WAFLElastoplast Inspiring Stories – The biggest injury returns of 2026
Jordan McArdle
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31 Mar 2026
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Entering his third year as a senior WAFL coach, Kyal Horsley has a feeling of optimism after winning just six games in the past two seasons.
The Eagles have claimed the wooden spoon for the past five seasons, including Horsley’s two seasons in charge, but the Subiaco premiership great is determined to create change.
“I’ve been really impressed with the squad this summer,” Horsley said.
“We adjusted our model after last year, reducing our list size to around 15 players and shifting to a structure that requires only two nights a week at the club, with an additional session completed in the players’ own time.
“This approach has empowered the group to take greater ownership of their pre-season.
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“To their credit, they’ve absolutely attacked it, when they’ve been at the club, they’ve arrived energised and have lifted their training intensity to another level.”
Improving the list has been a priority for Horsley, who is delighted Callum Jamieson has stayed with the club after being de-listed by the Eagles at AFL level.
“Callum has come into the program after playing 17 AFL games, and he would have played more if not for injury during his AFL tenure,” Horsley said.
“He’s already had a profound impact on the group and has been recognised with the captaincy for 2026.”
The Eagles have also gone outside the nest to improve their quality.
“Archie Watt joins us from Kyabram in Victoria after an outstanding 2025 season in the Goulburn Valley League, where he played 19 senior games and kicked 30 goals”, Horsley enthused.
“He completed his entire pre‑Christmas training block with an AFL team, and his hardness around the contest along with his class with ball in hand has really stood out.
“Sasha Kernutt arrives from West Perth as a premiership player.
Sasha Kernutt is a big addition for the WAFL Eagles. Picture: West Coast Eagles
“His speed at ground level, both offensively and defensively, has been a real feature this summer, as has his composure and skill execution.
“Then there’s James Ewing.
“While he played last year, his season was taken away by a significant leg injury, so in many ways he feels like a new recruit.
“His summer has been flawless.”
West Coast were given four extra AFL rookie-lists spots as part of their assistance package from the AFL which will no doubt help the depth of both their AFL and WAFL sides.
Deven Robertson, Fin Macrae and Harry Schoenberg all joined the club from rival AFL lists and are expected to spend time in the WAFL side in 2026.
The surprise pre-season recruitment of East Fremantle star Milan Murdock to the West Coast Eagles AFL squad is also a major boost for the club’s WAFL team.
Murdock was picked up by the Eagles in the AFL Supplemental Selection Period following the season ending injury to Noah Long.
While Murdock’s priority is to break into the AFL side, the 25-year-old three-time Simpson Medallist and three-time Lynn Medallist, is set to spend time at WAFL level as well.
While refusing to publicly declare an ambition about playing in September, the Eagles coach understands improvement is non-negotiable.
“For us, it’s about making consistent progress game by game and continually getting better,” he said.
“If that improvement puts us in finals at season’s end, I’d be absolutely thrilled.”
The Eagles play their first practice match against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday, March 14.
“We are all extremely keen to get started and the players are eager to face different opposition after spending so much time playing against each other,” he said.
“They’re looking forward to seeing how their pre-season gains stack up, measuring themselves in genuine match conditions.”
West Coast
2025 finish: 10th
Coach: Kyal Horsley (third season)
Captain: Callum Jamieson (new)
Ins: Will Burnett (Kyabram/Goulburn Valley League), Sam Cipriani (Tongala/Murray Football League), Corey Hitchcock (Yarraville Seddon Eagles/Western Football Netball League), Callum Jamieson (West Coast/AFL), Sasha Kernutt (Mt Lawley/Perth Football League), Archie Watt (Kyabram/Goulburn Valley League)
Outs: Ethan Barbieri (West Perth/WAFL), Cooper Brown (TBC), Zac Dronow (Augusta-Margaret River/South West), Connor Klemke (West Perth/WAFL), Denholm Melrose (TBC), Tyler Mouritz (TBC), Ethan Sambo (Boulder City/Goldfields), Harley Sparks (South Adelaide/SANFL), Luke Yeo (Calingiri/Mortlock)
Callum Jamieson will skipper West Coast’s WAFL side in 2026. Picture: West Coast Eagles
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