The West Coast Eagles have informed eight players they will not be offered contracts for the 2025 AFLW season.
After reviewing the list post-season, the club has parted ways with Sasha Goranova, Matilda Sergeant, Verity Simmons, Mackenzie Webb, Emily Elkington, Tess Lyons, Jayme Harken and Octavia Di Donato.
The Eagles’ list of 34 players included an additional four squad members this season, three signed as injury replacement players, and one to replace Dana Hooker who announced her pregnancy earlier in the year.
Tess Lyons, Jayme Harken and Octavia Di Donato joined the nest on the eve of the 2024 season, replacing Kayley Kavanagh, Matilda Sergeant and Annabel Johnson, who all unfortunately suffered ACL injuries during pre-season.
Local WAFLW products Lyons and Harken made their AFLW debuts in week one and two respectively, while VFL recruit Di Donato earnt her wings in week three.
Goranova signed with West Coast as a mature-aged recruit ahead of season seven, after originally arriving at the club as a train-on player.
The Claremont Tigers product ruptured her ACL in round six of 2023, missing the remainder of the season, before making her return in the opening week of the 2024 campaign.
Sergeant was recruited to the Eagles in the off-season from Claremont, having also played 19 games for the Fremantle Dockers, but did not play a match for West Coast after rupturing her ACL.
Cross-code athlete Simmons joined the Eagles on a rookie contract, following her retirement from a stellar netball career in the Super Netball league, including three caps with the Australian Diamonds.
Simmons made her football debut in week one, after playing a number of WAFLW games for Subiaco in the off-season.
Midfielder Elkington was picked up in the 2022 draft and made her debut in round one of the 2023 season.
The Claremont youngster missed the 2024 season after suffering a series of concussions.
Webb joined the Eagles as an injury replacement player in 2023 and played three matches after making her AFLW debut in round nine last year.
“This time of year is always difficult with tough list decisions,” Head of Women’s Football Michelle Cowan said.
“We are very thankful for the contribution all players have made to our program as people and as footballers.
“We wish them all the best with their football and every success in the future.”
