WAFL 2025: Former Swan Districts captain Brandon Erceg called upon to take on Perth forward Aaron Clarke

Swan Districts have been forced to turn to former captain Brandon Erceg to try to stop Perth spearhead Aaron Clarke as injuries continue to mount. Erceg has been restricted to only 13 league appearances since the start of 2022 because of a serious of injuries, but coach Andrew Pruyn will lean on the 32-year-old to play on one of the best forwards in the WAFL. Clarke has only kicked two goals from as many games against the Swans, but looms as the biggest obstacle for the depleted home side when they meet at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday. Defenders Alex Howard (neck) and Luke Taylor (ankle) will miss because of injuries they sustained in the win against West Coast before the bye, joining Jake Pasini (ACL) on the sidelines. Former West Coast rookie Will Collins will return from a shoulder injury he picked up in the pre-season through the reserves and will be joined by former Fremantle and Gold Coast midfielder Connor Blakely, who is recovering from an ankle problem. Erceg has been named alongside fellow defender Lewis Tester and midfielder Josh Cipro who will celebrate his 100th game. The Demons have their own injury problems though, with in-form ruckman Josh Edwards to miss at least a month with stress fractures in his back. Former Geelong midfielder Sam Simpson has an ankle injury, while Tyrone Thorne and Liam Dellamarta have been omitted. Midfielder Regan Clarke will play his first game since round three after recovering from finger surgery, joining Blake Schlensog, Jake Watson and Zac Fleiner as inclusions. Former South Fremantle captain Dylan Main is expected to spend another significant chunk of football after sustaining another soft tissue injury. Main didn’t play round seven this year because of a calf issue and lasted less than two games back in the league side, injuring his hamstring in the WA Day Derby win over East Fremantle earlier this month. Riley Colborne has come into the team for the Bulldogs as they take on a strong East Perth outfit that has been boosted by the return of Sandover medallist Hamish Brayshaw as well as forward Tom Medhat for their trip to Fremantle Community Bank Oval. Peel Thunder’s hopes of keeping within touch of the top five with a win over West Coast after naming Fremantle-listed pair James Aish, Isaiah Dudley and Quinton Narkle as well as premiership forward Corey Tregenza. The Eagles head down to Mandurah with defender Callum Jamieson back in the side from a hamstring injury, but have lost Bailey Williams, Clay Hall and Tom McCarthy to AFL duties.