As it happened: WA news on Friday, June 5

West Coast coach Andrew McQualter is confident Elijah Hewett will re-sign with the Eagles despite the midfielder being stuck in the WAFL as rival AFL clubs sniff about.

Hewett, the No.14 pick from the 2022 national draft, comes out of contract at the end of this season and is being sounded out by several Melbourne-based clubs.

The 22-year-old had a delayed start to the season due to injury, and then was dropped from the AFL side after just four games due to him struggling to adapt to a half-forward role.

Hewett, a midfielder by trade, tallied just three disposals in a round-six loss to Fremantle then only eight possessions in a round-eight defeat to Richmond before being axed.

A WA private school has topped national rankings to be named the best in the country, according to an independent school comparison platform.

Wesley College was given an overall score of 93.3 per cent to take out the number-one spot ahead of Scotch College in Victoria with 90 per cent and Melbourne Grammar School with 92.9 per cent.

The WA-based private school scored an impressive 97 per cent for its learning programs, 95 per cent for learning environment while also scoring 92 per cent across the three other categories of academic excellence, institutional excellence and student wellbeing.

Scotch College Perth was the next highest-ranking school on the list, with an overall score of 91 per cent putting the institution in 16th place.

Sticking with today’s World Cup theme, the state government has also announced that matches from the tournament will be shown live at the Northbridge Piazza on a big screen.

Similar to the way recent Matildas and Socceroos matches have been broadcast live at Federation Square in Melbourne, the broadcast aims to attract thousands of viewers to Northbridge in a bid to support local businesses and restaurants.

Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said the plan was part of a state government partnership with the City of Perth.

“We know that watching the world game together is a great part of the World Cup, and we have in Western Australia supporters of every team that’s playing,” she said.

A joint investigation by the WA Police arson squad and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has led to charges being laid against a Busselton man over a bushfire in a South West forest.

The investigation began on the afternoon of Friday, May 22, when a department spotter plane patrolling dense bushland noticed smoke from an area south of Cundinup West Road, in the Jarrahwood State Forest.

As the pilot circled the area, they allegedly spotted a vehicle nearby, and police were notified after the pilot relayed the information back via radio.

“Later that day, police intercepted the vehicle on Vasse Highway in Yoongarillup resulting in a 49-year-old man being charged with allegedly setting fire to 12 grass trees,” a WA Police spokesperson said.