WAFL Team of the Year: South Fremantle dominate with seven players after claiming minor premiership in 2025

South Fremantle have dominated The West Australian’s WAFL 2025 Team of The Year, with seven players from the minor premiers making the side. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE OUR TEAM OF THE YEAR After losing just one game in the home-and-away season and going on a 14-game winning streak leading into this weekend’s grand final, Bulldogs players make up one-third of the line-up. A league-best defensive unit leads the way for South Freo, with captain Chad Pearson, veteran fullback Noah Strom and former Docker Ethan Hughes part of an all-star back six. Pearson is also the skipper of the team, edging out 2025 Sandover medallist Charlie Constable, who was picked in the middle. Speaking about his superb backline, Pearson said the depth they had down back allowed him and Strom to play their role to the best of their abilities. “It’s been a great back six or seven to play in throughout the year,” Strom said. “Myself and Noah have been there for eight or nine years now and have tried to develop the young keys coming through. “Whenever you add a Jamaine Jones or an Ethan Hughes to a backline it’s going to make a massive difference and their leadership down there has made my job a whole lot easier. It’s been great for me personally and then as a team, to add those two in has made a big difference.” Sandover Medal runner-up Matt Parker and his engine-room partner Jake Florenca were among the best midfielders of the season and make the cut, while forward duo Trey Ruscoe and Brandon Donaldson were named in the pockets. Fellow grand finalists East Perth are also well represented with ruckman Scott Jones, 2023 Sandover medallist Hamish Brayshaw, breakout star Tom North, wingman Angus Scott and half-back Stan Wright all named. Jones edged out Claremont counterpart Ollie Eastland after a career-best year, while Perth’s Blake Schlensog gets the nod as the back-up ruckman on the bench given his versatility to play up forward as well, having kicked 31 goals this season. The Tigers aren’t short of star power in the best 22 though with breakout defender Max Minear earning a spot in a strong defence, while dual Sandover medallist Jye Bolton was named on a half-back flank. Tigers recruit Jaiden Hunter slotted into full forward on the back of 40 goals in the regular season with several of his teammates including Bailey Rogers and Zac Mainwaring unlucky to miss out. Perth’s return to the finals for just the second time guaranteed that Constable, Schlensog and Geelong premiership player Brandan Parfitt all were honoured, while young defender Elijah Scoble is the bolter after steering an undersized Demons backline to September action. The stark gap between the top five and those who didn’t make the finals meant several of the lower teams didn’t get any players named in the team. Swan Districts skipper Jesse Turner was an obvious choice on the wing after averaging 30 touches in 18 games this season. Meanwhile, West Perth forward Tyler Keitel was a walk-up start at centre-half-forward after claiming his fifth Bernie Naylor Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker with 52 majors. 2025 WAFL Team of The Year B: Ethan Hughes (SF) Noah Strom (SF) Max Minear (C) HB: Jye Bolton (C) Chad Pearson (SF) Stan Wright (EP) C: Jesse Turner (SD) Charlie Constable (P) Angus Scott (EP) HF: Milan Murdock (EF) Tyler Keitel (WP) Brandan Parfitt (P) F: Trey Ruscoe (SF) Jaiden Hunter (C) Brandon Donaldson (SF) FOLL: Scott Jones (EP) Tom North (EP) Matt Parker (SF) I/C: Jake Florenca (SF) Blake Schlensog (P) Hamish Brayshaw (EP) Elijah Scoble (P)