WAFL 2026: East Perth welcome back Sandover medallist Hamish Brayshaw, Cooper Stephens injured again

East Perth’s hopes of turning their early season fortunes have been boosted by the return of co-captain Hamish Brayshaw for their annual Anzac Day clash against Perth at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday. However, it isn’t all good news for the Royals with luckless midfielder Cooper Stephens once again sidelined with injury despite being eligible to play after serving a one-match suspension. Sandover medallist Brayshaw is yet to play this year after sustaining a calf injury on the eve of the season, but has recovered in time to take on arch-rivals the Demons. It comes at a perfect time for coach Ross McQueen’s outfit, who have started the season 1-2 with losses to Subiaco and East Fremantle. “Hamish is looking good. He had really good pre-season and then just before the season was due to start, he had a hiccup with a calf,” McQueen said. “We’ll just keep an eye on him. We wont take any real risk with him, he’s too good of a player and we trust the rest of our squad as well. “He’ll be running through the midfield and leading from the front.” Unfortunately for McQueen, he will have to wait for both of his star midfielders in Brayshaw and Stephens to available in the same game for the first time, with the former Hawthorn and Geelong midfielder picking up a quad injury. Stephens was the big recruit for East Perth ahead of the 2025 season, but missed all of his first year after he ruptured his ACL. He debuted in round one with 31 disposals and a goal against Subiaco to show his immense talent. “It’s really rough for Coop. His first two games he started to build what he’s capable of,” McQueen said. “He’s a really resilient young man after the injuries he’s had over the past four or five years. “Another week or two and he should be good to go, and we look forward to seeing him, Hamish and the boys out there together.” Perth have made two changes with teenage defender William Tilbee to debut, while forward Angus Luers has been called in at the expense of Baxter Gray and Jack Bodle. The Demons are still without star midfielder Brandan Parfitt (ankle) for a second consecutive game, while forwards Lochlan Paton (hand) and Blake Schlensog (ankle) are yet to play this season. The undefeated Claremont have welcomed back forward Alec Waterman for their clash against East Fremantle at Revo Fitness Stadium. Waterman was a late out for the Tigers’ upset win against South Fremantle last weekend with Achilles soreness and replaces former East Perth midfielder Adam Boules in the team. The Sharks have lost stars Harry Marsh and Lennon Marlin to hamstring injuries, with Zac Petersen to make his debut. Elijah Stockden has been recalled as well after 33 disposals and five tackles in the reserves last weekend. Jaxon McGowan will play his first game for Subiaco since 2023 when the Lions host Peel Thunder at Sullivan Logistics Stadium. A colts and reserves premiership player at the Lions, McGowan has spent the last two seasons playing for Kingsway in the Perth Football League where he won the CJ Jamieson Medal as the A-Grade competition’s fairest-and-best. He was also named best-on-ground medal in Kingsway’s premiership claimed the premiership in 2024. Peel have named Fremantle-listed defender Bailey Banfield who is back from concussion alongside Jaren Carr, Taj Wyburd and Tristan Bryce. Jacob Hewitt will miss with general soreness, while Jeremy Sharp and Brandon Walker have been named as emergencies for the Dockers as they take on Carlton on Saturday night. WAFL TEAMS ROUND FOUR Perth v East Perth Saturday, Mineral Resources Park, 2.10pm DEMONS B: C Sing E Scoble W Tilbee HB: M Taylor C Dean A Davis C: B Philip I Kirk R Wills HF: J Evans K Johnston J Kluske F: C Moore A Clarke J Glass-McCasker FOLL: J Edwards C Constable C Byrne I/C: N Cachard A Gardiner O Hine-Baston A Luers J Watson EMG: J Bodle S Clark L Hallet Z Harding IN: A Luers W Tilbee OUT: B Philip J Bodle (both omitted) ROYALS B: K Willcocks C Watts S Wright HB: X Milner H Macreadie L Foley C: A Scott H Brayshaw K Screaigh HF: C Ameduri B Middleton M Schofield F: S van Diemen S Kuek D Craven FOLL: S Jones T North T Lindberg I/C: C Burgiel W Cassidy J Peak R Saunders J Soutar EMG: B Delaney B Freitag E Regan J Sturrock IN: H Brayshaw OUT: B Delaney (omitted) Subiaco v Peel Thunder Saturday, Sullivan Logistics Stadium, 2.30pm LIONS B: N Girolami G Savigni C Burke HB: W Hickmott K Douglas M Corbett C: J Kelman G Clark J Robbins HF: J McGowan J Mayo N Hibbins-Hargreaves F: J Petruccelle B Sokol R Borchet FOLL: F Rickson S Giro L Hickmott I/C: S Siano H Walker R Murison R Mott P Mullane EMG: D Gathercole C Henderson T Shearer W Walley IN: J McGowan OUT: D Gathercole (omitted) THUNDER B: J Draper O Murphy O McDonald HB: J Sears H Davies C Simpson C: N O’Driscoll L Tardrew T Whan HF: A Sweid C Nicholls T Murray F: C Tregenza K Sanders B Hancock FOLL: T Cossor B Banfield S Tuia I/C: T Bryce A Caldow J Carr A Riddle T Wyburd EMG: S Hunter L Hutchinson L Kickett A Polmear IN: B Banfield T Bryce J Carr T Wyburd OUT: J Hewitt (general soreness) J Sharp B Walker (both AFL) D Walters (omitted) Claremont v East Fremantle Saturday, Revo Fitness Stadium, 2.30pm TIGERS B: A Davis D Hardisty S Jennings-Hopkins HB: A Pearce J Peace M Minear C: B Banfield C England S Alvarez HF: Z Mainwaring J Hunter B Rogers F: S van Rooyen K Gowdie J Musika FOLL: O Eastland B Elliott T Headland I/C: T Delacey D Mountford O Sheldrick M Spyvee A Waterman EMG: A Boules A Howard R O’Connor J Western IN: A Waterman OUT: A Boules (omitted) SHARKS B: T Alker J Marsh C Eardley HFB: J Budarick K Austin K Baskerville C: T Phillips J Cleaver O McManus HF: A Montauban L Bailey O Smartt F: L Strnadica L Robinson L Carrello FOLL: E Benning J Jansen T Bryce I/C: A Ball Z Petersen H Pickett Z Rankin E Stockden EMG: N Dean C Dunscombe D Pauline G Vladich IN: Z Petersen E Stockden OUT: H Marsh (hamstring) L Marlin (hamstring)