FOLLOWING a wooden spoon in its third season, East Perth is building from the ground up in 2026. The WAFL Women’s side avoided having back-to-back spoons in 2024 after finishing about Peel Thunder, but losing a couple of key players to AFLW clubs early in the year hurt the Royals and they ended up finishing last in 2025.

LAST SEASON

Finished: 9th
Wins: 1
Losses: 15

East Perth has only won three of its 44 games to start the club’s WAFL Women’s history, with the sole win for the Royals last season coming on April 19 when they overcame newcomers Perth by just nine points at Mineral Resources Park. Now exactly 11 months later, the Royals will be hoping to improve on that season record, by bringing in a host of experience to support the young group.

OFF-SEASON RECRUITS

East Perth struggled with some front half scoring power so bringing in Swan Districts pair Courtney Zappara and Hope Ugle-Hayward will certainly help with that. The duo stepped back from League level to play in the South West Football League (SWFL) and Perth Football League (PFL) respectively, where they were clearly a class above. Zappara is a former WAFLW Leading Goalkicker, having won the Joanne Huggins award back in 2024. She might not have the same amount of chances, but is a danger nonetheless, much like Ugle-Hayward who can be a forward-mid rotation.

While the Royals do not have a heap of former AFLW players, bringing in ex-Docker Bianca Webb from West Perth will be great for the club, with invaluable experience in a range of positions, after spending a year in the PFL last season. She is joined by another former Falcon in forward, Elissa Price. She can provide a target inside 50 alongside Zappara.

Another player with plenty of leadership is ex-Subiaco midfielder Meg Brown who fills the Royals’ need for contested ball-winners at the coalface. She will work alongside Webb to bring that added toughness and professionalism, as well former Glenelg inside midfielder Tessa Kohn. A talented junior, Kohn fell out of selection favour at the Bays with the depth of midfield options, having spent the past two seasons at Development League level since being a key member of the squad in 2023-24

TOP-AGE DRAFT CHANCES

Tenacious small Charli Bassett is the main draft chance for East Perth this season, having had a really solid bottom-age campaign and looms as one to watch in 2026. She has great courage and can play across multiple lines, while working through traffic well and showing terrifically clean hands. She is developing greater versatility in her kicking and efficiency, but ticks a lot of boxes. A pressure forward or high half-forward role looks to be her go.

MID-SEASON DRAFT HOPES

All eyes will be on incredibly gifted midfielder/forward Lucy Greenwood with the over-ager one of the more unlucky players to miss out on being drafted last season. Greenwood had club interest across the country, and AFLW recruiters are keeping close tabs on the classy ball-winner, who has all the traits to make the next level, and the key will be a consistent start to the season.

Another name to throw in the mix is hard-running wing, Elly Sara. The East Perth talent played her first full year at WAFLW last season after eight games at the level in 2024, and simply starred, being one of the Royals most consistent players. She averaged 13.1 disposals, 3.2 marks and 5.2 tackles, and given she only turns 20 in June, is still quite young.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Emily Boothman has experience as an AFLW train-on and has hardly put a foot wrong over the last few seasons for the Royals, while the defensive setup that includes Sabella Banks, Hayley O’Donnell and Kate Inglis-Hodge was steadfast under first last season. Banks’ fellow former Sandgroper teammate Layla Firns has established herself at the level and will be rock solid once more. The other name to watch is Brianna Hyde who has returned to East Perth for a second season, and with more supply forward should be in for a big year.

PREDICTION

Few could argue the Royals should be better than in 2025, but the question will be: Have they gained enough to improve past other sides that will also rise up? Nearly every team looks to have strengthened its team bar East Fremantle, so the Royals should be more competitive week-to-week, but whether or not that culminates in a massive rise up the ladder is yet to be seen.