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Fremantle development coach Tendai Mzungu says fans should be confident in the depth on their list developing at Peel Thunder in the WAFL. With one of the youngest and most inexperienced sides in the AFL, Fremantle started their season in tremendous fashion going 3-1 to sit seventh on the ladder. Just ten players have played over 100 games, while 25 have played under 50, with young guns like Andy Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Luke Jackson leading the charge. However, speaking to Mzungu on Sports Breakfast, plenty of young Dockers are impressing at WAFL level, proving they’re ready to make the AFL jump - including defenders Josh Draper and Karl Worner. “You do see players coming in and performing quite well at the (AFL) level,” he said. “It's very much a development space at times at Peel and trying to hone your craft and do your apprenticeship there, making sure that you're ready to perform when you come in. “I look at our list and how driven the younger players are, and how passionate they are and how willing they are to grow their game and learn. “Not everyone's going to make it, but we think that we've got the core group that can take us to where we want to go.” When discussing players, Draper was highlighted for his past few games in the AFL since debuting in round two. The Next Generation Academy product looks incredibly promising and has shouldered the responsibilities that come as an AFL key defender in Brennan Cox and Oscar McDonald’s absences. This included playing against Coleman medallists Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay in last week’s heavily debated 10-point loss to Carlton. “He sees the game well, he's very athletic and he's got a really good turn of foot as well, which hopefully once he builds confidence in his game he'll be able to see a bit more of that explosiveness as well,” said Mzungu. “I was lucky to work with him from the age of 14 and watched him develop and he's played a number of positions forward in ruck and even time as a midfielder. Once he got into the club we saw some real upside in being a key defender and bringing his strengths behind the footy. “He's a beauty, but he played reserves football last year at times, not even cracking a league game. He's pretty proud to see how far he's come, how much he's developed his game.” For a young team, Mzungu says while players are eager to play, focusing on their values, strengths and weaknesses at WAFL is key to ensuring they’re a complete AFL player. “Young players particularly are impatient, they want to play straight away and some do take longer,” he said. “The taller players are generally the ones that take a little bit longer, and players come from different physicals. They just need to build their bodies to get to a level where they can compete at AFL level. “Some guys, like Cooper Simpson and Matt Johnson and Jye Amiss, they probably get to the level a little bit quicker, so there's gonna be some variations across the list. “Our job as a development coach is to really set them up and to keep them focused and dialled into what's important.” IMAGE: AFL

West Coast Eagles forward Jamie Cripps says West Coast’s team defence needs to be top-notch against the chaotic Tigers. On Sunday, West Coast will look to win their first game of the season against an injury-ravaged Richmond side at Optus Stadium. However, despite losing the likes of Noah Balta, Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch and Dylan Grimes, Cripps told SportFM it won’t be an easy game. “Richmond is going to be a tough game. I think their first half last week was really good,” he said. “The quick game that they play is hard to defend, so our team defence has to be right up there. “If we play a good four-quarter effort, I think we can get the win. Looking forward to it and hopefully, a big crowd can come out to show their support and get behind us.” When asked about what a win against Richmond would mean for the club, Cripps said it would be ‘massive’, especially for the younger players. “They can feel that win feeling, sing that song, which we haven't done for a while," he said. “If we're getting the win, we obviously played a good brand of footy, the brand that we want to play each week. So fingers crossed that we can come out and get the win.” Richmond has just one win this season which happened a fortnight ago against Sydney, in what was a resilient, but daring display. One week later, West Coast outscored and challenged the Swans in the first half, but dropped away to lose the match in the second half. Compared to previous weeks, West Coast looked stronger across the board and converted more scoring opportunities to come away 11.12 (78). Cripps says, although satisfying to see some results, it needs to be a four-quarter effort to get a win. “It's good to finally see what we've been working on in the pre-season, and in the training in the first few weeks of the season come out in a game. We haven't really had that this year,” he said. “That was the most disappointing thing in the first three games that we were just going out there and we weren't seeing anything that we were working on. In little snippets, we would. “On the weekend, it was just a longer brand of footy that we want to play for two to three quarters and now we have to do it for the four quarters to start getting some wins.” Over the weekend, Harley Reid kicked his first goal for West Coast, and proudly tugged his jumper in celebration as his teammates gathered around him. The much-hyped battle between Richmond superstar Dustin Martin and Reid will take centre stage at Optus Stadium on Sunday. Within four games, Reid has made a name for himself with his fend-offs and broken tackles, with fans eager to see how he matches up with Martin's 'don't argues.' “He's just a big unit. He's strong. I think he broke a fair few tackles on the weekend,” said Cripps. “He's a good user with the footy and he can go up forward and kick goals as well. “He's definitely good to have in the midfield, he's got a bit of speed behind him as well which is nice. He can get on the outside and use his legs.” IMAGE: AFL

West Coast Fever assistant coach Sara Francis-Bayman says Fever won’t have a ‘complete overhaul’ of game style this season, despite having a massive turnover in players. The West Coast Fever’s Suncorp Super Netball campaign commences this Saturday against the GWS Giants at Ken Rosewell Arena. During the trading and signing period, Fever lost numerous key players for the club including veteran GK Courtney Bruce, Sasha Glasgow and Verity Simmons - resulting in a new-look Fever outfit. Fever has brought in six new players to replace those who departed, as they look to make finals for their fifth straight year. Talking to Sports Breakfast, Francis Bayman says she is happy with how it’s all coming together. “The amount of player turnover that we've had, you've got to adapt to the strength of the team and that looks slightly different this year than it has done,” she said. “Defensively, we want to win more ball throughout the court. With the loss of Courtney, we feel like we need a more even spread of ball winners. There's a focus on that. Attacking-wise, we keep Jhaniele, but we've got different players around her, so that might look slightly different also. “People know their role in this team. Hopefully, they're able to show that and enjoy it and, put their best foot forward at the weekend.” After Bruce, Kim Jenner and Rudi Ellis’ departure, Sunday Aryang remained the only defender on the list. This season, the Diamond will receive support from Fran Willams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney who represent England and Jamaica respectively. Francis Bayman believes the defence will be formidable with the experience within the side. “Katie-Anne comes to us from Sunshine Coast Lightning and the Melbourne Vixens before that, so she has a lot of experience within this league,” she said. “It's Fran's first year in SSN and she's excited to get going. She is a World Cup silver and bronze medalist with England. She's a key part of their defence and I think she's fitted in perfectly and had some really strong pre-season performances. “You combine that with Sunday Arayang, a Diamonds defender and a West Australian product, it's a pretty formidable defence. We were really happy with the blend during the recruitment and what we were able to land on.” In the attacking third, shooting sensation Jhaniele Fowler will team up with her Jamaican teammate Shanice Beckford and rising Australian talent Olivia Wilkinson. Francis Bayman says the connection between the Jamaican teammates is ‘almost telepathic’ and is excited about the partnership. “Shanice is another Jamaican international and hugely experienced at international level but again her first year in the Australian league,” she said. “She's got a long-standing connection with Janelle. They played together internationally for years and years. We were excited about putting that connection into the domestic competition and seeing how they go. “They're almost telepathic. They're really strongly connected and that's exciting.” IMAGE: FILE

One of the best things to come out of the Gather Round in Adelaide was the return of Victoria to State football. Even better was the Big V going 14 points down to a South Australian team that will have a crack at beating WA for the fifth time in as many seasons when they meet for the 99th time next month. Victoria spat the dummy and walked away from State football when a WA team coached by Mike Broadbridge and captained by Kyal Horsley towelled them up at Port Melbourne in 2017. That was the first and only time that WA have beaten Victoria on their home turf and while it does not carry the same weight as the inaugural State of Origin match or the 1961 carnival triumph, it remains one of the high points in the State’s interstate rivalry. On a personal level, that was one of the best sporting trips I have experienced as a reporter covering State and national teams. The camaraderie and focus within the playing, coaching and support groups were almost unrivalled in my experience while there were numerous memorable moments to stoke the conversation whenever the participants encounter each other. Two things spring to mind. The first was Horsley’s short, sharp and incisive comment to a team-mate who was excited that he had got tickets to the Dreamtime match at the MCG after the State game. “Not having winners’ drinks with your mates after our game?” Horsley asked as his target got the message in an instant and immediately asked, somewhat mournfully, ‘Anyone want four tickets to Dreamtime at the G?’” The second was at the official jumper presentation at the team hotel the night before the match when Jack Bradshaw’s grandmother brought the house down with her response to a comment by assistant coach Paul Johnson. Bradshaw had been plucked from the Claremont reserves and did his job superbly with three important goals, as well as sustaining a critical knee injury that subsequently ended his career. He was presented with his WA jumper by Johnson, the former East Perth star and Melbourne, Hawthorn and West Coast ruckman, who made his feeling known about the Victorian opposition. “I hate the $@#%s,” he said before spluttering an apology when he realised that Mrs Bradshaw was sitting in the front row. “That’s alright Paul,” she said, “I quite agree with you.” The room erupted amid a growing sense that the next day would belong to WA. The game has changed fundamentally since then with the VFL expanding to the northern States and even having Port Adelaide contemplate joining them in the near future. That particular madness is the topic for another column but it does suggest that the VFL is regaining some of the credibility and value lost before and after their pasting by the Black Swans. WA football officials have not had any contact with their VFL counterparts but it is likely that an approach will be made to ascertain Victoria’s interest in returning to the interstate roster. State football is still the pinnacle for many players and an important indicator of a league’s health. WA have lost their past four games to the Croweaters since annual contests replaced the previous three-year rotation that included Victoria, Tasmania and versions of Queensland or the defunct NEAFL. Three of those losses have been by seven, four and 13 points to suggest there is little between the leagues though, to be fair, the margins have flattered WA. Cam Shepherd will coach WA for the third time and will be aided by experienced WAFL coaches Ross McQueen and Beau Wardman, and newcomers Horsley and Adam Read. Their programme will start in a week or two to prepare for the May 18 match which, with a bit of luck, will not only mark WA’s 49th victory over SA but the return to a full hand of interstate rivals. And how good would it be for WA to have the chance to defend their historic win over the Big V with another win on their Melbourne dung heap? IMAGE: SANFL

Perth Football League Chief Executive Andrew Dawe is confident clubs will adhere to the new concussion guidelines implemented in the off-season. In March, the PFL announced its new concussion protocols, which included increasing the return to play period to 21 days after a concussion, provided the player is medically cleared. Previously, WA football followed the national AFL guidelines which allowed players to return 12 days after a concussion. Speaking ahead of round one, Dawes says these protocols enable amateur footballers to return to football in a ‘safe and healthy’ manner. “There's been a fair bit of noise around concussion, obviously in the last year or so,” he said. “We've adopted a concussion protocol that's in line with effectively what the Australian Sports Commission has recommended, what the AFL has recommended, and certainly in line with what the West Australian Football Commission is doing. “Like everyone else, except the AFL, sitting out for 21 days if you do get a concussion, of which you need 14 days of recovery and making sure that you get medical clearances, so it's safe and healthy when you return.” The Perth Football League is working with stakeholders, including clubs and their trainers to educate and equip them with the tools needed to help implement and follow the new guidelines. Guidelines are designed to prioritise player welfare and provide a consistent and structured approach to concussion management. Some guidelines include gradual reintroduction to activity, a 14-day symptom-free period, prioritising work and education before return to play, and holistic assessments of concussions. While acknowledging it may be an ‘absolute challenge,’ Dawes says he is hopeful the clubs will adhere to the guidelines. “As soon as we saw these proposed changes, that an issue would be under reporting, but we're hopeful that we've got the mechanisms in place,” he said. “We also think that society has caught up and understood that this is a serious issue and that if you're playing God as such, then that's a dangerous way to move forward. “We have referral forms, we've got a clear set of guidelines to help not only just the player, the trainers, the club, but also to educate the medical practitioners when a player presents with a concussion from the weekend. “We're hopeful that they will adhere to it, and I think the societal trends will dictate that.” Over 320 teams - including 68 women’s teams, across 72 clubs will take the field around the Perth Metropolitan region for round one of the PFL this weekend. IMAGE: Perth Football League

Fremantle defender Jordan Clark is backing in Alex Pearce to do the job on Carlton’s lethal forward duo on Saturday during their clash at Adelaide Oval. Carlton and Fremantle are sitting in the top six with three wins each and will go head-to-head, hoping to come away remaining undefeated. Carlton’s forward contains Coleman medal-winning duo Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, who have accumulated 21.6 goals between the two of them this season. However, Clark, told Sports Breakfast the backline is up for the challenge. “Carlton are a very good team all over the ground and that can be a really good challenge for us,” he said. “Alex Pearce is in great form, and all the backs are going to have a big job this week as do our midfielders and forwards. “The more pressure on the ball in any game the easier it is to play.” The Fremantle captain has started the season in tremendous form, playing some career-best footy - averaging 13.3 disposals, 3.3 intercept marks and 4.7 tackles across three games. Also in the backline, is key defender Josh Draper, who has had a solid start to his career after coming in to replace the injured Oscar McDonald and Brennan Cox in round two. The Peel product is set to play a fundamental role and assist Pearce in reducing Curnow and McKay’s impact on the scoreboard. “He obviously played in the WAFL now for probably a year and is reaping the rewards now,“ said Clark. “He's very athletic, he's made for the modern game and quite a raw footballer. I'm excited to see what player he's going to turn out to be in the future. “I think he’s going to be a very exciting, full player for us in a backline or wherever he wants to play. It is a credit to him and how he has developed since he walked through the doors.” Carlton, who sits sixth on the ladder will be looking to beat Fremantle to jump into the top four, while the second-placed Fremantle will look to establish themselves as a serious contender after missing finals last year. This is the first time the Dockers have started the season 3-0 - a significant improvement from their start last season. However, Clark said he wouldn’t be reading too much into this game. “Certainly these are the games you want to play in, the big ones that both teams are undefeated and there's a lot of pride on the line,” he said. “You always want to win, there is obviously going to be a lot on this game and rightly so. “I think both teams probably earned that right with the form they're in at the start of the year, so it'll be a pretty good battle come Saturday." IMAGE: Getty Images

The start of the new WAFL season could hardly have been any better if Graham Moss and Ron Boucher turned back time to relive one of their ferocious and classic clashes. A total crowd approaching 15,000 was the biggest opening round attendance in 30 years and proof that WAFL supporters will turn out if they are confident of a contest and matches are staged under decent lights in good weather. The $2million lights at Joondalup were not as brilliant as their advance notice but they were good enough to showcase a ripping contest to 4318 fans. It was the best ever round one crowd at the ground and the league’s best since 5200 – swelled by 4284 free tickets – turned up to imminently obsolete Subiaco Oval to kick off the 2015 season. And the matches lived up their billing. Powered by their most canny recruiting in years and a coach armed with considerable smarts and steel, Perth shone under their own lights to beat their nemesis Subi for the first time in eight years to end round one inside the top five. Ambitious Swan Districts were even more effective as they crunched West Coast to sit in second. Last year’s grand finalists Peel beat last year’s premiers East Fremantle who, after just one match, already sit a remarkable three games off top spot. West Perth hung on to survive a thriller against Claremont with the league’s pre-eminent wizard producing his trademark magic to snap the win. And East Perth underlined their credentials as the potential benchmark this season with an imposing win over a South Fremantle team in transition. A top five with four of the most followed teams in the league, including three – Swan Districts, East Perth and Perth - who have not won a final for seven, nine and 27 years respectively, foreshadows a competition with genuine questions over who will win matches each weekend. Maybe it is West Coast’s plight that has driven football lovers back to the State league. Maybe it is the league promotion that brought disco music, strobe lights and food trucks to Joondalup. Apparently, football is better with them, though things are likely to get even better at Pentanet Stadium when the proposed 70sq.m HD replay screen replaces the old scoreboard sometime this season or next. There were a few individual highlights to delight players and their hard-core fans. Ironman Tony Notte is on track to become just the seventh player to make 300 WAFL appearances and the second Swan after Bill Walker. Notte’s 293rd match was also his 142nd victory, taking him past four-time premier Don Langsford’s record at the club. And Tim Barker was there to provide a nice complement to the moment. Barker, who played his first match for Swans in 1944 and, at 97 could be mistaken for a man 20 years younger, has the club and WAFL record for losses. He played in 188 of them during an era when he was a star made of the sternest stuff but his team could barely muster any momentum. Aaron Black had his own moment. His 256th match means he sits between fellow Sandover medallists Graham Farmer and Ted Kilmurray on the games list while he cracked 150 wins with the two-point thriller. Black’s goal to reach 300 is unabated though he would have to play at least into his 34th year to get there. Add Black’s premiership coach Bill Monaghan, who became the fifth WAFL coach to take charge in 300 games, and there were several milestones of rare weight. Fans don’t attend matches for milestones but they are an essential part of the league’s rich tapestry and a source of great interest and focus. One round does not make a season but the WAFL has started this one strongly. IMAGE: WA FOOTBALL

Former Premiership Eagle Peter Sumich believes West Coast does not deserve a priority draft pick despite an alarming start to the season. The weekend’s 76-point loss to the Bulldogs puts the Eagles at three losses with an average losing margin of 64 points. Currently sitting in 18th, West Coast are faced with the prospect of taking its third wooden spoon. Should West Coast continue to struggle and secure its second consecutive wooden spoon, the AFL may consider handing them draft picks used at the national draft to or be traded for players, to assist in the rebuild. Sumich told SportFM the onus is on West Coast to dig themselves out of this situation. “If it's the club's fault, which it is in my opinion, they don't deserve one,” he said. “If it wasn’t the club's fault and you can see that everything they put in place was right and everything they were trying, it's not happening for them, but they're giving it their all. I'd seriously look at it, but right now, they don't deserve one. “West Coast might be in a bit of pain. I don't know if that's going to make a big difference anyway, but I don't think they deserve it, because they put themselves in this hole over two or three years.” In 2019, West Coast gave up picks 14, 24 and 33 and a future first-rounder to land Tim Kelly from Geelong. Kelly has been a solid contributor for West Coast, winning club Best and Fairest last season, but Sumich believes the trade has a part to play in West Coast’s current state. “Unfortunately, they gave everything up for Kelly a fair few years ago and people have forgotten about this,” he said. “They got Kelly with the recruiting to try and win another Premiership, that was in 2020. Now no one's talked about that, that's just been a rabble and that cost them draft picks for two years. “It cost them a lot to get Kelly in to win a Premiership. They didn't win this Premiership alright, so then who's to blame?” On the weekend, West Coast beat the Bulldogs in clearances and matched their opponents in inside-50s, however, the forward line failed to convert these opportunities, scoring just three goals. West Coast kicked two of the first three goals, but the Bulldogs piled on 12 unanswered goals, leaving West Coast goalless for over half the game. The third goal came during the final quarter. Sumich believes there were missed opportunities to try to stifle the rampaging Bulldogs, and is ‘dumbfounded’ at where the club is at. “There was an opportunity to swing a Barrass or a McGovern forward, swing Darling back during the game when the game was getting out of hand, there was an opportunity to do things like that," he said. “The club will have to make some decisions going forward, probably sooner than we all thought. “If it keeps going down the same path, it's a long way back. I'm really dumbfounded where the club is at. “The winning record, the losing record. It's adding up and I don't know really where it's all going to stop. That's the problem.” IMAGE: Sydney Morning Herald

Fremantle defender Jordan Clark says he doesn’t envy the Fremantle coaching staff's position regarding the Luke Jackson-Sean Darcy ruck dilemma. For the right reasons, the former Demon’s early season form is causing headaches for Justin Longmuir and the Freo coaching staff. Jackson has come out of the gates firing, recording 23 disposals and two goals against North Melbourne last round. In round one, he had 18 touches and two goals. With Sean Darcy set to return from injury in roughly three weeks, Fremantle will be rethinking initial plans to have Jackson play second fiddle to Darcy moving forward. Clark told SportFM this dilemma is one he’s glad he doesn’t have to think about from a coaching perspective. “The way he's playing is nothing short of amazing,” he said. “He's a Bonafide superstar and that's what we couldn't understand last year when everyone was on his back in the early couple of rounds. He was still trying to find his feet. “The way he's been able to turn his form around and showcase his talent and his full strength and capability. Since then he's just been nothing short of amazing. “I think that he's amazing and in terms of what happens when Sean Darcy comes back, all I can say from my perspective is thank God I'm not the coach because I don't have to think about it. Last weekend, Clark was instrumental in Fremantle’s comeback against North Melbourne accumulating 28 possessions and seven marks. Fremantle trailed by 32 points during the second quarter but kicked nine unanswered goals to reel it back in and win by 26 points. Clark puts the Dockers second-half showing down to the young side’s maturity. “If you've watched footy over the early part of the season, you realise that almost every game there's a big momentum swing and then teams do get a run on it to kick goals,” he said. “It's a matter of being able to recognise that between the group, and we'll get our chance here if we get things right and play the way we want to. We'll get our chance at some point to get ourselves back in the game and take the lead. “You don't want to be giving up four or five goal head starts every week because that's not ideal. There's an element of maturity in a way the group comes together to problem solve in those situations.” Starting the season 2-0 with two confident comebacks under the belt puts Fremantle in fifth on the ladder. After missing finals last year off the back of a poor start to the season, this run should hopefully give Fremantle confidence moving forward as they look to return to the top 8. “Every game is important,” said Clark. “I don't think that there's been any conversation around the club that banking games now is a priority over winning games later in the year. “Our job is, as footballers to go out there every week and try and win. We've just got off on the right foot this year and executed what we've needed to execute to a certain level without being at our best and we've come away with a few wins.” IMAGE: The West Australian

West Coast Premiership forward Jamie Cripps says he is embracing his new leadership role and sharing his experience with his younger teammates. The 230 gamer has been at the club since 2013 and is the second oldest player on the list after Jeremy McGovern. In the AFL, West Coast is ranked the 16th youngest team in the afl, while ranked 14th in average games played. During the rebuild, Cripps has taken on a new role and responsibilities within a youthful forward group. Speaking to Sports Breakfast, Cripps says he is enjoying this new role over the past few seasons. “I've enjoyed is passing on my knowledge to the other sort of half-forwards and other young boys that come up to the half-forward line from midfield and working closely with Noah Long, Petruccelle, Brockman, Liam Ryan,” he said. “I've enjoyed the leadership, which has really stepped up for me over the last couple of years. That keeps me thinking about other people's games as well. “If I'm struggling to find the ball, then at least I'm thinking about someone else as well. It's been really enjoyable doing the leadership stuff.” West Coast has recruited young players in numbers over the past few years, looking to the future across all three lines. Despite the 65-point thumping against GWS over the weekend, there were plenty of positives to be taken from the game. Dunsborough product Reuben Ginbey played a career-best game with 22 touches and five tackles, while Harley Reid impressed with 17 touches and several eye-catching moments. Cripps said the younger players are making it easy for the side to remain motivated, despite the big losses. “The last couple of years because we've been so young on a list that we haven't really had to search real hard to get that motivation or get that fun at training,” he said. “Even though we've been getting beaten most weekends, it's still been really enjoyable going into work. “The young boys they've got lots of energy, so they're pumped around the club so that's good fun and they bring you with them. The Eagles are set for an extended stint on the road, playing the Bulldogs in Melbourne this weekend, then Sydney in Adelaide for Gather Round. Looking ahead, Cripps says the Eagles will take some confidence out of last year’s win against the Bulldogs heading into this weekend’s match. “We'll take some confidence out of that, even though it was last year,” he said. “They’ll want come out firing and they won't want us to get the win again. They're another quality team and it will be a tough, tough, tough match. “I think the boys will work hard this week and try and clean up a bit of our ball movement stuff from the weekend and hopefully get it.” IMAGE: AFL Photos

Greg Clark has a point to make. Best on ground and a Simpson Medal winner in his last match for Subiaco, the grand final victory over South Fremantle in 2021, Clark has since had a frustrating two years at West Coast during the lowest ebb in the club’s history. His 21 Eagles matches were all losses – setting a record unlikely but not impossible to be beaten in the near future – which led to an unsurprising delisting at the end of last year. But Clark’s return to the Lions, and rapid elevation to the captaincy, could inspire him to reach a new level of performance this year. Clark is now 26, has 105 WAFL matches and those 21 AFL games under his belt, and is poised to reach the peak of his powers this season. He will wear No.1 for Subiaco this year and has also been adjudged by WAFL radio station SportFM as the No.1 player in the league. Clark’s leadership skills, ball-hunting prowess and ability to impose himself on matches makes him the league’s most influential player this year and takes him to the pinnacle of the SportFM top 40 list. Clark is the most prominent of 12 delisted AFL players who will be in action in the WAFL this year and one of 23 new names on the list. They include his Subiaco team-mates Luke Foley, Taj Schofield and Jack Mayo while four members of East Fremantle’s premiership team last season have been included for the first time. Livewire Shark Milan Murdock and premiership captain Matthew Jupp, the most miserly and committed defender in league ranks, were recognised for their substantial roles in the club’s success. Ruckman Brynn Teakle, who may have a short stint in WAFL ranks if he is picked up in the midseason rookie draft in May, is East Fremantle’s highest ranked player with the energetic Jono Marsh in second place. Marsh’s brother Harry was retained but dropped to No.40 because of questions over his availability this season after significant hamstring surgery on the eve of the first match. Three Sandover medallists are included in the top 10 though WA ruckman Olly Eastland is ranked ahead of his medal-winning team-mates Bailey Rogers and Jye Bolton. Reigning Sandover medallist Hamish Brayshaw is a key to East Perth’s prospects this season though he could not dislodge Clark and West Perth pair Tyler Keitel and Luke Meadows from the top rungs of the list. Players were ranked on their form and impact last season, an assessment of their likely role and value to their team this year, as well as the threat they provide to opposition sides. Every team had at least one selection with the last three premiers, East Fremantle, West Perth and Subiaco, taking up half the selections. Only seven of the 12 delisted AFL players were named. Selecting recently delisted AFL players is often a fraught exercise because they have to come to terms with the move to the lower level while dealing with employment and life challenges that are often not part of the AFL environment. Top 40 WAFL players in 2024 No.   Name                  Club    Last year 1 Greg Clark               S          AFL 2 Tyler Keitel              WP      2 3 Luke Meadows        WP      3 4 Hamish Brayshaw    EP       8 5 Olly Eastland           C         new 6 Brynn Teakle           EF       AFL 7 Bailey Rogers          C         4 8 Jon Marsh                EF       9 9 Jye Bolton                C         1 10 Jesse Turner           SD       15 11 Milan Murdock      EF       new 12 Matthew Jupp        EF       new 13 Angus Schumacher EP      32 14 Mitch Crowden      EP       11 15 Luke Foley             S          AFL 16 Scott Jones             EP       16 17 Aiden Clarke          SD       26 18 Leigh Kitchin         S          18 19 Trey Ruscoe           WC      AFL 20 Haiden Schloithe   SF        new 21 Taj Schofield         S          new 22 Nic Rokhar             SD       new 23 Ben Sokol              S          5 24 Connor West          WP      AFL 25 Alec Waterman      C         12 26 Scott Simpson        P          AFL 27 Cody Leggett         EF       new 28 Shane Nelson         WP      10 29 Noah Pegoraro       WP      new 30 Charlie Thompson  P          new 31 Matt Parker            SF        new 32 Liam Hickmott      S          new 33 Aaron Black           WP      20 34 Jacob Blight           PT       new 35 Fraser Turner         EF       new 36 Anthony Davis       C         new 37 Charlie Constable  P          AFL 38 Jack Mayo              S          new 39 Mitch Schofield     EP       new 40 Harry Marsh           EF       14 IMAGE: Supplied

Former Australian Captain Kim Hughes has praised Western Australia’s season-long efforts to come away Sheffield Shield champions for the third straight season. Tasmania succumbed to the West Aussies by 377 runs during the final session on day four at the WACA Ground, marking a historical milestone for WA. For the first time, WA has secured a domestic triple-double, winning both Shield and Marsh Cup titles for three consecutive years. Hughes, who also played Shield Cricket for WA called the occasion and WA’s performance ‘unbelievable.’ “We managed to sneak in there something like 24 or 25 players that played for Western Australia this year. It was just an amazing effort,” he told SportFM “I thought we won the game with the opening partnership of just over a hundred and Sam Whiteman, just an incredible captain's innings of a century so they got off to great start and then put down over 300 and that set the scene. “It was poor planning by Tasmania but you only play as well as you're allowed to. The West Australian side never let them back in because their bowling was absolutely was spot on. Plenty of pressure the whole time, and it was just an amazing all-round performance by the West Aussies.” WA had stellar performances across the board with the ball and bat. Captain Sam Whiteman knocked 104 runs in the first innings, while Hilton Cartwright and Darcy Short made half-centuries. With the ball, Cameron Gannon took eight wickets in total, including a five-fa during the second innings, while Corey Roccihoccioli took seven wickets. With numerous more experienced players out due to injury, international commitments or form, Hughes says these performances are a testament to the side’s depth. He also commended Ashton Agar for his support of Rocchoccioli. “It was fantastic to hear Rocchoccioli praise the help and support that he got from Ashton Agar, even though Ashton wasn't picked in the side but being around for a lot longer,” said Hughes. “That is just an incredible tick for Ashton Agar's character because he's gone from in the Australian cricket side to these last 12-18 months, to what would be a nightmare or disappointment for him. “For them to be still supportive and all those good positive things as 12th man, it's just a really great reflection on the culture that West Australia cricketers have.” Reminiscing on his Shield days, Hughes hopes the current WA side can go down the path his side went back in the day. “I can remember at one stage Western Australia had seven of the 11 players playing for Australia in the WA side,” he said. “No other side in the history of Shield Cricket, or Australian cricket, has ever had seven. and I say jokingly that we allowed Greg Chappell, Jeff Thompson, maybe Allan Border, to play with us. “That was seven test players, not very good Shield players but test players. “This side doesn't have that, and that's when test cricketers did play in the Shield competition. Things have changed now, so I just hope that some of the current West Australian cricketers can go on down the track.” IMAGE: cricket.com.au