WAFL Preliminary Final teams: Royals lose two as Claremont swing the axe

East Perth have lost a pair of key players for Sunday’s Sullivan Logistics WAFL Preliminary Final against Claremont, who have swung the axe.

The Royals and Tigers face off at Revo Fitness Stadium on Sunday, with the winner taking on minor premiers Peel Thunder in next Sunday’s Grand Final at Optus Stadium.

The Royals will be without key defender Brad Fullgrabe who went down with a hamstring injury in last Sunday’s thrilling two-point First Semi-Final win over Perth at Mineral Resources Park, while State ruckman Scott Jones is out for the remainder of the finals campaign due to suspension.

Key back Corey Watts is a massive inclusion after recovering from a calf injury, while dangerous forward Ben Middleton is back from a hamstring issue after missing the win over the Demons.

It means highly-rated 17-year-old talent Axel Walsh will lead the Royals’ ruck department in just his second senior outing, with help from ex-Docker Sebit Kuek, against dominant Claremont tall Oliver Eastland.

It comes as Claremont have dropped midfielder Bailey Banfield and young forward Rory Luscombe in the wake of their Second Semi-Final loss to the Thunder.

Key back Joseph Hopkyns and tall forward Sam van Rooyen have been recalled to the side.

East Perth will also feature in the Reserves Preliminary Final against arch-rivals West Perth, with former AFL first-round draft pick Cooper Stephens a handy inclusion after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Stephens is one of five inclusions for the Royals, including son of a gun James Barnard and State 18s squad member Ethan Turner, against a Falcons outfit going in unchanged after back-to-back upset victories.

West Coast father-son prospect Noah Braun makes his return from a minor quad niggle in Claremont’s Colts prelim against South Fremantle in the first game of the day.

The Tigers and Bulldogs clash in a re-match of last year’s Colts Grand Final won by Claremont.

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WAFL Preliminary Final fixtures

8.50am: EGT WAFL Colts Preliminary Final, Claremont v South Fremantle

11.25am: Sullivan Logistics WAFL Reserves Preliminary Final, East Perth v West Perth

2.10pm: Sullivan Logistics WAFL League Preliminary Final, Claremont v East Perth