WAFL 2025: Swan Districts midfielder Connor Blakely to miss clash against fellow battlers West Coast Eagles

Swan Districts stranglehold over West Coast is in danger of ending after they lost yet another star to injury. Former Fremantle and Gold Coast midfielder Connor Blakely will miss the Swans’ clash with the Eagles at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday after he injured his ankle at training on Tuesday night. The midfielder is one of four players out from the side that lost to Claremont last weekend, with Blakely joining his brother in ruckman Nathan (managed), Ayden Cartwright (suspended) and Lewis Tester (hamstring). Blakely is the latest of several injured Swans who have AFL experience including former Eagle Zane Trew (ankle), Jarvis Pina (knee), Will Collins (shoulder) and Jake Pasini (knee). Swan Districts are the only side to have never lost to West Coast, with the Eagles hoping to celebrate their 100th game in the WAFL with a breakthrough victory. Leading spearhead Leigh Kohlmann is back for Swan Districts alongside former Western Bulldogs forward Brad Lynch, while Ethyn Kane and Luke Cotellessa will play their second games. West Coast have lost five AFL players to top duties with Archer Reid, Jack Williams and Bo Allan named to take on Geelong, while Jobe Shanahan and Hamish Davis are emergencies. It’s likely that up to two of Davis, Shanahan and draftee Tom Gross will be late inclusions for the side if they’re released from AFL duties. Mid-season draftee Tom McCarthy is also set to play after the paperwork for his registration was finalised on Friday despite not being named in the final team on Friday afternoon. Campbell Chesser will play his first game after being named on the wing, while inside midfielder Clay Hall returns after being the travelling emergency to Adelaide last week. An injury-hit Peel Thunder will debut the third father-son player in club history with Kyelan Sanders to debut against Subiaco down in Mandurah. Sanders is the son of former Thunder forward Greg who played 50 games at Peel and East Fremantle. The teenager has kicked six goals in his past two games in the reserves to earn a call-up alongside Austin Polmear and Zachary Trevena. Fremantle-listed defenders James Aish and Josh Draper come out of the team after being called up by the Dockers. Premiership defender Michael Sellwood is the third omission after he was picked up by the Western Bulldogs in the mid-season rookie draft on Wednesday. The Lions will be without Jordan Snadden because of a calf injury, while Cade Abala and Jordan Faraone have been dropped from the side that was thumped by 103 points at the hands of South Fremantle last weekend. Former West Perth wingman Daniel Gathercole will make his debut for Subiaco, while Jack Cooley and Regan Mott have also been recalled. Both Claremont and Perth will go into their clash at Revo Fitness Stadium unchanged after strong wins last weekend. It means the Demons could not find a spot for former Peel forward Tyrone Thorne, who is listed as an emergency. Meanwhile, the Tigers are backing the same 22 that beat Swan Districts by 42 points last weekend.