The 2024 AFL Grand Final will feature an exciting Grand Final sprint event, with representatives from each club showcasing their speed in one of the most anticipated pre-match activities. Fremantle Dockers’ Jeremy Sharp and West Coast Eagles’ Jai Culley have been named as sprinters for the Western Australian clubs, adding local flavor to the race lineup.
Jeremy Sharp, who has had an impressive season playing every game for Fremantle after being overlooked by the Gold Coast Suns in the previous season, is known for his exceptional speed and endurance. Having trained alongside Olympic middle-distance runner Peter Bol during the pre-season, Sharp demonstrated his competitive spirit and elite conditioning. Bol, a finalist in the 800m at the Tokyo Olympics, praised Sharp’s mental resilience and physical conditioning, predicting that his speed will make him a significant contender.
Jai Culley, representing the West Coast Eagles, will also compete, hoping to make his mark on the event. Culley’s inclusion reflects his potential and athletic prowess, highlighting his ability to match up against some of the AFL’s fastest players.
The field also includes a variety of sprinters from across the league, such as injury-prone yet highly talented Orazio Fantasia (Carlton) and Dion Prestia (Richmond), both of whom are making comebacks. St Kilda’s first-year player Darcy Wilson and Hawthorn’s quick half-back Josh Weddle are considered favorites, given their standout performances this season.
The Grand Final sprint has a storied history, with previous winners etching their names into AFL folklore. For Western Australian fans, the last local winner was Josh Rotham, who took the title in the 2021 decider when the Grand Final was held in Perth. Fremantle has not celebrated a Grand Final sprint victory since James Walker’s back-to-back wins in 2003 and 2004, although Jordan Clark secured the 2020 crown before switching clubs from Geelong.
The heats are set to begin at 10:15 AM AWST, with the final scheduled to take place during half-time of the Grand Final. As always, this year’s event is expected to be highly competitive, with each sprinter aiming to cement their place in AFL Grand Final history.
The full lineup of participants includes:
– Will Hamill (Adelaide)
– Will McLachlan (Brisbane)
– Orazio Fantasia (Carlton)
– Beau McCreery (Collingwood)
– Ben Hobbs (Essendon)
– Jeremy Sharp (Fremantle)
– Shaun Mannagh (Geelong)
– Tom Berry (Gold Coast)
– Josh Weddle (Hawthorn)
– Oliver Sestan (Melbourne)
– Eddie Ford (North Melbourne)
– Jed McEntee (Port Adelaide)
– Dion Prestia (Richmond)
– Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
– Angus Sheldrick (Sydney)
– Jai Culley (West Coast)
– Riley Garcia (Western Bulldogs)
With no previous winners in this year’s field, the 2024 Grand Final sprint will crown a new champion, adding another chapter to this iconic AFL tradition.
