WAFL 2024: Perth regain Charlie Constable from ankle injury earlier than expected for West Perth clash

Perth star recruit Charlie Constable has made an incredible recovery from a syndesmosis injury in only nine weeks and has been named to take on West Perth on Saturday. Constable sustained the injury in the first term of the Anzac Day loss to East Perth in round five and was set to be sidelined until later in the season. The former Gold Coast and Geelong midfielder has returned nearly two months ahead of schedule though and will line up alongside fellow former Cat Sam Simpson who is also back after battling soft tissue injuries. Their return is a huge boost for the Demons who are languishing at the bottom of the ladder after losing their past seven games. Star defender Jack Avery will also play his first game of the season after a foot injury sustained in the pre-season, while Perth have dropped Jack Cooley, Sam Stubbs, Elijah Scoble and Daniel Hill. The Falcons will be without crucial defender Zac Guadagnin who will miss the game with a wrist injury, while Jye Skender will be unavailable until round 16 because of a concussion. They’ve named Blake Garraway and ruckman Riley Sprigg to come into the side. East Perth will be without Sandover medallist Hamish Brayshaw for at least the next three weeks after he injured his quad in their loss to Swan Districts last weekend. Brayshaw will also be without key defender Harrison Macreadie (hamstring) as well for their clash against South Fremantle at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, while Jacob Msando has been dropped. Zac Hill, Bradley Fullgrabe and Kye Willcocks have all come into the side. South Fremantle have lost Toby McQuilkin (leg) and Aaron Drage (ankle) but welcome back reigning fairest and best Tom Blechynden as well as Brandon Donaldson, Jaren Carr and Jarrod Salmeri. Subiaco’s hopes of causing an upset against ladder-leaders Peel Thunder have been boosted by the return dual Bernie Naylor medallist Ben Sokol. Sokol injured his ankle in the State Game last month and has not played since, but will come into the side alongside defender Drew Rohde and Jaimon Alone. Ben Golding is out with a knee injury, while Jacob Wagenknecht and James Sullivan have been dropped. The Thunder have lost six Fremantle listed players because of AFL selection and injury including defender Josh Draper. Forward Patrick Voss flew with the Dockers to Sydney as an emergency while defender Ollie Murphy will miss because of abdomen surgery. Forwards Cooper Simpson (hip flexor) and Tom Emmett (illness) are also out, but key defender Brennan Cox will play his first WAFL league game since round five, 2019 after getting through 60 minutes in the reserves last weekend. Half-back Karl Worner and midfielder Neil Erasmus also come into the side while young defender Joel Brown will make his debut.