A standalone West Coast Eagles reserves team joined the WAFL as the league's 10th club in 2019.
Previous reserves arrangements[]
Between 1987 and 1998, West Coast-listed players who were not required for senior duties were available to play in the WAFL for their host club. Players from WA typically remained with their club of origin, while recruits from other States were allocated to a club, usually through a 'mini-draft'. For example, South Australian David Hynes was allocated to South Fremantle and Victorian Fraser Gehrig was allocated to Perth.
In 1999 the majority of Eagles-listed players were hosted by Claremont under a loose affiliation arrangement. Some senior players remained at their original club. For example, inaugural Eagle Chris Mainwaring made a number of appearances for East Fremantle throughout the season.
In 2000 and 2001 West Coast had a similar arrangement with East Perth, although a much lower proportion of available players - mostly Eastern States recruits - appeared for the Royals, with West Australian players generally remaining with their original clubs. For example, new draftee Darren Glass continued to play for Perth. East Perth won back-to-back premierships in these years.
From 2002 to 2013, the WAFL reverted to the original arrangements, with Eagles-listed players distributed among the nine local clubs. For example, Nic Naitanui played for his junior club Swan Districts before making his AFL debut, and Shannon Hurn was allocated to Peel Thunder.
In 2014, East Perth became the host club for West Coast reserves players, with all players not required for AFL duties turning out for the Royals. This arrangement remained in place until 2018, when East Perth ended the alignment. West Coast then successfully lobbied to be able to field a standalone side commencing in 2019.
Recruitment rules[]
Rules for the recruitment of non-AFL-listed top-up players were released in late November 2018. West Coast’s top-up list was required to include a minimum of 15 players across nine recruitment categories to a maximum value of 60 points under the league's existing player points system, with player match payments also capped (at an undisclosed amount).
The nine recruitment categories were:
| Category | Notes |
|---|---|
| Former WCE interstate players | Each player to cost 5 points |
| Former AFL interstate players | Each player to cost 10-12 points |
| Father/son and Next Gen Academy | Subject to application |
| Former WAFL League players | Points value depends on time since last WAFL game |
| Interstate State League players | Each senior league player to cost 10 points |
| 41-55 WAFL listed players | Cap of two players per WAFL club Clubs could list top 40 players |
| WCE delisted WA players | Only applies to players of more than six years' service Limited to one player per WAFL club Players cost up to 12 points |
| Loaned WAFL players | Clubs could loan up to 1 player Player costs 1 point while on loan |
| Supplementary listed players | Players cost up to 12 points |
2019 top-up list[]
| # | Player | Ht | Wt | DOB | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | Daniel Acres | 186 | 81 | 27/7/94 | Cervantes/West Perth/Wanneroo JFC |
| 58 | Matthew Ah Siu | 196 | 93 | 20/7/96 | South Fremantle/Bullcreek-Leeming JFC |
| 59 | Joel Ashman | 171 | 74 | 28/6/93 | Scarborough/Subiaco/Kingsley JFC |
| 62 | Jak Cary | 191 | 82 | 6/10/95 | Newdegate/Subiaco/Esperance JFC |
| 54 | Alex Coe | 185 | 92 | 6/12/96 | West Perth/Subiaco/Sorrento-Duncraig JFC |
| 64 | Mitchel Curnow | 182 | 83 | 23/4/97 | Peel/Rockingham JFC |
| 51 | Andrew Fisher | 185 | 82 | 19/4/91 | Kingsley JFC |
| 50 | Zac Fitzgerald | 192 | 89 | 16/2/91 | Wesley-Curtin/Woodville-West Torrens/Central Eyre JFC |
| 55 | Chaz Flint | 185 | 80 | 30/6/93 | University/Claremont/Scarborough JFC |
| 11 | Brady Grey | 180 | 87 | 20/7/95 | Fremantle/Burnie JFC (Tas) |
| 65 | Sam Hobbs | 180 | 72 | 23/2/99 | Perth/Jurien Bay JFC |
| 56 | Kieran Hug | 175 | 72 | 9/5/94 | Donnybrook/Perth/Toodyay JFC |
| 53 | Joel Kalajzic | 183 | 79 | 2/12/93 | East Fremantle/Perth/South Perth JFC |
| 9/19 | Drew Petrie | 197 | 101 | 15/10/82 | West Coast/North Melbourne |
| 51 | Andrew Fisher | 185 | 82 | 19/4/91 | Kingsley JFC |
| 66 | Nicolas Reid | 186 | 86 | 4/9/95 | Claremont/North Beach JFC |
| 61 | Liam Robilliard | 181 | 79 | 23/3/99 | Scarborough/Claremont/West Coast JFC |
| 60 | Luke Salomone | 182 | 85 | 28/4/94 | Trinity-Aquinas/Perth/Marist JFC |