piercing through defensive setups and opening up the field, while his use of the handball would make Polly Farmer proud.

The GIANTS’ development coaches have deliberately exposed him to multiple roles, believing his football intellect gives him the capacity to adapt and excel wherever he’s placed.

What truly distinguishes Matthews, though, is his temperament. He is calm under pressure, rarely rushed, and carries himself with a Scott Pendlebury type demeanour, not surprising since he grew up a diehard Collingwood fan.

Matthews also has family links to the Geelong Cats.

Time will tell where he ends up going on draft night in November, but one thing is for sure, he will be one of the best prospects to ever come out of NSW, and will be sure to create more talk about the AFL’s draft policy for northern state academies.

The Allies travel to Adelaide next weekend to take on South Australia.