All over for the Eagles, and why Koby Evans is set to be a steal
The actual football is over for WA's teams, so now we look to the draft.
G’day punchers.
Well there we go, WA’s last football game of consequence has been played in 2026.
West Coast deserved to be in the AFLW finals this season. But they probably got a good indication of where they sit at the same time. More on that shortly.
There was a bit of news yesterday about next season - specifically the introduction of a wildcard round. It was greeted with much hat-wringing. I’m willing to hear other arguments but I can’t see the downside here. It’s two extra elimination finals. What’s the issue with that?
In today’s newsletter: Curtain call for the Eagles’ best W season, Ella confirms she’s built for finals, the All-Australian nominees, AFL Academy selections and why you’ll want to remember the name Koby Evans.
Let’s get stuck in.
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AFLW
The best season in the Eagles’ AFLW history came to a close in brutal fashion. In pouring rain at IKON Park, Carlton were simply tougher for longer - breaking the game open with a 10-minute burst after half-time to win by 41 points. Speaking after the game, Daisy Pearce laid out the blueprint for matching the best sides: four-quarter physicality, solid fundamentals and the ability to be predictable to your teammates. There’s your offseason plan.
As predicted by basically everyone, Ella Roberts is indeed built for finals. She was fighting a losing battle most of the day but remained one of the more dangerous players on the ground. She kicked West Coast’s first-ever finals goal and ended the game with 30 disposals (20 of those contested), 12 tackles, 6 inside-50s and 7 intercept possessions. Wowee.
Speaking of Ella, she was the only Eagle to earn an All-Australian squad nomination - and there’s no chance she misses the 21 when it’s announced at the AFLW Awards on November 24.
Fremantle, despite missing finals, have three players in the squad - Gabby Newton, Mim Strom and Emma O’Driscoll. Strom and Emma are automatics most years, but Newton’s nod is just reward for a massive step up this season.
Shout-out to WA’s own Zippy Fish, who made the squad in her first year after a huge season for Sydney.
AFL ACADEMY
Just a quick note to highlight the WA kids picked in next year’s AFL Academy. These are considered some of the leading prospects for the 2026 Draft - it doesn’t always turn out that way of course, but it can be a good indication. Claremont’s Benji van Rooyen and Heath Mellody, East Perth and West Coast NGA prospect Garrison Kehn and West Perth’s Koby LeCras - son of North Melbourne player and Cervantes legend Brent - are the boys selected. Falcons Cara Dziegielewski and Lexi Strachan and Perth’s Mia Calshausen are the girls.
AFL DRAFT
A little over a week from now, the best young male footballers in Australia will be hunched over their phones or sitting in a crowded living room waiting to hear if they have made their way onto an AFL list.
Every year has fantastic stories of kids who overcame hardship, or shot up in height to take their game to a new level - you’ve heard them all before.
But there’s a player from WA this year with a footy story that’s rarer than I’ve heard in a while, and I’m intrigued.
It’s almost like the old yarns you used to hear about players being ‘stashed’ by clubs, or told to play under a different name.
This fella’s name is Koby Evans. And I’m increasingly feeling like he may be a massive steal for the Eagles.
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