Benji van Rooyen
Claremont
2026 AFL Draft
Power Rankings- Power Ranking
- No. 50
- Position
- Ruck
- Height
- 203 cm
- Age at draft
- 18y 2m
- Plays for
- Claremont Colts
- Invited to
- National combine
- Draft night
- 19 November
| 2026 averages | GM | KI | HB | DI | CP | MA | TA | CL | I50 | R50 | IT | SI | GL | HO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championships | 4 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 9.5 | 4.0 | 2.5 | 4.3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 3.0 | 0.3 | 20.5 |
Bio
Benji van Rooyen, born in September 2008, is a towering 203cm ruckman who has emerged as a promising prospect for clubs seeking a developing tall. The Claremont product is the younger brother of Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyen, but has carved his own path in the West Australian talent pathway. Coming from Wembley Downs, he won a premiership with Claremont's colts in 2025 before stepping up to make his WAFL League debut in 2026. He also led the ruck division for Western Australia at the National Championships, where his strong finish to the carnival saw his draft stocks rise and earned him an invitation to the national draft combine.
Scouts have praised van Rooyen for his mobility, craft and follow-up work at ground level. As a leaping ruckman, he uses his size and long limbs to advantage his midfielders in stoppages, while his competitiveness ensures he remains involved in general play. A noted presence around the ground, he has also refined his forward craft, particularly his leading patterns and overhead marking. Although he is still viewed as a project player, his promising attributes have him in the frame to push for a top-30 selection at the draft.
WAFL career
2 games0 goals
- Debut
- R18 2026 v SWA8 Aug 2026
- Most recent
- R19 2026 v SUB15 Aug 2026
Stats
WAFL
2026 | CLA | 2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 9.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 47 | 56 |
U18 Boys
2026 | WA | 4 | 6.0 | 8.0 | 14.0 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 77 |
2025 | WA | 4 | 2.5 | 8.0 | 10.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 42 |
WAFL Reserves
2026 | CLA | 2 | 12.0 | 5.0 | 17.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 79 |
WAFL Colts
2026 | CLA | 5 | 11.8 | 6.8 | 18.6 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 106 |
2025 | CLA | 14 | 5.4 | 7.1 | 12.5 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 74 |
Bio
Benji van Rooyen, born in September 2008, is a towering 203cm ruckman who has emerged as a promising prospect for clubs seeking a developing tall. The Claremont product is the younger brother of Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyen, but has carved his own path in the West Australian talent pathway. Coming from Wembley Downs, he won a premiership with Claremont's colts in 2025 before stepping up to make his WAFL League debut in 2026. He also led the ruck division for Western Australia at the National Championships, where his strong finish to the carnival saw his draft stocks rise and earned him an invitation to the national draft combine.
Scouts have praised van Rooyen for his mobility, craft and follow-up work at ground level. As a leaping ruckman, he uses his size and long limbs to advantage his midfielders in stoppages, while his competitiveness ensures he remains involved in general play. A noted presence around the ground, he has also refined his forward craft, particularly his leading patterns and overhead marking. Although he is still viewed as a project player, his promising attributes have him in the frame to push for a top-30 selection at the draft.
Profile
- Born
- 17 Sept 2008 (age 18y 41d)
- Height
- 203 cm
Teams
Family
- Brother:Jacob van Rooyen
Bio
1 revisionBenji van Rooyen, born in September 2008, is a towering 203cm ruckman who has emerged as a promising prospect for clubs seeking a developing tall. The Claremont product is the younger brother of Melbourne forward Jacob van Rooyen, but has carved his own path in the West Australian talent pathway. Coming from Wembley Downs, he won a premiership with Claremont's colts in 2025 before stepping up to make his WAFL League debut in 2026. He also led the ruck division for Western Australia at the National Championships, where his strong finish to the carnival saw his draft stocks rise and earned him an invitation to the national draft combine.
Scouts have praised van Rooyen for his mobility, craft and follow-up work at ground level. As a leaping ruckman, he uses his size and long limbs to advantage his midfielders in stoppages, while his competitiveness ensures he remains involved in general play. A noted presence around the ground, he has also refined his forward craft, particularly his leading patterns and overhead marking. Although he is still viewed as a project player, his promising attributes have him in the frame to push for a top-30 selection at the draft.