East Perth's hopes of reaching a third straight WAFL grand final have taken a massive hit with ruck star Scott Jones failing in his bid to overturn his rough conduct ban.
Jake Santa Maria
East Perth have lodged an appeal to challenge the three-game suspension of ruckman Scott Jones.
Mitchell Woodcock
Royals big man Scott Jones has learnt his fate at the WAFL Tribunal after being reported for rough conduct in the first term of East Perth’s last-gasp two-point semifinal victory over Perth.
Aaron Kirby
Ahead of their preliminary final against Claremont, one of East Perth’s stars has been referred directly to the WAFL tribunal on a report of rough conduct in their stirring semifinal win over Perth.
Josh Kempton
Spots in the Dockers’ semifinal side against Geelong were on the line for 14 Fremantle-listed players when they turned out for Peel Thunder in the second semifinal win against Claremont. Here’s how they fared.
Peel Thunder coach Adam Read says premiership spearhead Corey Tregenza will be pushing to be fit for the grand final as he looks to overcome a troublesome ankle injury.
Perth co-captain Charlie Constable has pledged his side will do their utmost to improve again next season after a ‘heartbreaking’ loss to East Perth condemned them to a straight sets exit from the finals.
Claremont captain Callan England says they’re out for preliminary final revenge for last year’s defeat when they host East Perth for the chance to take on Peel Thunder in the decider.
A proud East Perth co-captain Hamish Brayshaw hailed the resilience of his depleted side after they won their way through to a preliminary final berth in stunning style on Saturday.
It took less than four minutes but a son-of-a-gun may have dashed Judd McVee’s hopes of an AFL recall for Fremantle’s cut-throat semifinal against Geelong at Optus Stadium next weekend.
Sam van Diemen has made himself the hero to send East Perth through to the preliminary final and Perth out of September in straight sets.
Peel Thunder have one hand on their fourth premiership in club history, dispatching Claremont to book the first spot in this year’s decider with a 28-point win.
Ruckman Zac Harding credits getting out of the “footy bubble” in Melbourne for helping him become a better player as he looks to help Perth to the ultimate glory.
Axed defender Judd McVee and veteran utility Corey Wagner are among the Fremantle players who will get a chance to push their case for selection in next weekend’s do-or-die semifinal.
Samantha Rogers
Claremont coach Ash Prescott says the Tigers cannot afford to put too much of their attention into red-hot Sandover Medal fancy Jeremy Sharp or risk letting his Peel Thunder teammates off the chain.
East Perth coach Ross McQueen has backed exciting teenager Axel Walsh to make an immediate impact on league football after handing the ruck sensation a debut in Saturday’s cut-throat first semifinal.
South Fremantle coach Craig White says their elimination final defeat to East Perth mirrored their season as a whole after their premiership defence ended on Sunday.
Midfielder Liam Tedesco says East Perth will embrace being the underdog throughout the finals series and they will treat every game as a ‘free swing’ from here on out.
Perth aren’t going to panic despite being in danger of a disappointing straight-sets exit from finals after a 17-point qualifying final defeat to Claremont at Revo Fitness Stadium on Saturday.
South Fremantle’s premiership defence is over, with East Perth extracting grand final revenge with a thrilling five-point victory in Sunday’s elimination final.
It might be the confidence which comes with youth, but top WA draft prospect Heath Mellody has declared Claremont are the best side in the WAFL as they prepare for the toughest task in the competition.
For a second consecutive year, Claremont have proved too good for Perth on the big stage, booking a place against Peel Thunder in next weekend’s second semifinal.
East Perth have pulled a selection shock, recalling key forward Tom Graham for their cut-throat elimination final against reigning premiers South Fremantle on Sunday.
Ahead of the first week of the WAFL finals, The West Australian’s Mitchell Woodcock goes in-depth on each team in contention for the 2026 premiership in an all-you-need-to-know preview.
