WAFL Round 6: Big guns return, debutants named

Subiaco have welcomed back a pair of prized recruits for Saturday’s clash against West Perth at HIF Health Insurance Oval.

Former Richmond tall Jacob Blight returns from a rib issue, while ex-West Coast speedster Jack Petruccelle is also back after missing last week’s narrow loss to reigning champs South Fremantle due to soreness.

Former West Coast rookie Jordan Snadden is out for the Lions for the rest of the year with an ACL rupture.

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The Falcons have also included some newcomers in their side with Northern Territory recruit Matt Shannon making his senior WAFL debut, ex-Perth key-position player Ben Fairbank playing his first league game for West Perth after getting one at the Demons and ex-Tiger Menno Inverarity returning.

Nathan Alexandre (hand), Corey Rundle (concussion), and Jonah Brooks (illness) are all unavailable.

South Fremantle will be without star forward Trey Ruscoe and midfielder Matthew Parker for Saturday’s battle with West Coast at Fremantle Community Bank Oval in the early game.

Ruscoe sustained a hamstring injury in the Bulldogs’ three-point win over Subiaco last week, while Parker is still sidelined with a hamstring issue that’s kept him out since Round 2.

Ruscoe will be replaced by emerging forward Cooper Clarke-Dehring in Souths’ only change.

West Coast’s midfield will be bolstered by the inclusion of young bull Elijah Hewett and former Adelaide Crow Harry Schoenberg.

The Eagles, who have won three of their past four games, will have a dozen AFL-listed players at their disposal including towering big man Matt Flynn who will go up against second-gamer West Love in the ruck.

Key defender Harry Edwards is back in the AFL side after getting through his concussion return in the WAFL last week, while Jack Hutchison, Bo Allan, Clay Hall, Harvey Johnston and Jack Williams are also out.

Ladder leaders Claremont have gone in unchanged for a second week in a row for what’s expected to be the game of the round against Perth at Mineral Resources Park, televised live on Channel 7.

Defender Connor Sing is back for the Demons after being a late out last week, replacing Jack Bodle.

Sandover Medal fancy Jeremy Sharp returns for Peel Thunder alongside fellow AFL guns Brandon Walker and Chris Scerri as the Mandurah-based team tackle last year’s grand finalists at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday.

Sharp played the last two games for the Dockers after a dominant start to the season in the WAFL, while Walker returns from concussion.

It comes as 20-year-old South Mandurah product Toby Jenkins breaks through for his debut.

Leon Kickett and Jaren Carr are among the omissions, despite impressing in last week’s big win over West Perth, due to the strong AFL-listed depth available.

The Royals have been forced to make several changes with State squad member Harrison Macreadie out with a hamstring injury and speedster Coby Burgiel (hamstring) and recruit Luke Foley (leg) also sidelined.

Stan Wright, Kye Willcocks and Riley Saunders all come back from injury, while Aniello Pizzolante will make his debut for the Royals, looking to build on a positive win last round after a slow start to the season.

Swan Districts and East Fremantle have made four changes apiece for their crucial encounter at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

Star midfielder Zane Trew is back from a shoulder injury, with the Black Ducks also gaining the services of defensive duo Luke Taylor and Wil Collins, however running machine Max Chipper is out with a collarbone issue.

Young guns Oliver McManus, and Toby Alker (calf) are out for East Fremantle, who will blood a pair of debutants in Geraldton product Elijah Burrows and tall Harper Fox, while prolific midfielder and former Brisbane Lion Tom Joyce is back for his 50th game after being a late out last week.