AFTER a wildly successful inaugural season, Perth returns to the WAFLW with plenty of expectations on its shoulders. Becoming the first expansion side to avoid the wooden spoon and also win not just a game, but three games, in their first season, the Demons have recruited heavily and genuinely look like a title threat under East Fremantle premiership coach Steph Walding.

LAST SEASON

Finished: 8th
Wins: 3
Losses: 11

Last season was about adapting to League level for a lot of young players, and they showed plenty of grit and fight, coming not too far off seventh place which would have been massive for the club. It is a huge jump to try and force their way into finals this season – needing another six or seven wins minimum, but the red and black just have that aura about them.

OFF-SEASON RECRUITS

All the talk over the WAFLW off-season has been Perth’s ability to bring in such quality experience from across the country. The Demons have brought in copious amounts of experience both from within the WAFLW and across the country, with the talent inside the four walls no doubt going to provide opposition coaches with a heap of concern.

While last year it was all about co-captain Isabella Shannon flexing her AFLW experience, she will be joined by the likes of ex-Eagle Evie Gooch and former Tiger Katelyn Cox. Both are great defensively and can play key roles, while they also brought in a couple of key targets inside 50. Ex-Claremont tall Brooke Whyte is back in the state league with the now 36-year-old set to provide crucial experience alongside South Fremantle talent and 2025 Docker, Poppy Stockwell.

Coming across from Victoria having won Carlton’s Best and Fairest, Amy Trindade gives an immediate boost to the club’s inside stocks, having come on late in her top-age season a few years back when she captained Calder Cannons. She is paired well with another former Blue turned Box Hill Hawk, Isla Baldwin who has two top three best and fairest placings from both sides in the past two years. She is tough and a great ball user.

Throw in ex-Pie Caitlyn Edwards – who played 14 games across the first two seasons of the AFLW – and smart forward Grace Freeman (East Fremantle) who can provide a spark inside 50, and the Demons have really gone on a recruiting spree. If all fit, there’s no reason they have not just added eight to nine best 21 players in an off-season which is huge for the entire club.

TOP-AGE DRAFT CHANCES

National Academy member Mia Carlshausen leads the charge for the Demons this season, having impressed as a bottom-age coming out of defence last season. She is suited to that role to provide plenty of run and carry, but with some of the inclusions in the team now, Carlshausen has the flexibility to be pushed further afield, or play in just about any position. She has a damaging kick and puts speed in transition.

Tenacious forward Mel Grage is the other Demon to keep in mind from a top-age perspective, having also had a breakout year for both Perth and Western Australia last season. Not a massive accumulator, Grage brings the heat and her defensive pressure is elite, so she adds a real two-way effort inside the forward 50.

PRESEASON DRAFT HOPES

Any one of the off-season recruits such as Trindade and Baldwin could fall into this category, with Stockwell another who would be looking to make the most of her early season and potentially get a second call-up to AFLW. Outside the group already mentioned and co-captain Shannon is is on the edge of another call-up given her remarkable 2025 season, there are players such as Taya Strickland, Holly Britton, Sienna Timmermans and Jorja Haines who have all been thereabouts in recent years.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Given the above has named just about everyone in the side, it is reaffirming the quality that is in the team. Britton and Shannon provide a nice inside-outside balance, while Haines and Strickland can join Grage as those exciting forward prospects. Strickland in particular will benefit from the inclusions of Stockwell and Whyte, while over-ager Addison Opalinski – who can play anywhere on the field – midfielder Gemma Dix and impressive ruck Molly Warne were three others not previously mentioned.

PREDICTION

Perth is a side to watch rise up the ladder, and given the Demons are only in their second season, it could be incredible to see just how much they could grow. Making the most of the salary cap points given their 2025 season, the Demons on paper should play finals. Could they topple Claremont? It will be a fascinating watch in season 2026.