The five movers and shapers in WA football

Which footballing figures will shift the Western Australian footballing landscape in 2026?

These important individuals are those that are set to alter the narrative in WA, holding the power to seriously influence the product from the West through their decisions and actions over the course of the new year.

Determined independently by SEN WA Breakfast co-hosts Scott Cummings and Tim Gossage, each listed five figures that they believe will control, move and shape the footballing contingency within the months to come.

Scott Cummings' five

5: Daisy Pearce
West Coast Eagles Women's Head Coach

“When Daisy speaks, listen. She is doing a terrific job with the West Coast Eagles Women’s team.”

4: Don Pyke
West Coast Eagles CEO

“We will be talking about the draft assistance that he’s pushed for and got. I think he will be big, because it’s going to be another year of making decisions.

“This year, we are going to find out who is taking the club forward and who is not, and Pykey is going to be a big player on that.”

3: Simon Garlick
Fremantle Dockers CEO

2: Harley Reid
West Coast Eagles star

“Back in ripping nick. I think he is about to explode into this competition, and I think we’re going to get even more infatuated with him than we have in the past for the fact that he is playing exceptional football – not for anything else.”

1: Justin Longmuir
Fremantle Dockers Head Coach

“This ties into Simon Garlick at three.

“Whether it be good or bad – but they should be amazing. They should be awesome this year, Fremantle. If they are not, everyone is going to come for him.

“We are going to be talking about him left, right and centre if they don’t get off to a flyer. He could turn it around, and we’ll be talking about how well he’s done to turn it around.

“He might be bad again, we’ll talk about how he’s not the man for the job, and then he might win the flag and we’ll say we never had any doubts.

“He’ll be my number one, which goes back to Simon Garlick and number three, because Garlo is the one that is going to have to decide whether his working contract is continued or not.

“I think Justin Longmuir will be spoken about a lot this year.”

Tim Gossage's five

5: Ella Roberts
West Coast Eagles Women's star

“I think Ella Roberts will shape not only that football club, but she shapes interest in the game for the girls of tomorrow.

“She is the perfect prototype of a footballer to come through the process of WA football to launch into an AFLW career but also be one of the best All-Australian – I think she was the best player in the competition.

“I think Ella Roberts holds a very powerful position in WA football.”

4: Ryan Daniels
Channel Seven's WA reporter

“I think Ryan Daniels is well connected, has a massive advantage that he works for an AFL broadcaster, so they do get a bit of a look-in ahead of the curve. It’s harder to be a 10 journo or a 9 journo because you don’t have those AFL links.

“I think Ryan has had a terrific couple of years. He sets a very high standard in breaking stories, he doesn’t get much wrong, he is with a powerhouse in the network – I think he is going to have an increased role, he might even do some more commentary.

“If you had to pluck out one media person to have an influential role in news breaking, whether it be on social media or Channel 7, Ryan Daniels fits in the top five.”

3: Oscar Allen
Brisbane Lions recruit, former West Coast Eagles captain

“Yes, he is not in WA, but he is a mover and shaper. He is a former West Coast Eagles captain.

“Huge focus on him leaving the football club. I’d be interested to know about how he goes. There is no arm-up period for him.

“He has gone across there to have an impact straight away. He didn’t want to stick around and help lift his team. He has basically said, it is much easier to go to the team on top of the ladder and just slot right in.

“Oscar Allen, if you’re watching, the pressure is on you buddy! You wouldn’t want to disappoint!”

2: The next WA Football CEO

“The replacement for Michael Roberts as CEO of WA Football. He is gone, but they haven’t got a replacement yet.

“Whoever replaces Michael Roberts at WA Football has a massive job, because it is in a world of hurt. I hope they make the right decision, and I’m sure they will choose wisely.”

1: Justin Longmuir
Fremantle Dockers Head Coach

“He is going to be the mover and shaper of the way our football landscape looks in WA this year, I totally agree.

“I think they are, and I’m not just doing it to throw it up there – a lot of people are saying they are going to win the flag.

“I’m not going to declare that they will win the flag, but I think they are a contender. I do firmly believe that he will shape the landscape of WA football with his coaching and the focus on him this year.

“I think they will be very, very good.”