Cooper Stephens Faces Suspension After Striking Incident in WAFL Match
Sandover medal contender Cooper Stephens has been offered a one-match ban for a striking incident that occurred during East Perth's victory over Swan Districts on Saturday. The Match Review Panel assessed the incident, which took place in the third term, and initially proposed a two-week suspension, but this was reduced to one week with an early plea.
Stephens' Return to Form After Injury Layoff
After missing the entire 2025 season due to a torn ACL, Stephens has made a strong comeback this year, fitting seamlessly into the East Perth lineup. In the Royals' surprising round one loss to Subiaco, the powerful midfielder impressed with 31 disposals and five marks, followed by 18 touches in the win over Swan Districts.
Teammate Mitchell Schofield praised Stephens for stepping up in the absence of star player Hamish Brayshaw, highlighting his leadership and impact. "It's hard without Hamish, who is a great player, but we've had Cooper Stephens come in, who missed all of last year, but he's been that guy to step up and be our leader," Schofield told The West Australian. "It's like having a new recruit; he came out hot last week, and he's just bloody hard at it."
Background and Draft History
Stephens was originally drafted by Geelong with pick 16 in the 2019 National Draft, playing seven games in 2022 before being traded to Hawthorn, where he did not feature in a senior match. His return to fitness and form has been a key storyline for East Perth, last year's grand finalists.
East Perth now has until 10am on Tuesday, April 14, to decide whether to challenge the suspension. This development adds a layer of complexity to the team's preparations as they navigate the early stages of the WAFL season.
