WAFL 2026: Subiaco star Taj Schofield set for lengthy stint on sideline with hamstring injury

Subiaco star Taj Schofield is set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines with what is believed to be a serious hamstring injury. Multiple sources have told The West Australian that Schofield — who is the son of returning coach and club great Jarrad — sustained a hamstring injury late last month, which will delay his start to the season. It is a blow for the talented 23-year-old who has dealt with several soft tissue injuries over the past few years. The Lions have named an almost unrecognisable line-up for their game against East Perth at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, co-tenants East Perth, on Good Friday. Former West Coast speedster Jack Petruccelle and Richmond defender Jacob Blight have been named to make their club debuts alongside fellow key recruits Nicholas Girolami and Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves. East Perth have left out experienced forward Tom Medhat for their game, while Mitch Schofield is playing alongside him in the reserves as he comes back from a pre-season injury. They will be without co-captain and Sandover medallist Hamish Brayshaw because of a calf injury, while former West Coast backman Luke Foley will run out for the Royals for the first time against his former side. Perth will be without star utility Blake Schlensog for their crucial clash against an injury-hit West Coast at Mineral Resources Park on Good Friday. The Demons will unveil key recruits Charlie Dean (Collingwood), Indhi Kirk (Sydney), Zac Harding (Murray Bushrangers) and Jack Kluske (Sydney VFL) as they look to take a step toward ending their premiership drought. However, Schlensog and small forward Lochlan Paton are set to be unavailable until at least round three because of ankle and hand injuries, respectively. They will face an Eagles side that has named only 11 AFL-listed players, with injuries and suspension hurting their depth. Former Collingwood midfielder Finlay Macrae will lead the midfield alongside Clay Hall and ruckman Harry Barnett, while second-year Eagle Tom Gross has been named on the bench after overcoming a hamstring injury. Reigning premiers South Fremantle have named an incredible five debutants for their season opener against Swan Districts at Bassendean. Fremantle next generation academy prospect Lucas Robinson, forward Mitch Geier, Aidan Harvey, Tarkyn Etherington and Sam Otto will all run out for the Bulldogs for the first time. Swan Districts have also named several club debutants, including Lucas Impey, Zac Provest, Jez Rigoni, Kade Chalcraft and Jovan Petric. Peel Thunder will unveil recruits Lachie Tardrew and Fremantle ruckman Mason Cox in a powerhouse outfit that will feature 13 Dockers-listed players. Defender Brandon Walker, wingman Jeremy Sharp and top draftee Adam Sweid are among the Dockers named to take on East Fremantle down in Mandurah. Former captain Ben Hancock will also play his first game since round three of last season, returning from a ruptured ACL. Former Essendon-listed forward Oskar Smartt has been named at half-forward for the Sharks, who will be without star midfielder Milan Murdock for the first time in years after he was recruited by West Coast in the pre-season. PEEL THUNDER v EAST FREMANTLE Friday, Lane Group Stadium, 1.10pm TV: Channel 7 THUNDER B: B Walker O Murphy J Draper HB: C Simpson H Davies S Hunter C: J Sharp L Tardrew J Sears HF: S Tuia C Nicholls T Murray F: T Wyburd C Tregenza K Sanders FOLL: M Cox B Hancock A Sweid I/C: A Caldow J Carr J Hewett A Riddle T Whan EMG: T Byrce T Cossor L Kickett D Roberts KEY PLAYERS MISSING: T Bennell (personal) O Riccardi (hamstring) SHARKS B: T Alker L Marlin K Baskerville HB: C Eardley K Austin J Avery C: A Ball H Marsh O McManus HF: O Smartt L Carrello A Montauban F: L Bailey J Marsh G Vladich FOLL: E Benning J Jansen J Cleaver I/C: T Joyce T Phillips H Pickett Z Rankin L Robinson EMG: N Dowsett D Pauline E Stockden L Strnadica KEY PLAYERS MISSING: J Budarick (concussion) J Cocking (foot) R McGuire (knee) M Murphy (knee) PERTH v WEST COAST Friday, Mineral Resources Park, 2.10pm DEMONS B: E Scoble C Dean Z Harding HB: O Hine-Baston M Taylor C Byrne C: B Philip C Constable A Davis HF: R Wills B Parfitt J Kluske F: K Johnston A Clarke J Bodle FOLL: J Edwards C Sing I Kirk I/C: N Cachard B Gray A Luers N Tomasini J Watson EMG: A Gardiner J Glass-McCasker C Moore W Tilbee KEY PLAYERS MISSING: B Schlensog (ankle) L Paton (hand) EAGLES B: J Ewing C Jamieson R Bazzo HB: L Grego R Maric T Edwards-Baldwin C: S Lucassen A Watts T Dewar HF: S Kernutt S Cipriani H Johnston F: J Burke J Williams T Williams FOLL: H Barnett C Hall F Macrae I/C: C Datson T Gross C Hitchcock D McCarthy J Walsh EMG: W Burnett A Mercer M Mumme J Prior KEY PLAYERS MISSING: J Eastough (hamstring) SWAN DISTRICTS v SOUTH FREMANTLE Friday, Steel Blue Oval, 2.30pm SWANS B: B Watson N Ireland A Stephens HB: J Turner L Taylor B Fitzgerald C: C Hinchliffe J Cipro M Chipper HF: K Chalcraft J Petric N Blakely F: B Lynch W Reidy J McLachlan FOLL: L Impey J O’Donohue Z Trew I/C: B Erceg C Ernst J Pina Z Provest J Rigoni EMG: S Bright L Kelly C Loftus L Tester KEY PLAYERS MISSING: J Chalcraft (foot) W Collins (knee) J Pasini (knee) L Kohlmann (leg) BULLDOGS B: J Sax G Byron L Rayson HB: E Hughes C Pearson T Dodds C: A Ferreira J Florenca N Strom HF: A Drage E Graham C Bourne F: M Geier T Ruscoe A Harvey FOLL: H Free L Robinson I Winder I/C: J Boullineau T Etherington J Jones R O’Hehir S Otto EMG: C Copeland C McDonald Z Triscari J Young KEY PLAYERS MISSING: M Parker (quad) B Donaldson (calf) SUBIACO V EAST PERTH Friday, Sullivan Logistics Stadium, 4.10pm LIONS B: G Savigni J Blight R Murison HB: W Hickmott P Mullane J Kelman C: C Burke M Corbett R Mott HF: S Siano K Douglas J Robbins F: N Hibbins-Hargreaves N Girolami J Petruccelle FOLL: J Mayo G Clark S Giro I/C: R Borchett L Hickmott F Rickson J Snadden B Sokol EMG: R Bartlett D Gathercole C Henderson X Hickey KEY PLAYERS MISSING: T Schofield (TBC) W Bravo (TBC) ROYALS B: X Milner C Watts K Willcocks HB: L Foley H Macreadie S Wright C: A Scott T North J Sturrock HF: C Burgiel S Kuek C Ameduri F: S van Diemen T Graham D Freitag FOLL: S Jones C Stephens T Lindberg I/C: J Baker D Craven B Middleton J Peak R Saunders EMG: B Delaney T Medhat K Screaigh J Soutar KEY PLAYERS MISSING: L Tedesco (back) J Msando (hamstring) H Brayshaw (calf) B Fullgrabe (back)