The West Coast Eagles have locked in contract extensions for premiership defender Tom Cole and mid-season recruits Tom McCarthy and Jacob Newton.

Cole, who finished last season strongly, has signed a one-year extension through to the end of 2026.

McCarthy has penned a two-year deal until 2028 following a stunning start to his AFL career, while Newton has extended for a further season until 2026.

Cole will continue his career into a 11^th season in the west, and the 28-year-old’s ability to shut down small forwards while providing dash and rebound from half-back makes him a valuable figure in West Coast’s evolving backline.

“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,” Head of List Management and Recruiting Matt 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.”

McCarthy’s remarkable rise to the AFL has been one of the stories of the year. Taken with pick No.1 in the 2025 Mid-Season Rookie Draft, the explosive half-back/midfielder earned his spot after impressing for Richmond’s VFL side.

At 25, the former local footballer from Highett has made an immediate impact with his speed, ball use and versatility across defence and midfield.

McCarthy set a new club record with 31 disposals on debut, and finished the season averaging an impressive 23.6 disposals from 10 games.  

“We are really excited with Tom extending his time with us,” 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, taken with pick No.9 in the same draft, has also committed for 2026.

The 19-year-old Norwood product offers explosive pace and contested ability, with a knack for hitting the scoreboard.

After an injury-interrupted draft year in 2024, Newton impressed in the SANFL with his forward craft and versatility before making the leap to AFL level and playing two games at the end of last season.

“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.”