WA’s Heath Mellody wins Larke Medal as national championships best and fairest ahead of teammate Leo Steed

A pair of Western Australia’s very best AFL draft prospects have been recognised for their stunning performances in the under-18 national championships by finishing as the two leading vote-winners in the prestigious Larke Medal.

Classy defender-turned-midfielder Heath Mellody polled 19 votes to claim the award for the carnival’s best and fairest player ahead of teammate Leo Steed, who finished with 13.

Mellody has become the first Sandgroper to win the award since Deven Robertson in 2019. The State also supplied the medal’s top two finishers in that year, with the now West Coast midfielder beating out Luke Jackson before the ruckman emerged as a superstar for Fremantle.

WA have had four players selected in the under-18 All Australian side. Mellody figures on a half-back flank and Steed has been picked as the rover, while Benji van Rooyen — the brother of Melbourne star Jacob — has been named in the ruck and Steed’s fellow co-captain George Gale has earned a place on the wing.

Mellody played the first two-and-a-half games of the championships as a half-back, where he impressed with his pinpoint kicking and clean skills.

He was injected into WA’s midfield midway through their clash with Victoria Country, playing a central role in their remarkable comeback victory, and remained there to win a game-high 30 disposals in their carnival-ending loss to the Allies.

Mellody, who was also named as the captain of the All Australian side and won WA’s most valuable player award, said he was as surprised as he was honoured to win the Larke Medal.

“Going into the carnival, I wasn’t really expecting to do this well,” the 17-year-old Hale School student said.

“It is a bit of confidence-booster. For people to think that highly of me is really special.

“I definitely feel like I can cut it at the next level.”

Mellody also reserved plenty of praise for Steed, who he said was in the midst of an “unreal year”.

“He was pretty unlucky to get sick in the last game. I thought he had probably had the best carnival up until that,” Mellody said.

“It’s good to be alongside him and see how well he’s going right now.”

Ahead of WA’s last game of the championships, WA Football’s State talent manager Adam Jones told The West Australian AFL recruiters were keen to see Mellody tested as an on-baller.

“We consult fairly regularly with clubs around positions for players. Some clubs see him as more of a half-back or wing, and other clubs were keen to see him on the ball,” Jones said.

“He’s a super talent. He’s got great skills on both sides of his body, his awareness in traffic is fantastic, and he’s probably gained a yard of pace from last year. He’s got that good zip and skill and he’s a versatile player as well.”

Steed was WA’s best player afield in their first two games of the championships, leading his side to a win over South Australia with a 30-disposal, one-goal effort and backing up to win another 24 disposals in a loss to eventual title-winners Victoria Metro.

The Bunbury product stands only 177cm tall, but Jones said his strong performances at the championships had helped reassure recruiters he would be well and truly capable of holding his own in an AFL midfield.

“You see guys like Caleb Serong, Lachie Neale who are similar heights become stars of the competition. I’ve got no doubt Leo, with this insatiable competitiveness he’s got, I think he’s going to really succeed throughout his career,” Jones said.

“He’s been one of the best-performed midfielders across the carnival that I’ve seen.”