Once famed underdogs, Fremantle are taking the 2026 season by storm, and, following an impressive battle against Collingwood, West Coast might be about to turn the tides on a so-far lacklustre start to the year.
While every good team needs star footballers, they also rely on the players who tend to go unnoticed. So which WA players have been flying under the radar this season? Who has been putting in the effort for their team but maybe not reaping the rewards?
Leading Western Australian sports journalist Digby Beacham has ranked his top five underrated Western Australia players on Zero Hanger's The Outer Wing.
Honourable Mention: West Coast's Reuben Ginbey
Beacham hasn't credited the West Coast key defender in his main list for a simple reason, he doesn't feel Ginbey is overrated.
"I'm not overlooking him, I'm just regarding him as a player who should be rated and I think he is rated in the football industry," Beacham said.
1Brennan Cox
The Fremantle key defender has returned to the game following a calf injury that kept him out of the start of the season. While Captain Alex Pearce recovers from MCL injury, Cox has been able to prove his value, showing everyone why he's been signed all the way until 2030.
"Brennan Cox is perhaps the most underrated player here for West Coast and Fremantle," said Beacham.
"His ability to intercept, spoil, tackle, pressure...I know that Justin Longmuir and his coaching staff down there hold him in particularly high regard."
Watch this episode of The Outer Wing on the Zero Hanger Facebook page or listen on the Zero Hanger Podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts.
