Rising Star in the AFL Draft
Keenan Boi, a prospect from the Hawthorn Next Generation Academy, is gaining attention as a potential surprise in the upcoming AFL Draft. With Indigenous and Mauritian heritage, Boi has been part of the Hawks Academy and trained with the AFL squad during the pre-season. Despite his connections to Hawthorn and strong performances leading up to the Under-18s National Championships, he has remained relatively unnoticed.
His Gippsland Power coach, Kris Pendlebury, praised Boi’s speed and power, stating that these are key attributes at the AFL level. “He’s really quick and powerful: they’re the two areas that are AFL level,” Pendlebury said.
Hawthorn currently has several small forwards, including Nick Watson and Dylan Moore, but they have closely monitored Boi’s progress. The club has picks 14, 26, 27, 32, and 69, and is expected to be active in trades. Boi’s recent performance in Vic Country’s 13-point win caught the attention of recruiters, where he recorded 17 disposals, four tackles, and two goals.
Strong Performance and Growth
Boi has averaged 12 disposals, three tackles, and 1.1 goals per Talent League game this year. His performance over the last six weeks has put him on the radar. Pendlebury noted Boi’s emotional maturity, stating that he remains composed regardless of his performance. “He doesn’t get too high if he does something well or too low if he makes a mistake, he’s living in that sweet spot in the middle so that’s probably the biggest growth I’ve seen,” Pendlebury remarked.
“He’s so talented and does some amazing things and now he’s reliable as well so I think that’s the biggest growth area for him.”
Athletic Profile and Skills
Boi’s athletic profile is impressive, with a quick 2.997-second 20-metre sprint during pre-season. He is known for his ability to accelerate through traffic and maintain possession of the ball. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him lose his feet when he’s over those groundballs,” Pendlebury exclaimed. “He seems to be strong through the hips and can break through a tackle and he’s god at keeping the ball alive in front of him to give him opportunities to swoop on a groundball and his ability to get the ball to his foot is really impressive.”
Background and Education
Hailing from the Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung tribes in northern/central Victoria, Boi grew up in Gippsland and attends Lowanna College. This school has produced AFL players such as Alix Tauru, Bailey Humphrey, Jacob Konstanty, and Tom Matthews in recent years.
Those within the Power system viewed Boi as having the strongest pre-season at the club, which contributed to his form spike. “The high forward suits his running and he’s a really good field kick. We haven’t exposed him deep forward at the moment but I could see him doing that because he’s got good hands, and he’s powerful and has good pressure, the defensive work is another strength because he’s always had a natural knack for second and third efforts,” Pendlebury added.
Upcoming Matches
Vic Country will not play again until 3 July, while Boi’s Gippsland team faces Bendigo on Sunday. As the AFL Draft approaches, Boi’s performances and development will be closely watched by clubs across the league. His combination of talent, maturity, and athleticism positions him as a promising candidate for the upcoming draft.
