WESTERN Australia has named a 27-player squad for the 2026 clash with the SANFLW in Perth on May 16, with the team comprising of a heap of fresh faces from across the league. Claremont premiership coach Jack Schwarze will again take the helm as senior coach, as the Sandgropers look to break an 0-2 head-to-head against the Croweaters over the past couple of seasons.

The stacked squad includes most recent Dhara Kerr Medalists Krstel Petrevski and Jayme Harken, as well as the red-hot Jaime Henry. Players such as Ruby Sargent-Wilson (Sydney AFLW), Makaela Tuhakaraina and Poppy Stockwell (Fremantle AFLW), Courtney Lindgren, Mackenzie Webb and Annabel Johnson (West Coast AFLW) amongst the names potentially lining up for the West Australians.

Overlooked draft prospects who are in their overage season including Juliet Kelly and Lucy Greenwood will look to make a statement if not picked up in the AFLW Preseason Draft. Former Carlton VFLW midfielder Amy Trindade and rising South Fremantle defender Madison Evans have also been named in the squad, which will be trimmed down to 23 before the matchday.

Subiaco (six players) boasts the most representatives of any side, one more than Claremont and Perth (five). East Fremantle has four, South Fremantle has three, Swan Districts has two, while East Perth and West Perth have a representative each. Peel Thunder is the only side not represented in the squad.

Chairman of Selectors Trent Cooper said her was looking forward to the clash given the strength of the West Australian team.

“The improved depth in the ATCO WAFLW competition has made selection harder this year but we have picked a well-balanced squad,” Cooper said.

“We have 13 players returning from last year’s state team, with a mix of young and experienced players coming into the squad.”