WAFL 2026: Peel Thunder lose skipper Jack Sears to miss crucial clash because of fractured finger

Peel Thunder will be without skipper Jack Sears for several weeks after he fractured his finger in their win against West Coast last weekend. It is a blow for the Thunder, with Sears their in-form forward on the back of consecutive three-goal hauls against the Eagles and South Fremantle. Sears is one of three outs for Peel as they prepare to host Swan Districts down in Mandurah on Saturday. Fremantle-listed pair Jaeger O’Meara and Hugh Davies have been called up for AFL duties, with the latter an emergency for the Dockers’ clash against North Melbourne down in Bunbury. Luen Colton, Zachary Trevena and Taj Wyburd have come into the side to take on the Swans, who are coming off an upset win against Perth last weekend. The visitors will be without top WA draft prospect Leo Steed who has been managed ahead of his campaign for Western Australia in the National Under-18 Championships. Ayden Cartwright has come in for the talented teenager. In positive news for Swans, star midfielder Jye Chalcraft has been named in the reserves for his first game of the season as he attempts a comeback from a serious foot injury. Chalcraft has not played at any level since round 19 of last year, but the club is hopeful he will play a part in their campaign through the second half of the season. Claremont have welcomed back star spearhead Jaiden Hunter from suspension as they host West Coast at Revo Fitness Stadium. Hunter is joined by debutant Clancy Dennis, who will slot into the Tigers’ backline to replace Anthony Davis after he sustained a minor ankle injury. Sam van Rooyen has been dropped. The Eagles have named talented first-round draftee Josh Lindsay after he was sensationally dropped from the AFL side. Lindsay is joined by forward-ruck Jack Williams and Category-B rookie Jakes Miles-Wrency who will make his league debut after three matches in the reserves for Perth. Dual Brisbane premiership defender Brandon Starcevich comes out as he prepares to make his AFL club debut for the Eagles against Port Adelaide on Saturday night, while young tall Archer Reid will miss because of knee soreness. Former co-captain Shannon Lucassen has been dropped. Perth have made two changes to their side that conceded seven final-quarter goals in a shock loss to Swan Districts, dropping Nate Tomasini and Seth Clark. Forward Kane Johnston returns after he was a late out last weekend, while Luke Hallett will make his league debut after 32 touches in the reserves. They host Subiaco at Mineral Resources Park, with the Lions losing No.1 ruckman Frazer Rickson who is now on WA under-18 duties. Exciting forward Richard Bartlett returns to the team for the first time since round five, having kicked two goals from 18 touches in the reserves. WAFL TEAMS ROUND NINE Peel Thunder v Swan Districts Saturday, Lane Group Stadium, 1.10pm THUNDER B: T Byrce J Draper J Hewitt HB: S Hunter D Petersen B Banfield C: T Whan L Tardrew J Carr HF: T Murray C Tregenza A Sweid F: A Riddle C Nicholls S Tuia FOLL: S Darcy B Hancock C Simpson I/C: L Colton L Kickett A Polmear Z Trevena T Wyburd EMG: J Brown J Mathew D Walters D Wills IN: L Colton Z Trevena T Wyburd OUT: J Sears (hand) J O’Meara H Davies (both AFL) SWANS B: C Ernst W Collins J Pasini HB: J Turner E Kane C Hinchliffe C: B Watson J Cipro L Kelly HF: K Chalcraft Z Provest W Reidy F: A Cartwright L Kohlmann J McLachlan FOLL: J Impey Z Trew S Bright I/C: B Kelly C Loftus J Petric J Rigoni A Stephens EMG: L Cotellessa O Havey B Lynch T Smith IN: A Cartwright OUT: L Steed (managed) Claremont v West Coast Saturday, Revo Fitness Stadium, 1.10pm TIGERS B: A Pearce D Hardisty M Minear HB: B Banfield J Peace T Headland C: Z Mainwaring C England S Alvarez HF: D Mountford J Howard B Rogers F: K Gowdie J Hunter J Musika FOLL: O Eastland B Elliott J Western I/C: T Delacey C Dennis O Sheldrick M Spyvee A Waterman EMG: R Luscombe M Rohr A van der Struyf S van Rooyen IN: C Dennis J Hunter OUT: A Davis (ankle) S van Rooyen (omitted) EAGLES B: J Ewing S Brock C Datson HB: M Herbert J Lindsay L Grego C: F Rodriguez O Francou C Hall HF: T Gross T Brockman T Dewar F: H Barnett J Williams M Owies FOLL: M Flynn H Schoenberg F Macrae I/C: J Burke E Hewett S Kernutt J Miles-Wrency T Williams EMG: S Cipriani S Lucassen D McCarthy J Walsh IN: J Lindsay J Miles-Wrency J Williams OUT: A Reid (knee) S Lucassen (omitted) B Starcevich (AFL) Perth v Subiaco Saturday, Mineral Resources Park, 2.30pm DEMONS B: C Sing C Dean E Scoble HB: B Philip M Taylor J Watson C: N Cachard C Constable A Davis HF: S Cameron C Byrne J Kluske F: L Paton A Clarke K Johnston FOLL: J Edwards B Parfitt R Wills I/C: A Gardiner L Hallett Z Harding A Luers W Tilbee EMG: F Brayshaw Z Fleiner C Moore J Roberts IN: L Hallett K Johnston OUT: N Tomasini S Clark (both omitted) LIONS B: N Girolami J Blight G Savigni HB: D Gathercole M Corbett J McGowan C: W Hickmott L Hickmott C Burke HF: S Siano N Hibbins-Hargreaves J Robbins F: C Henderson J Petruccelle K Douglas FOLL: J Mayo G Clark S Giro I/C: R Bartlett L Henderson J Kelman P Mullane R Murison EMG: L Blair J Faraone R Mott H Walker IN: R Bartlett OUT: F Rickson (WA)