WAFLCTF WAFL Futures competition kicks off featuring WA’s best young talent
Jordan McArdle
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5 Mar 2026
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WAFL pre-season action starts on Friday night with Subiaco hosting Swan Districts at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, one of two games across the weekend.
Both teams have named and array of new and returning faces with the Lions getting their first look of talented young former Dandenong Stingrays forward Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves who moved west over the off-season after his AFL Draft heartbreak.
Hibbins-Hargreaves will be joined by dual Bernie Naylor Medal winner and Simpson medallist Ben Sokol in Subiaco’s forward-line, his first WAFL appearance since retiring at the end of 2024.
Sokol was lured out of retirement by returning premiership mentor Jarrad Schofield, who’s back at the helm after stints with AFL clubs West Coast and Port Adelaide.
Former Richmond VFL pair Will Brave and Nick Girolami are also among the recruits named for Subiaco, but ex-AFL duo Jacob Blight (Richmond) and Jack Petruccelle (West Coast) won’t be in action.
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Victorians Lucas Impey, Kade Chalcraft, Jez Rigoni and ex-BBL cricketer Clint Hinchliffe are among the exciting signings picked for Swan Districts, while Zane Trew is back an ankle injury which ended his 2025 season prematurely.
Former Hawthorn and Geelong midfielder Cooper Stephens named for his return from an ACL injury in East Perth’s WAFL pre-season hit-out against Claremont at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday evening.
Ex-Brisbane Lion Darcy Craven, ex-Eagle Luke Foley and former SANFL player Damon Freitag are also among the inclusions for last year’s runners up.
The Tigers have named former South Fremantle player Tyson Headland in the midfield for his first stint in the WAFL since 2022 after he more recently played for Kwinana in the Perth Football League.
Champion goal-kicker and former AFLW player Kate Bartlett is back for Peel Thunder’s WAFLW side after a stint in Peel Football Netball League.
The Thunder take on South Fremantle at Lane Group Stadium on Saturday morning, with the Bulldogs bolstered by ex-East Fremantle captain Ash Gomes.
The two-time reigning champs Claremont are also in action against East Perth on Saturday morning at Sullivan Logistics Stadium with Eva Campo back after a stint in the country and fellow off-season signing Kiahn Perry also named.
Former Swan Districts player Hope Ugle-Hayward is one to watch for the Royals.
Former State Academy talent Zoe Keley and Victorian young gun Storm Johnson are in for East Fremantle in their Saturday night clash against West Perth, whose forward-line received a massive boost in the form of ex-Souths goal-kicker Zoe Huggett and former Docker Sabreena McKinnon (nee Duffy), at The Good Grocer Park.
The teams for Sunday’s clash between Swan Districts and Subiaco at Steel Blue Oval on Sunday morning are yet to be named at time of publication.
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