Three exciting young West Coast Eagles have recommitted to the club, with Beth Schilling, Zoe Wakfer and Sanne Bakker signing contract extensions.
Schilling is locked in for three more years until the end of 2027, while Wakfer and Bakker have both signed on until the end of 2026.
Schilling had a breakout season in 2024, well and truly announcing herself on the big stage.
Her strong marking ability became a highlight of her development, and she grew in confidence from week-to-week.
After a standout performance against Essendon in week two, managing 14 disposals, seven marks and three tackles, Schilling was rewarded with a Rising Star nomination, and finished fourth in the Club Champion count.
Fellow defender Wakfer settled into her role this season and continued to develop her craft in the backline.
Her height, tough body work and strong hands were features of her game, and she finished 10th in the League for spoils (34).
Wakfer managed a career-high 17 disposals in week eight against Fremantle, before finishing the season strongly with a career-high seven marks against the Swans in week 10.
Bakker was originally signed as an injury replacement player, and the midfielder has advanced at an exciting rate since joining the nest.
A former national 800m and 1500m runner, the 19-year-old’s competitive nature shines through on the football field.
Bakker impressed throughout the season with her intensity and toughness around the contest, with her versatility on show in a variety of roles.
“A big focus this off-season was to continue to retain our best young talent and extending Beth, Zoe and Sanne’s contracts was a priority,” AFLW List Manager Jordan Loxley said.
“Beth and Zoe have shown incredible improvement this season, finishing fourth and sixth respectively in our Club Champion after being in and out of the side last year.
“It's not only a testament to their hard work, but the ability of our coaches to get the best out of them, particularly Daisy (Pearce) and their line coach Martene (Pearman).
“Sanne was playing local footy 12 months ago and for her to come into the program and play every game was very impressive.
“As a first-year player, Sanne's ability to sacrifice her own game to play a role that benefits the team is rare to find and we think she has a long career ahead of her.”
