Huge selection statements, debutants for WAFL Round 3

West Perth veteran ball magnet Shane Nelson has been dropped to the reserves for the first time in 14 years, while skipper Luke Meadows will also play in the twos in his return from an ankle injury.

The Falcons travel to Steel Blue Oval to take on Swan Districts on Saturday afternoon, with both teams chasing their maiden victory for the 2026 Sullivan Logistics WAFL season.

There will be a pair of milestones West Perth will be looking to celebrate with sharpshooter Tyler Keitel playing his 200th and livewire forward Keegan Knott his 150th.

Former Claremont younger Kai Dehavilland, recruited by the Falcons during the off-season, will finally get his first taste of league football after 34 reserves games and 33 in the colts, while defender Sam Rotham is out with illness.

Defender Wil Collins comes back in for Swan Districts at the expense of big man Nathan Blakely.

Peel Thunder recruit Floyd Burmeister is another big omission in Round 3, with the talented tall squeezed out in favour of debutant ruckman Toby Cosser for the early Saturday game against Perth at Lane Group Stadium.

Luke Jackson lookalike Cossor, a 207cm giant from Myrtleford, gets his chance with Burmeister dropped and Mason Cox promoted to Fremantle’s AFL side for Sunday’s Western Derby.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Peel Thunder (@peelthunder)

Another Toby – draftee Toby Whan – is set to make his league debut for the Thunder against important forward Corey Tregenza is back from suspension against the Demons, who are missing star midfielder Brandan Parfitt who’s missing due to an ankle injury.

South Fremantle and Claremont have both gone in unchanged for their top-of-the-table clash at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday.

The reigning champs have been dominant in both of their wins to start the season, while the Tigers fought hard to get over the line against Peel Thunder last week.

Former Brisbane Lions VFL player Joel Budarick has been named for his senior debut for East Fremantle, coming off a thrilling win over Subiaco last round.

The Sharks take on last season’s grand finalists East Perth at Sullivan Logistics Stadium in the Saturday evening clash after both teams broke through for their first wins of 2026 last weekend.

The Royals will be missing gun midfielder Cooper Stephens who’s out with suspension, with key forward Tom Graham also out.

West Coast have added some serious firepower to their team as they hunt back-to-back victories against Subiaco at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.

AFL-listed quartet Matt Flynn, Jack Hutchison, Ryan Maric and Matt Owies will also feature for the Eagles, adding a wealth of experience to the team that beat West Perth in an impressive come-from-behind win on Sunday.

The Lions will be without key defender Jacob Blight and fellow ex-AFL player Jordan Snadden, with former Falcon Daniel Gathercole and former State 18s representative Hudson Walker coming in.