G’day friends!
And that’s a wrap on footy in WA for 2026. Fremantle and West Coast both finished their AFLW seasons with a loss on the weekend, bringing down the curtain on games in the State for the year.
Both teams had pretty mediocre seasons, it has to be said.
But it could get far worse for the Eagles, with Ella Roberts injuring her knee early in a heavy loss to Hawthorn.
But even with no games, this newsletter will keep going with a strong focus on the drafts, then the return of the AFL sides to pre-season.
Let’s get stuck in.
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FREMANTLE AFLW
Swans 5.7 (37) def Dockers 5.6 (36)
Wharfie Time was rolled out for the first time since the AFL Grand Final but again, it didn’t have the desired result. The Dockers were pushing Sydney in the final term and got within a point thanks to a Hayley Miller goal. The Hells Bells button was hit. But the clock beat it.
Speaking of Wharfie Time, it’s going nowhere according to CEO Simon Garlick.
Ash Brazill retires after a long career at the elite level of both netball and Australian Rules. She won’t be lost to the game, she’ll be coaching Peel Thunder in the WAFLW next year, charged with leading the struggling side back up the ladder.
It was an almost season for the Dockers. Definitely a step up from last year, but still a step off the best in the competition. They’ve been heavily linked with Sydney’s Zippy Fish this offseason, which would go a long way to helping bridge the gap.
WEST COAST AFLW
Hawks 14.10 (94) def Eagles 6.3 (39)
The bad: The result. Torn apart on your home deck at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.
The really, really bad: Ella Roberts being helped off with a knee injury less than four minutes into the game. If it is an ACL - that’s yet to be confirmed - it would be just about the worst news this team could get. They went backwards this season after a breakthrough finals appearance last year. Losing Roberts for 2027 would make a meaningful return to the post-season a very big ask.
The midfield cupboard’s not bare by a long way. Lucia Painter is one who got better as the season went on and could take another massive leap next year. She had 23 disposals and seven clearances against the Hawks to be in the Eagles’ best again.
Add in the expected signing of Ruby Schleicher from Collingwood, another top-10 pick, and they continued improvement of their young core, and they should still be able to hold their line and compete with the mid-table teams.
That’s us all caught up.
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Catch you next week.