Round 5 WAFL teams: Demons, Swans bolstered by star inclusions on super Saturday

Perth have been bolstered by star midfielder Brandan Parfitt and livewire Lochy Paton who return from injury for the clash against East Fremantle at The Good Grocer Park as part of a five-game Super Saturday of Sullivan Logistics WAFL action.

Paton, who booted 32 goals in 17 appearances last year, hasn’t played all season because of a hand injury, while Parfitt missed the past couple of games with a calf issue.

East Fremantle have made one change with young tall Griffin Vladich promoted after kicking 3.3 in the reserves last game, with Harry Pickett out.

West Coast will have 16 AFL-listed players at their disposal as they hunt a fourth win on the trot against East Perth at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

Key defender Harry Edwards is back from concussion as one of four inclusions alongside fellow AFL backman Sandy Brock, young gun Bo Allan and tall forward Jack Williams.

Ball magnet Fin Macrae is out through suspension, while premiership defender Tom Cole and goalsneak Matthew Owies were rewarded for their WAFL form with a call-up to the ones, but Tom Gross didn’t join them despite his heroics against Swan Districts on Sunday.

Massive game for Tom Gross in the WAFL on Sunday. Gross was the hero as West Coast made it three wins in a row with a thrilling one-point victory over Swan Districts, kicking three goals including the match-winner in the dying minutes, to go with 22 disposals, seven clearances,… pic.twitter.com/5xyePnxl85

— Jordan McArdle (@jordan_mc12) April 28, 2026

The Royals have made just one change from their heart-stopping one-point win over Perth last week with dangerous forward Tom Medhat back from injury, replacing Riley Saunders.

In the early game, West Perth have recalled skipper Luke Meadows and veteran midfielder Shane Nelson from a stint in the reserves against Peel Thunder at Mandurah’s Lane Group Stadium.

Meadows was eased back from an ankle injury in the twos, while Nelson was omitted, with both players set to give the Falcons a massive boost in the engine room.

The Thunder lose rebounding defender Brandon Walker who’s in concussion protocols and Chris Scerri who’s an AFL emergency.

Taj Wyburd has earned a recall after 24 disposals and nine marks in the reserves last week, with Sean Hunter and AFL-listed Jaren Carr also promoted from the unbeaten twos.

Swan Districts get some key-position talent back from injury with spearhead Leigh Kohlmann and defender Jake Pasini back for the first time in 2026 in a much-needed boost ahead of Saturday’s encounter against ladder leaders Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium.

The Tigers have gone in unchanged with utility Alec Waterman getting his two-game suspension overturned.

In the final game of the round, which kicks off at 4.10pm on Saturday, ruckman West Love will make his senior WAFL debut just a week after signing with South Fremantle.

The former Claremont big man has been named to take on Subiaco at Sullivan Logistics Stadium as cover for Simpson Medal winner Hamish Free who’s sidelined for a foot issue.

The Lions lose captain Greg Clark who will miss the next three games with suspension, while recruit Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves is also out.

Small forward Richard Bartlett and midfielder Jordan Snadden come into the 23.