WAFL 2025: Peel Thunder skipper Ben Hancock’s season over after rupturing ACL in loss to East Fremantle

Ben Hancock’s season is over after the Peel Thunder skipper ruptured his ACL in their 62-point defeat to East Fremantle at the weekend. Scans on Tuesday confirmed the devastating news for the 28-year-old midfielder, who will now be sidelined for up to 12 months and won’t play any further part in the Thunder’s hopes of claiming back-to-back premierships. Hancock is understood to have sustained the injury in the second quarter of the loss to the Sharks down in Mandurah, with his knee twisting as he went to get a handball receive in an innocuous incident. He had testing on the injury, including trying to play on before being ruled out for the rest of the game. The captain’s injury is the latest in a series of heavy blows to the reigning premiers, who are now having their depth tested and are winless from their first three games. Hancock is hoping to be back within nine to 12 months, with the midfielder to have surgery next month. Peel are also awaiting on scans for important midfielder Scott Tuia and forward Corey Tregenza, with both feared to have sustained knee injuries in the same game that will sideline them for several weeks. Defender Tyler Nesbitt is getting a scan on Thursday after sustaining a suspected syndesmosis injury as Peel count the cost from a tough start to the season. The Thunder are already without starting league players Jacob (MCL) and Brody Wemm (shoulder), while young gun Will York is available to take on Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday after missing last weekend with a foot injury. Up-and-coming key defenders Joel Brown (back) and Darcy Petersen (elbow) are set to return from long-term injuries toward the end of the year. The setbacks are compounded by several injuries at Peel’s alignment club Fremantle, which also directly impacts their selection. Important midfielder Will Brodie will miss the clash against Swan Districts with a calf injury, while Luke Jackson (hamstring), Nathan O’Driscoll (ankle), Sam Sturt (knee), Nat Fyfe (hamstring), Brandon Walker (shoulder), Michael Walters (knee) and Jaeger O’Meara (hamstring/foot) are also on the sidelines. Peel have struggled to start the season, losing their past two clashes to South Fremantle and East Fremantle after a draw against Claremont in round one.