West Coast have announced contract extensions for a trio of talent across all three lines, headlined by a star mid-season draftee.
2018 premiership defender Tom Cole and young forward Jacob Newton have penned deals to stay with the club until the end of next season, while midfielder Tom McCarthy has been rewarded with a two-year extension thanks to his sensational 10-game rookie season, with his current deal now expiring in 2028.
McCarthy has been a phenomenal ball-winner for the Eagles since being selected first overall in the 2025 Mid-Season Draft, averaging 23.6 disposals per game, which leads all rookies this year.
Additionally, McCarthy ranks 24th in the AFL for metres gained per game (minimum 10 games played), highlighting his immediate surge into the upper echelon of AFL talent in that explosive area of the game.
“We are really excited with Tom extending his time with us,” Head of List Management and Recruiting Matt Clarke said.
“He hit the ground running on and off the field after coming into the club through the 2025 mid-season rookie draft.
“His ability was on display in multiple roles in our AFL team and he finished with strong performances through the midfield.
“We feel that with a full AFL pre-season leading into 2026 he will be continue his strong output. We see him as a critical piece in the rejuvenation of our list.”
Newton, a 19-year-old key forward, was also taken in the mid-season draft with the ninth selection. He featured in the final two games of the season for West Coast and flashed promise in the final weekend against Sydney, kicking a goal and recording three score involvements.
“We felt that Jacob was unfortunate to miss being drafted in 2024 due to injury, and his form at the start of the season in the SANFL was too promising to ignore,” Clarke said.
“His talent and competitiveness shone through, as did his resilience to force his way into the AFL team late in the season.
“We look forward to a strong pre-season from Jacob and are excited about his development.”
Cole featured in 18 games this season, his 10th year in the league, and averaged a career-high 16.4 disposals per game to go along with 5.0 marks, 1.2 being intercepts.
The defender has played 131 games for the Eagles, including the 2018 Grand Final, where he led the match in intercepts with nine as a 21-year-old.
“Tom has been a terrific servant for the West Coast Eagles over a number of years, and it is a great reward for him to extend into 2026,” Clarke said.
“He is a versatile player who has a big impact on the locker room, bringing a strong sense of belonging for our senior and young players alike.
“We look forward to Tom continuing his selfless contributions both on and off the field.”
