AFTER an extended period of success,East Fremantle fell short of yet another grand final in 2025, bundled out at the muddy elimination final stage. Entering 2026, there has been well publicised change afoot at the club and now the Sharks look set for a rebuild after losing a host of key players through the draft and to other clubs.

LAST SEASON

Finished: 4th (Elimination Final loss)
Wins: 9
Losses: 7

East Fremantle snuck into the finals series off the back off some blistering late season form to deny both West Perth and South Fremantle. However bowing out to third placed Swan Districts in the first week stung, and the Sharks headed to the off-season a little earlier than usual.

OFF-SEASON RECRUITS

Without a doubt, bringing in ex-Eagle Mackenzie Webb will be a godsend for the Sharks, having lost Madison Evans, Maya Louvel-Finn and Natasha Entwistle from that defensive rotation. The tall, intercepting defender is a brilliant user and great one-on-one, while up the other end, Zoe Keley provides height and upside inside 50 or through the ruck.

To try and replace premiership skipper Ash Gomes, the Sharks secured the services of Meg McAullay and Bree Wills, both of whom have great athletic bases and the former also coming through the West Australian junior pathways. Add in Abbey Partridge who went back to local footy after coming through the Subiaco pathway, and they have some players to work with.

The big surprise was the recruitment of Oakleigh Chargers and Vic Metro small forward Storm Johnson who provides plenty of aggression and pressure around the ball and the opposition which will help lock it inside the Sharks’ front half. She can try and fill the void of the departed Chloe Reilly, but more as a ground level player so a Grace Freeman who has also left.

TOP-AGE DRAFT CHANCES

East Fremantle have a trio of top-age prospects part of the West Australian Summer Squad headlined by developing ruck/forward Avuya Nomlatyu. She can spend more time forward this year and hold her place in the League side as she is yet to make her debut at senior level. Cienna Leslie and Sienna Lilly are the other couple, as players who will also look to add some spark to the young Sharks lineup.

PRESEASON DRAFT HOPES

Already with AFLW experience, Jae Flynn is one player who can make an immediate impact back at the top level. She along with versatile tall Anjelique Raison and small Noa McNaughton are others who are eligible as they look to press from last season having been in draft conversations at different points over the last few years. Siena Jezierski-Brown is the fourth who nominated for the AFLW Draft last season and will look to be a fast starter in the Sharks’ lineup.

OTHERS TO WATCH

The team is going to be a vastly different team to the one that has run out in years gone by, though one massive improver last year was ruck Brooke Repacholi who starred for the Sharks and took out the club’s best and fairest. With the other two podium finishers (Evans and Louvel-Finn) gone, she will look to take another step further. New skipper Tiani Teakle provides that rock in defence and will pair up with Webb in the back half really nicely.

Jasmine Johansen looked dangerous in the front half for the Sharks over the preseason, while Caylen Crook is a past West Australian squad member. Three players who remain as key experienced cogs in the side are midfielder Amber Kinnane, forward/wing Mylee Leitch and key forward Sarah Wielstra who will look to guide a very new-looking outfit.

PREDICTION

A team does not lose the amount of experience and quality that East Fremantle has over the off-season without taking a hit. The Sharks still have some very strong players who are at the top of the state league, but they will be surrounded by a heap of youth or developing players who will get their senior chance. Expect East Fremantle to fight it out with the Royals and Thunder – though still have the experience edge – for seventh.