Jai Culley

Jai Culley
Culley with Melbourne in March 2026
Personal information
Born (2003-02-24) 24 February 2003
Original team Langwarrin JFC/Dandenong Stingrays
Draft No. 1, 2022 mid-season rookie draft
Debut 17 July 2022, West Coast vs. Hawthorn, at MCG
Height 194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Position Midfielder/Forward
Club information
Current club Melbourne
Number 13
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2022–2024 West Coast 12 (7)
2025– Melbourne 5 (4)
Total 16 (10)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 1, 2026.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jai Culley (born 24 February 2003) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for Melbourne in the Australian Football League (AFL). Culley previously played for the West Coast Eagles.

AFL career

West Coast

Culley was selected with pick 1 of the 2022 mid-season rookie draft.[1] He made his debut against Hawthorn in round 18 of the 2022 AFL season.[2] Culley played 4 games in his debut season.

In round 6 of the 2023 AFL season Culley kicked 4 goals and had 10 disposals, earning him a nomination for the 2023 AFL Rising Star Award.[3] Two weeks later in round 8 against the Richmond Tigers, Culley ruptured his ACL and would not play for the remainder of the season.[4]

At the conclusion of the 2024 season Culley was delisted by the Eagles.[5]

Melbourne

Culley signed with the Casey Demons following his delisting in an attempt to return to an AFL list.[6] On 24 February 2025, Culley was signed by the Melbourne Football Club in the Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) for the 2025 AFL season, which had closed three days prior but was re-opened to allow Melbourne to find a replacement for Andy Moniz-Wakefield, who had suffered an ACL injury in a practice match over the weekend.[7] He made his debut for Melbourne in round 21 of the 2025 AFL season.[8] At the end of the season, Culley signed a one-year contract extension to the end of 2026.[9]

Statistics

Updated to the end of round 1, 2026.[10]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2022 West Coast 49 4 1 1 28 25 53 8 30 0.3 0.3 7.0 6.3 13.3 2.0 7.5 0
2023 West Coast 49 5 5 2 14 28 42 8 15 1.0 0.4 2.8 5.6 8.4 1.6 3.0 0
2024 West Coast 49 3 1 1 18 10 28 5 7 0.3 0.3 6.0 3.3 9.3 1.7 2.3 0
2025 Melbourne 46 4 3 0 25 29 54 14 11 0.8 0.0 6.3 7.3 13.5 3.5 2.8 0
2026 Melbourne 13 1 1 1 7 4 11 4 2 1.0 1.0 7.0 4.0 11.0 4.0 2.0 TBA
Career 17 11 5 92 96 188 39 65 0.6 0.3 5.4 5.6 11.1 2.3 3.8 0

References

  1. ^ "The Draft File: Mid-season Rookie Pick 1 - Jai Culley". westcoasteagles.com.au. June 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Team announcement: Culley gets his wings". westcoasteagles.com.au. 14 July 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  3. ^ "That's our Jai! Young Eagle nominated for Rising Star". westcoasteagles.com.au. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Culley ACL another blow for injury-ravaged Eagles". afl.com.au. 7 May 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  5. ^ Cellini, Aidan (18 October 2024). "Eagles make list culls as trio left without deals". Zero Hanger. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  6. ^ Farquhar, Callum. "Axed Eagle returns to junior club following Casey Demons signing". Zero Hanger. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  7. ^ Nobes, Caitlin (24 February 2025). "Dees sign Eagle | Culley earns final list spot". Melbourne Football Club.
  8. ^ McPherson, David. "Demon debut | Jai's our guy". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Demon trio sign on". melbournefc.com.au. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Jai Culley". AFL Tables. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
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