The West Coast Eagles are pleased to welcome Natasha Entwistle into the AFLW squad as an injury replacement player for vice-captain Mikayla Western, who has been moved to the inactive list.
Western will miss the 2026 season as she continues her recovery from an ACL injury sustained late in the 2025 season.
A consistent performer for South Fremantle at WAFLW level, Entwistle has impressed with her competitive nature, versatility and ability to impact games across all three lines.
The hard-running utility has continued to develop her game in recent seasons and now earns her opportunity at the elite level.
AFLW List and Recruiting Manager Jordan Loxley said Western had done everything possible to return this season but would unfortunately be unavailable for the year.
“Mikayla gave herself every opportunity to return this season and has worked incredibly hard throughout her rehabilitation.
“Unfortunately, she hasn’t progressed enough to be available this year,” Loxley said.
“Losing a player of Mikayla’s talent, experience and leadership is impossible to replace, but we’re fortunate that she will continue to have a significant impact on our program in her role as vice-captain off the field.”
Loxley said Entwistle had earned her chance after several years of strong WAFLW form and continued improvement.
“While it’s disappointing to lose Mikayla for the season, it does create an opportunity for another player, and we’re extremely pleased to provide that opportunity to Tash,” Loxley said.
“We believe Tash has been incredibly unlucky to miss out on being drafted over the past couple of years, but we’ve admired the way she has responded to feedback, returned to the WAFLW and consistently implemented the areas identified for improvement.”
Entwistle's flexibility and reliability were key factors in the club's decision to recruit her.
“Tash is an ultra-consistent performer with a fierce competitive streak and the versatility to play across all three lines. That flexibility is a really appealing part of her game,” Loxley said.
“Initially, we see her providing valuable depth in our backline, where her ability to match up on both tall and small opponents will be a real asset to our team.”
Western remains an integral part of the club's AFLW program and will continue to support the playing group in her leadership role as she progresses through her recovery.
Entwistle will join the squad immediately as preparations continue for the upcoming AFLW season.
