James Peatling

James Peatling is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for .

Early life Peatling grew up in the Sydney suburb of Toongabbie. In his youth, Peatling played junior football for local club Westbrook Bulldogs and later amateur club Pennant Hills in the AFL Sydney Premier Division, and won a premiership for the club alongside future teammate Kieren Briggs. Peatling went through the GWS Giants Academy, and eventually represented the Allies in the AFL Under 18 Championship, playing 36 games and averaging 14 disposals. He played for the Giant's VFL team in the 2021 season, averaging 22 possessions including a 33-disposal game against .

AFL career Greater Western Sydney (2021–2024) After being passed over in two drafts, Peatling was selected by the Giants in the 2021 mid-season draft, becoming the club's first-ever mid-season draft selection. Peatling made his debut against Port Adelaide in round 20 of the 2021 season, collecting 19 disposals to go with 7 marks.

Peatling's true breakout season came in 2024, kicking off when he came on as the substitute for Sam Taylor against and took a game-saving mark. Peatling came in clutch again later in the year against with a career-best 28 disposals and 11 tackles, one of which came at a critical stage of the game against future teammate Alex Neal-Bullen. Peatling improved upon his career-best tackle number with 12 in the qualifying final loss to . He finished the year with 18 games, the most thus far in his career. Peatling received four-year offers from , , , , and the at the end of his breakthrough season, as well as a four year offer to remain at the Giants. On the third of October, Peatling chose Adelaide and formally requested a trade.

Adelaide (2025–present) Peatling officially joined the Adelaide Crows on the final day of the 2024 trade period, joining Giants teammate Isaac Cumming who had made the same move via free agency.

During 2025's Gather Round clash against , Peatling was charged with a dangerous tackle against Oisín Mullin. The Crows midfielder was suspended for one match, meaning he missed facing his former side the following round. Peatling polled votes in the Showdown Medal against , during which he had a career-high 12 tackles.

Statistics Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.

88 !! 32 !! 30 !! 808 !! 560 !! 1368 !! 242 !! 338 !! 0.4 !! 0.3 !! 9.2 !! 6.4 !! 15.5 !! 2.8 !! 3.8 !! 3