AFTER THE STORM WHY THE THUNDER FEAR THE CHASING PACK INSIDE HOW YOUR CLUB IS SHAPING UP PLUS WHAT S HAPPENING IN WOMEN S AND JUNIOR RANKS

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1 SEASON PREVIEW Wednesday, March 15, 2017 AFTER THE STORM WHY THE THUNDER FEAR THE CHASING PACK INSIDE HOW YOUR CLUB IS SHAPING UP PLUS WHAT S HAPPENING IN WOMEN S AND JUNIOR RANKS Hungry for success: coach Jarrad Schofield and talented trio Lachlan Delahunty, left, captain Kyal Horsley and Leigh Kitchin. Picture: Ian Munro Ready for action are captains Clint Jones (), left, Jay van Berlo (West ), Patrick McGinnity (East ), Ryan Cook (), Gerald Ugle ( Thunder), Kyal Horsley (), Jamie McNamara (), Jake Murphy () and Tallan Ames (). Picture: Michael Bain

2 2 WAFL 2017 Wednesday, March 15, SEASON PREVIEW For all of your WAFL news see thewest.com.au Rivals line up to steal John Townsend It was a perfect storm. John Ditchburn provided an apt description of s grand final triumph last season and while the Thunder chief executive can rightfully bask in the premiership glory that he helped deliver, he has little expectation that the feat will be repeated this year. Armed with a host of hardened and ambitious AFL players who were on the outer at Fremantle Matt de Boer, Tendai Mzungu, Alex Silvagni and Clancee Pearce were in the vanguard for much of the season the Thunder ended two decades of despair with a stunning performance throughout last September. Driven by the contribution of 17 Dockers, s four consecutive finals wins a WAFL record in the league s 132nd season caused considerable angst among rival clubs and their supporters. But Ditchburn is adamant those fears are unwarranted despite virtually no changes to the WAFL qualification rules this year. It is highly unlikely that sort of thing will happen again, Ditchburn said. You are just not going to have senior players like de Boer and Mzungu and Silvagni playing that much WAFL footy. Like most WAFL coaches and officials, Ditchburn does not expect any one club to dominate the competition this season. If anything, the gap between first and last will diminish even further and more clubs will have the opportunity to replicate s dash for glory late in the season. No fewer than 21 former AFL players have joined the league in a stark message to the rest of the country that the WAFL is a prized destination for footballers who have spent time on the national stage. The incoming stars include mercurial St Kilda big man Tom Lee, who will look to add to his two flags, Hawthorn defender Angus Litherland, who will try his luck at perennial powerhouses, and Jonathon Marsh, who has returned to after a stint at Collingwood. And Leroy Jetta () and Cory Dell Olio (South Fremantle) will be welcomed back after completing suspensions from their time at Essendon, but former East captain Brendan Lee, also caught up in the supplements scandal, has decided against a return to the WAFL. have landed the biggest coups as they attempt to regain lost ground after a tough season in which Tom Lee, right, will strengthen s push for a finals berth in Picture: Michael Dodge/AFL Media they won just two matches, but gave valuable game time to a host of promising homegrown juniors. That group has been topped up with several returning alumni in Corey Gault and David Ellard and senior AFL figures Ryan Crowley and Xavier Ellis, who see the black and whites providing opportunities for their coaching and playing aspirations. Watch out for Swans to make a dramatic charge up the ladder in the early part of the season. should also improve on their seventh-placed finish after landing the recruit of the season in new coach Darren Harris. A premiership captain and coach at West before spending seven years in the AFL as a senior assistant at West Coast and Carlton, Harris clear requirements and simple game plan should resonate with his ambitious Tigers. Rob Wiley () and Earl Spalding () have now had sufficient time at the helm of their clubs to ascertain the best way to challenge for finals, while s influential mentor Jarrad Schofield has been plotting his revenge for TIPSTERS DENNIS COMETTI JOHN TOWNSEND DALE MILLER RUSSELL REID NICK RYNNE BRIDGET LACY JORDAN McARDLE MARK READINGS PAUL HASLEBY 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th Wooden spoon Premiers Sandover Medal Bernie Naylor Medal Big year East West Shane Nelson (WP) Ben Saunders (SF) Liam Ryan (S)/ Tom Lee (C) East West Jye Bolton (C) Ben Saunders (SF) Michael Broadbridge (WA) West East Ashton Hams (SF) Liam Ryan (S) Leroy Jetta (PT) West East Ashton Hams (SF) Ben Saunders (SF) Darren Harris (C) West East Shane Nelson (WP) Liam Ryan (S) Jonathon Marsh (EF) East West Clint Jones (P) Liam Ryan (S) Corey Adamson (S) West East Corey Adamson (S) Ben Saunders (SF) Matt Guelfi (C) West East Jye Bolton (C) Ben Saunders (SF) Dennis Cometti (Channel 7) West East Liam Anthony (EF) Mason Shaw (SF) Scott Simpson (WP) WAFL 2017 SEASON PREVIEW Editorial: Newspaper House, 50 Hasler Road, Osborne Park, WA, 6017 Telephone: (08) Editorial fax: (08)

3 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 WAFL SEASON PREVIEW For all of your WAFL news see thewest.com.au the Thunder s crown Darren Harris Picture: Daniel Wilkins Thunder players celebrate the club s breakthrough premiership. Going back-to-back this season will be a tough proposition. Picture: Ben Crabtree Xavier Ellis Picture: AFL Media months after thwarted his club s bid for a hat-trick of flags last year. After playing finals for the first time in five years last season, will be one of the main contenders for this year s flag given they boast the WAFL s best goal-to-goal line in Josh Pullman, Blayne Wilson, Shane Hockey, Mason Shaw and spearhead Ben Saunders. But the Bulldogs may be affected more than any other club by the rule change designed to stop players ducking their head in a tackle. Duckers will no longer receive a free kick if they contribute to the high contact, while umpires will also apply a stricter interpretation of deliberate behinds and also penalise any player who is the third man up in a ruck contest. One of the biggest issues in the first half of the season will be WA s bid to beat Victoria in Melbourne in May. No WA team has achieved that feat, but after four consecutive interstate victories, and the appointment of former mentor Michael Broadbridge as an independent coach tasked with the responsibility of being the drought-breaker, the Black Swans are ready for the challenge.

4 4 WAFL 2017 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 PEEL THUNDER FC LAST YEAR 1ST WINS 15 LOSSES 9 Coach Cam Shepherd Captain Gerald Ugle Flags 1 Last one 2016 Major sponsors Mandurah Holden, Bendigo Bank, City of Mandurah, Anytime Adventures, David Grays, FPA Ground Bendigo Bank Stadium Inquiries Tricky formula tests Shepherd John Townsend Another season, another chance to delve into the chemistry set. Cam Shepherd probably feels more like a science teacher than a premiership coach as he tries to keep at the top of the ladder. Getting his two vastly different groups of players to gel provides the most challenging experiment in Shepherd s laboratory and while he is confident of the rapport between a new cohort of Fremantle Dockers and the homegrown Thunder players, he knows that it will take a special kind of chemistry to repeat last year s success. But Shepherd is not even contemplating a premiership defence as he enters his fifth season at the Thunder on the back of last year s historic achievement. I am not looking any further than the top five, Shepherd said. The formula for us is pretty simple. We need to get continued development from the 27 or so players of our own that came through last year. Then the Fremantle list has to remain relatively healthy. Then we need the two groups to gel. If you get all those things right then you can be really competitive, but even then there is no guarantee of success. It was probably the greatest coaching achievement of last season that Shepherd extracted such commitment from his two distinct groups to achieve the shared ambition of a flag. The first premiership by an expansion club since Swan Districts in 1961, s success required an unprecedented four consecutive finals victories which Shepherd used as evidence of the joint buy-in. You can t beat good sides like if you are splintered, he said. We were not splintered. We had strong leadership. Whether that leadership can be replicated this season is the biggest question. Matt de Boer, Tendai Mzungu, Alex Silvagni and Michael Barlow have departed for greener AFL pastures, Clancee Pearce and Anthony Morabito have shifted to other WAFL clubs, creative defender Josh Bootsma has moved to Katanning and Shane Yarran is no longer in football. They provided the core of s premiership assault, but will have to be replaced by aspiring teenagers not used to the demands of senior football. Much is also expected of Leroy Jetta, the former Essendon player who missed last season through suspension but used the year to have ankle surgery and build up his upper body strength in a bid to play as a power forward. Brayden Lawler, left, and Gerald Ugle are all smiles after Thunder s maiden premiership last September. Picture: Daniel Wilkins NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED UGLE, Gerald O BRIEN, Rory WALSH, Brad JETTA, Leroy MORRIS, Corey LAWLER, Brayden THORNE, Calvin BENNELL, Traye MATHERS, Josh HANCOCK, Ben BRAY, Alex CHARTRES, Danny MERRITT, Nicholas McGOWAN, Bradley BELL, Blair McMAHON, Josh WIGHT, Dixon HURA, Noah EDDY, Callum DOWDING, Jake MILWARD, Brett MATTHEWS, Haydn HUMBLE, Michael CURNOW, Mitchell PIGGOTT, Matt /GWS Pinjarra /Carlton Essendon/ Waroona Carey Park Maddington Warnbro Warnbro Pinjarra Warnbro South Mandurah North Mandurah Pinjarra Mandurah Pinjarra South Mandurah Halls Head 31/01/93 28/06/86 03/09/96 06/07/88 30/05/94 24/07/94 16/02/98 08/02/95 27/04/93 23/04/96 13/10/97 17/01/86 08/10/97 25/07/95 10/09/93 06/06/97 15/01/97 31/01/98 13/02/92 14/04/96 30/11/97 07/05/97 05/02/98 23/04/97 30/08/95 GAMES* NAME NO D.O.B McLAUGHLIN, Garrick 37 WRIGLEY, Chris 41 QUARTERMAINE, Hayden 42 HUMPHREYS, Lucas 46 NAUGHTON, Travis 47 TASSONE, Michael 48 PERRY, Jacob 49 BUMANN, Kane 50 DEAN, Matthew 51 KIRBY, James 52 LEWIS, Mitch 53 BURKETT, Jackson 54 JANZEKOVIC, Jake 55 BECKMAN, Zac 56 ZILKO, William 57 BENNELL, Mervyn 58 LOFFLEY, Denim 59 TIEDE, Brock 60 COLBUNG, Mick COLLARD, Karl EADES, Ashley MADIH, Henrico UGLE, Corey WILKINSON, Dale YEATES, Matthew 06/04/91 22/06/95 18/01/94 16/03/95 27/06/97 19/06/98 15/04/98 11/08/95 02/05/98 17/11/96 04/08/97 03/05/98 12/07/97 05/11/98 23/05/98 30/11/95 08/03/96 27/07/95 03/05/93 03/10/96 28/12/96 14/06/98 26/04/97 15/06/96 11/02/98 RECRUITED High Wycombe North Fremantle Gosnells Bunbury South Mandurah Bunbury Halls Head South Bunbury Warnbro Halls Head South Mandurah Ellenbrook Brentwood Booragoon Bassendean Eaton Boomers Bunbury Mandurah Warnbro South Bunbury GAMES 5 NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES Cam Shepherd s job is a fine balancing act. Picture: Bill Hatto

5 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 WAFL SUBIACO FC Coach Jarrad Schofield Captain Kyal Horsley Flags 12 Last one 2015 Major sponsors QBE, Phoenix Motors, KC Sports Ground Leederville Oval Inquiries LAST YEAR 2ND WINS 17 LOSSES 5 Lions keep on regenerating Russell Reid It s been a mantra of soldier in, soldier out at in recent seasons and that policy is set to continue in 2017 under dual premiership coach Jarrad Schofield. Last year the Lions lost premiership players Darren Rumble (five flags), Sam Menegola, Matt Boland, Shane Yarran and Scott Worthington, replacing them with Greg Broughton, Hamish Shepheard, Adam Cockie and Liam Ryan. The Lions, winners of the 2014 and 2015 grand finals, were denied a hat-trick of flags in the season decider after being overpowered by a outfit stacked with 17 Fremantle squad members as well as ex-afl pair Josh Bootsma and Gerald Ugle. Shepheard is now lining up with Gold Coast club Southport, while Broughton, Brett Mahoney, Brett Robinson and Simon Moore are pursuing other goals. s recruiters have been busy, bringing former West Coast squad members Corey Adamson and Rohan Powell to the Lions as well as one-time rebounding Hawthorn back man Angus Litherland. Bailey Matera (South Fremantle) and Reid Polak () have also entered the Lions den. Schofield said an injection of youth and speed could only help in We have got some new faces that have come into the side, but we feel like we have brought some youth into the squad, he said. Guys with leg speed we believe in Reid Polak and Bailey Matera. Corey Adamson and Rohan Powell are good runners also with good leg speed, so we feel like we have brought in that added dimension to our game. Litherland is obviously a quick player as well and he is the most experienced out of all of them. Tall defender Litherland was unlucky to be restricted to six AFL games last year. The 24-year-old is expected to slot seamlessly into a miserly Lions back line, featuring Jordan Lockyer, Declan Jackson, Aaron Heal, Wayde Twomey, Joel Latham and Chris Bryant. Confident can reach the finals again after their latest changing of the guard, Schofield stopped short of forecasting a fourth consecutive grand final appearance. We are into the fourth year of a very strong and competitive block of successful football, he said. We understand that it s very hard to stay at the top all the time. I truly believe that if the players step up and take their opportunities and the senior guys stay fit, hopefully we can be there come finals time. Wingman Scott Hancock is set to return early in the season after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in round one last year. The popular 24-year-old will help bolster one of the best midfields in the league. Clever forward Kyle Halligan, who was restricted to three games by a knee injury last year, is fit again. Halligan s goal-kicking exploits will complement Ryan, who was unlucky not to be drafted by an AFL club after his debut season. The 20-year-old, recruited from Geraldton club Rovers, kicked 40 goals and took a string of spectacular marks. Jordan Lockyer is ready to be part of another stingy back line this season. Picture: Danella Bevis NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES HORSLEY, Kyal 1 2/09/87 Kalgoorlie City/Gold Coast 143 JOYCE, Justin 2 30/12/92 Carine JFC 27 KENNEDY, Hayden 3 27/04/95 Mines Rovers 30 WATERS, Rhys 4 14/10/93 Sorrento Duncraig JFC 67 KITCHIN, Leigh 5 8/09/90 Frankston 43 BRYAN, Chris 6 6/10/95 North Beach JFC 19 COCKIE, Adam 7 18/04/89 Sorrento Duncraig JFC 83 LITHERLAND, Angus 8 12/10/92 /Hawthorn TWOMEY, Wayde 9 21/01/86 53 HALLIGAN, Kyle 10 11/05/94 Warwick Greenwood JFC 32 BOGENSPERGER, Matthew 11 29/01/93 Kalgoorlie City 6 CLARK, Greg 12 12/05/97 Sorrento Duncraig JFC 15 DANIELS, Raymond 13 5/05/92 21 WALTERS, Max 14 9/08/96 Whitfords JFC 2 PHELAN, Chris 15 25/07/88 Kingsley JFC 140 HANCOCK, Scott 16 11/05/92 23 DELAHUNTY, Lachlan 17 26/10/90 Frankston 42 ADAMSON, Corey 18 23/02/92 East /WCE STEVENSON, Brad 19 27/06/88 West Coast Cowan 65 WHEELER, Clancy 20 28/03/88 Newtown Condingup/Esperance 117 LOCKYER, Jordan 21 15/06/93 West 38 GARCIA, James 22 29/12/93 Sorrento/Duncraig JFC 15 JACKSON, Declan 23 27/08/94 Collie 31 HOSKINS, Craig 24 17/10/92 Sorrento Duncraig JFC 31 BESTRY, Jordan 25 5/03/95 Kingsway JFC 6 VERMEERSCH, Ryan 26 12/09/95 Gibson MADUT, David 27 1/10/93 Kingsway AFC 18 SOKOL, Ben 28 28/10/95 12 PARRY, Simon 29 29/05/90 /Donnybrook POWELL, Rowen 30 19/09/95 /WCE WADE, Ryan 31 5/07/91 Kingsley JFC 13 FIMMANO, Braden 32 28/10/95 8 MATERA, Bailey 33 22/08/96 WOODLEY, Jeremy 34 15/05/96 Kingsley JFC 1 SCAFIDI, Joe 35 7/03/95 Mines Rovers 3 HEAL, Aaron 36 12/07/92 Baldivis JFC 46 PERKINS, Daniel 37 21/11/93 East HOOPER, Tom 38 16/09/96 Sorrento Duncraig JFC LATHAM, Joel 39 3/04/92 West 60 NELSON, Dylan 40 24/08/96 CLARKE, Dylan 41 21/03/94 Kalgoorlie City 12 CREEPER, Adam 42 19/10/96 Sorrento Duncraig JFC BORCHET, Ryan 43 15/05/97 Railways BARNS, Chad 44 21/01/97 North Beach JFC DOYLE, Andrew 45 15/04/97 North Beach JFC NELSON, Shannon 46 7/04/96 Esperance BEVERLEY, Jack 47 8/07/98 Sorrento Duncraig JFC LAWRENCE, McKenzie 48 26/03/98 Kingsley JFC BRAUT, Michael 49 27/06/97 Mt Hawthorn JFC GUINNESS, Damon 50 20/11/93 Corrigin RYAN, Liam 51 2/10/96 Rovers JFC 16 UNDERWOOD, Josh 52 6/09/96 Kingsway JFC MENEGOLA, Nick 53 2/01/94 LEACH, Daniel 54 24/03/94 Brigades CHAPMAN, Josh 55 5/10/97 Carine JFC MILLER, Jacob 56 28/01/98 Railways THURKLE, Alex 57 25/06/95 Brigades CARY, Jack 58 6/10/95 Esperance COOPER, Sheldon 59 23/07/97 Kalgoorlie WILLIAMSON, Ashton 60 24/07/97 Sorrento Duncraig JFC ECCLES, James 61 18/03/97 Warwick Greenwood JFC BRAMLEY, Callum 62 12/11/97 Mines Rovers WATERS, Brad 63 13/04/96 Sorrento Duncraig JFC REID, Ben 64 16/10/97 Kingsway JFC FOLEY, Fraser 65 3/11/97 Sorrento Duncraig JFC AINSWORTH, Brayden 66 21/11/98 Ports AMOROSO, Tony 67 7/09/95 BREEZE, Thomas 68 8/08/97 Boulder BREMAN, Aaron 69 7/09/98 Sorrento Duncraig JFC CATALFAMO, Liam 70 9/04/98 North Beach JFC DOWRICK, Brandon 71 30/10/97 Mines Rovers FOLEY, Sean 72 15/04/98 Sorrento Duncraig JFC HALLIGAN, Luke 73 30/01/98 Warwick Greenwood JFC PANIZZA, Matthew 74 27/06/94 Southern Cross JFC POLAK, Reid 76 21/01/97 RYAN, Daniel 77 13/08/97 Sorrento Duncraig JFC

6 6 WAFL 2017 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 SOUTH FREMANTLE FC Coach Todd Curley Captain Ryan Cook Flags 13 Last one 2009 Major sponsors Fremantle Community Bank, Metwest Steel, WA Hino, Primero Ground Fremantle Community Bank Oval Inquiries Bulldogs up to speed LAST YEAR 3RD WINS 16 LOSSES 7 Bridget Lacy have added more speed and talent to a side that was top two for most of last season. But coach Todd Curley insists it s back to the drawing board in The Bulldogs were clearly one of the best sides in the home-and-away season on their return to the finals for the first time since But they were spectators on grand final day after eventual premiers Thunder and runners-up proved too good for them in the post-season. We took some really good strides last year, Curley said. Now we are back to the drawing board exactly the same as everyone else. Hopefully if we do the work and get the opportunity we should be a more experienced group and know what to expect. We ve made some subtle adjustments to how we want to play. Curley said the finals losses had stayed with the players over summer. They came back in pretty good shape, he said. Brothers Tyson, left, and Marlion Pickett helped into the finals last year. Picture: Bill Hatto Especially with the leaders, they realise that it s no given that you get back and get another chance and you ve got to work hard again. Souths haven t lost much from last year s well-balanced group, but they get back goalsneak Cory Dell Olio from a 12-month -doping ban, with Jarrod Garlett (Gold Coast) and Jermaine Miller-Lewis (Hawthorn) returning from the AFL. Dell Olio will be at the feet of twin targets Ben Saunders and Mason Shaw, while Curley expects Garlett and Miller-Lewis to play a variety of roles. Curley hopes they can have a similar impact to Shaw, Dylan Main and Blaine Johnson, who all had solid seasons last year after returning from AFL clubs. It s really important they understand we don t expect them to come back in and dominate games, Curley said. A lot of guys coming back put that internal pressure that they ve got to be the best players. We re confident the boys will have an impact, but they are under no more pressure than anyone else. The pair are certain to add speed to an already quick team, but Curley said rapid ball movement would remain most important. Quick decision making and moving the ball quick has always been our key when we ve got the footy. I don t think that ll change too much, he said. Curley wants a fast start again after going 5-0 to open the season last year. I think it will be a really even comp, he said. At this level, a couple of good players coming into your group, or if you have the unfortunate situation where you lose a couple of your really good players it can really affect the fortunes of your team. We know every game is going to be super competitive. If you can jump out of the box and get early wins and stay in front of the game it certainly helps. We want to qualify to play finals. Until we do that, it will remain our No.1 aim. NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES SCHLOITHE, Haiden 1 16/06/93 Katanning 86 DRAGOVICH, Jacob 2 12/03/96 Winnacott Kats JFC 31 DELL OLIO, Cory 3 08/12/89 South Coogee JFC 74 GUNDRY, Matt 4 16/06/95 Winnacott Kats JFC 26 PARRY, Jarrod 5 25/05/91 Bibra Lake JFC 34 BEWICK, Shaun 6 10/10/89 West 66 McINTOSH, Adam 7 12/01/90 Bibra Lake JFC 78 KELLY, Tim 8 26/07/94 Palmyra JFC 70 HOCKEY, Shane 9 21/07/98 Frankston 22 BRANCHI, Josh 10 15/04/94 /Eaton Boomers 15 VERRIER, Steve 11 24/06/93 Kwinana JFC 56 GARLETT, Jarrod 12 03/05/96 Bibra Lake JFC/Gold Coast 2 STROM, Zac 14 12/02/94 Exmouth 56 VERRIER, Brendan 15 09/08/94 Kwinana JFC 55 DONALDSON, Brandon 16 26/08/97 Kwinana JFC 5 EDWARDS, Steven 17 06/07/95 17 HIGGINS, Brock 18 11/11/89 East 53 PICKETT, Tyson 19 20/12/97 York 10 JOHNSON, Blaine 20 28/07/95 Kwinana JFC 22 MAIN, Dylan 21 02/09/95 South Coogee JFC 15 SHAW, Mason 22 15/01/94 Winnacott Kats JFC 23 PULLMAN, Josh 23 10/06/89 Redlands, QLD 50 SAUNDERS, Ben 24 25/12/91 77 PICKETT, Marlion 25 06/01/92 Manjimup 55 VANDELEUR, Tom 26 20/03/95 Carnarvon 6 MILLER-LEWIS, Jermaine 27 23/02/96 Armadale JFC/Hawthorn STROM, Noah 28 02/05/96 Exmouth SOLOMON, Jake 29 09/03/95 Bullcreek-Leeming JFC WILSON, Blayne 30 26/01/92 /Halls Head 38 FLORENCA, Jake 31 15/05/97 South Coogee JFC 2 COOK, Ryan 32 16/02/88 Collingwood 115 MASKOS, Jason 33 03/03/93 South Coogee JFC 43 DEPANE, James 34 07/08/88 Bibra Lake JFC COLLARD, Josh 35 21/07/97 Jandakot Jets JFC BURKE, Daniel 36 19/09/98 Jandakot Jets JFC HAMS, Ashton 37 06/09/86 Katanning 171 RUSSELL, Kyle 38 12/01/98 Secret Harbour JFC AH SIU, Chris 39 05/07/98 Winnacott JFC LUFF, Chris 40 07/01/91 /Halls Head 15 WILSON, Cruze 41 26/08/97 /North Mandurah JFC CORNER, Bodhi 42 18/08/97 South Coogee JFC PEARSON, Chad 43 14/02/98 Bullcreek-Leeming JFC BROWN, Abel 44 12/05/98 Melville JFC ROY-McGREGOR, Daniel 45 22/02/95 Canning Vale AFC ABBOTT, Travis 46 19/03/98 Kojonup BOUGHTON, Steve 47 26/03/91 Narembeen MARMO, Tristan 48 12/01/88 North Fremantle AFC ROBINSON, Alex 50 24/06/98 South Coogee JFC FIAMENGO, David 51 24/01/95 North Fremantle AFC NODARI, Anthony 52 11/08/96 Jandakot Jets JFC COUTINHO, Andre 53 06/04/98 Kwinana JFC POBJOY, Riley 54 21/06/97 Willetton AFC DATSON, Caleb 55 04/03/98 Jandakot Jets JFC ARMSTRONG, Cameron 56 08/03/93 /Mandurah GRUBELEICH, Matthew 57 12/03/97 South Coogee JFC CABASSI, Daniel 58 02/12/97 Forrestdale JFC THOMPSON, Seaton 59 22/01/98 Forrestdale JFC DZELEBDZIC, Mitchell 60 12/06/98 Forrestdale JFC GOODALL, Dylan 61 28/04/98 Kwinana JFC OAKLEY, Jalen 62 06/05/96 Kwinana JFC DE SAN MIGUEL, Zac 63 05/05/98 Forrestdale JFC SPITHOVEN, Lucas 64 03/06/96 CBC Fremantle AFC MUSIKA, Jesse 65 29/04/97 Power JFC CLEAVER, Aaron 66 06/03/92 Trinity Aquinas NICKELS, Tom 68 05/01/98 INGRAM, Harry 69 04/03/98 Willetton AFC WEBSDALE, Max 70 22/09/97 Carey Park FC

7 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 WAFL WEST PERTH FC Coach Bill Monaghan Captain Jay van Berlo Flags 19 Last one 2013 Major sponsors Channel 9, City of Joondalup, Metalwork WA Ground HBF Arena, Joondalup Inquiries LAST YEAR 4TH WINS 13 LOSSES 9 Falcons hope to fly like Hawks Up-and-coming back man Tyler Keitel is among the West players who could play at both ends of the ground this year. Picture: Sharon Smith Dale Miller West intend to be more unpredictable this season in a bid to gain ground on their premiership rivals. Stung at being dumped from the finals last year following successive losses to and eventual premiers Thunder, Falcons coach Bill Monaghan has looked at AFL trends in a bid to take his line-up to the next level. In a move out of Hawthorn s premiership copybook, West have tried players in multiple positions over the pre-season to increase their versatility. Tall quartet Tyler Keitel, Nic Rodda, Mark Hamilton and recruit Scott Simpson are likely to be used at both ends of the ground this season. Ruckman Chris Keunen has spent time training on a wing in a left-field move. Monaghan also wants to introduce more players into his midfield mix to complement Aaron Black and Shane Nelson. If you look across the country at a variety of levels, flexibility and keeping sides guessing, and being able to adapt is a really strong quality, Monaghan said. Hopefully with our talls we ve got that. We re also trying to use a Luke Meadows, Andrew Strijk or Kody Manning more through the middle. We are trying to have a lot more options rather than to keep going to the same guys. The flip side is we don t get the time the AFL clubs do to train them up. We ve got to rely on a fair bit of natural ability and understanding for that to happen. All coaches will tell you that you re always learning and finding new ways to be competitive. We just got caught a little bit short last year against the real top end. West have lost some premiership experience, with Rohan Kerr, Laine Rasmussen, Luke Tedesco and Matt Fowler departing. Former Fremantle forward Max Duffy has been released from his contract to pursue an NFL career, while Drew Rohde is another loss. But Monaghan has faith in his reinforcements, having added former Adelaide utility player Jarrhan Jacky, East product Riley Hutchinson, Kalgoorlie midfielder Cale Delbridge and Mitch van Berlo. A 197cm key-position player who spent two seasons on Geelong s list, Simpson is the trump card. He is probably something that we haven t always had a lot of in our recruiting a bigger bodied, mature-age type performer who at his best is in the top end of talent, Monaghan said. After a first-up bye, the Falcons first four matches are against last year s fellow finalists, giving them an idea of where they sit. NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES BLACK, Aaron 1 25/12/92 Kingsley 134 ANTONIO, Brayden 2 09/08/94 Quinns 24 STRIJK, Andrew 3 18/10/87 Carine 192 MEADOWS, Luke 4 16/11/94 Kingsley 49 ALEXANDER, Max 5 07/11/91 Stirling 16 CHALMERS, Corey 6 24/11/94 Quinns 23 BROWNE, Steven 7 01/02/89 Whitfords 140 LOUREY, Michael 8 06/10/89 Frankston 46 MANZONE, Trent 9 27/09/91 Aspley 61 GUADAGNIN, Matt 10 17/10/83 Southern Cross 191 ANTONIO, Mitchell 11 18/03/97 Quinns VAN BERLO, Mitch 12 01/10/93 Whitfords 16 MUNNS, Dean 13 28/09/95 Beacon 15 NELSON, Shane 14 11/05/93 Edgewater Woodvale 97 ROTHAM, Sam 15 09/04/96 Whitfords 7 SIMPSON, Scott 16 19/10/89 Sommerville WILHELM, Blake 17 11/09/92 Wanneroo 28 VAN BERLO, Jay 18 18/09/88 Whitfords 145 KEUNEN, Chris 19 07/10/83 St Bridgets 183 RODDA, Nic 20 06/07/94 Whitfords 76 SHANNON, Kris 22 09/08/92 Quinns 46 LYNCH, Conal 23 10/09/97 Edgewater Woodvale NELSON, Scott 24 15/12/97 Edgewater Woodvale PEIRCE, Mitch 25 04/10/96 Whitfords 2 MORROW, Joseph 26 27/11/89 Wanneroo 52 POTENTE, Steven 27 10/10/90 High Wycombe/ 63 JACKY, Jarrhan 28 05/04/89 Glenelg BATTERHAM, James 29 05/04/93 Carine 7 MOZHAEV, Seva 30 01/01/91 27 WALTON, Broderick 31 24/04/94 Kingsley BAKER, Liam 32 27/01/98 Lake Grace KNOTT, Keegan 33 20/07/92 8 MOULTON, Tyson 34 23/01/96 Wanneroo 1 MILLS, Jordan 35 13/12/90 Kingsley HAMILTON, Mark 36 23/10/91 Palmerston 19 KEITEL, Tyler 37 07/02/96 East 35 GERAGHTY, Martin 38 15/02/94 Whitfords McGILLIVRAY, Ben 39 28/04/92 Moora LYNCH, Aidan 40 27/09/94 Edgewater Woodvale 43 ALEXANDRE, Nathan 41 01/06/97 Quinns HUTCHINSON, Riley 42 21/01/94 Carey Park MITCHELL, William 43 16/02/96 Quinns O BRIEN, Tom 44 09/03/97 Kulin Kondinin KING, Ben 45 23/10/92 Gingin 15 TURNER, Jacob 46 05/01/97 Quinns MANNING, Kody 47 28/09/91 Ocean Ridge 83 COLEMAN, Kael 48 24/01/97 North Beach DELBRIDGE, Cale 49 05/10/92 Karrinyup COE, Alex 50 06/12/96 BONNEY, Shane 51 31/03/91 Brigades ASHFIELD, Michael 52 23/05/96 Kingsley SAUNDERS, Zachary 53 16/01/96 Joondalup Kinross CAMPBELL, Dylan 54 09/01/97 North Beach ALLEN, Angus 55 05/08/97 Whitfords LARMETT, Ewan 57 04/11/97 Ocean Ridge MARINOVICH, Nicholas 59 17/06/98 Whitfords ONN, Hunter 60 25/04/98 Beacon GUADAGNIN, Zachary 62 17/05/98 Southern Cross BENNETT, Joel 63 07/03/98 Quinns WOODS, Gregson 64 10/07/84 Ellenbrook COLBUNG, Dennis 65 25/07/88 Nollamara HORGAN, Joel 66 01/09/97 Whitfords ROMANELLI, Josh 67 18/06/98 Quinns GARLETT, Allan 68 19/05/89 Nollamara MORGAN, Beau 69 14/03/95 Augusta-Margaret River

8 8 WAFL 2017 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 EAST PERTH FC Coach Luke Webster Captains Kyle Anderson-Patrick McGinnity Flags 17 Last one 2002 Major sponsors Tint-a-Car, Allianz, AHG, Covs Ground Leederville Oval Inquiries Royal blood is in coach s veins LAST YEAR 5TH WINS 10 LOSSES 11 John Townsend Luke Webster has family, experience and tradition on his side. Now he must use those assets to create the next chapter of his club s history. The first East premiership player to be appointed club coach since 1959 winner Ray Giblett took the reins in 1974, Webster needs to help West Coast s young players learn the game while steering the Royals towards finals success. East have played finals for the past five seasons without winning a flag. As Webster revealed during a stirring address at the club s annual general meeting, that experience has provided strong internal motivation to do much better. We have to improve on last year, Webster said. We have been around the mark in recent years and had opportunities to win grand finals, but we can use the experience of losing them to push forward. But East must find replacements for stalwarts Paul Johnson, Craig Wulff and Garry Moss to improve on their fifth place last season. Some will come from the reserves players who reached the grand final last year, with Webster identifying lanky ruckman Scott Jones as one to watch. And former West Coast hard nut Patrick McGinnity, whose passion for East matches that of his coach, will be a key playmaker and standard setter. The three retiring players will be hard to replace, but we have gone a long way in getting Pat to stay at the club, Webster said. He had the opportunity to go back to, or go elsewhere, but he is passionate about playing at East and it is great to have a guy like him involved. We expect plenty from players like Mitch Fraser, who won our best and fairest last year, Tom Hodgson who won the reserves B and F, Callum Hart and Stan Wright. Webster also predicted big things for Tom Gorter, who was rookie-listed by West Coast after a breakout WAFL season. He is a quality kid who shows great leadership on the field, helps set up structures and uses the ball really well, Webster said. Three generations of Websters have played for the club and Luke Webster s mother runs the front office. Webster s grandfather Ray won a flag in 1956, his father Ron was a brilliant administrator after a robust playing career and his brother Ryan was in the squad that won a premiership hat-trick from 2000 to Webster was coaching Carlton s VFL affiliates Northern Blues when he got a development job at West Coast last year, but jumped at the chance to lead the Royals. Luke Webster addresses his East players during their pre-season clash with. Picture: John Townsend NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES YOUNG, Will 1 28/07/96 Augusta-Margaret River PAYNE, Stephen 2 7/10/90 Augusta-Margaret River 104 FRASER, Mitch 3 17/05/94 Busselton 78 HILLE, Shayne 4 11/05/96 Morley 22 McGINNITY, Patrick 5 18/02/89 WCE/ 29 ANDERSON, Kyle 6 1/01/90 Augusta-Margaret River 87 WRIGHT, Stan 7 18/03/98 Augusta-Margaret River MAGINNESS, Will 8 13/01/95 Oakleigh Chargers/WCE 18 AMEDURI, Julian 9 12/03/94 Noranda 17 BLEE, Nathan 10 7/09/90 Ballajura/Pt Adelaide 85 MILLER, Benjamin 11 6/12/97 Dunsborough HART, Callum 12 3/02/94 Noranda 41 MacSHANE, Jobe 13 7/12/94 Busselton WILSON, Lewis 15 19/10/93 Ballajura 3 OAKLEY-NICHOLLS, Jarrad 16 9/02/88 East /WCE/Richmond 122 SAMELKO, Asher 18 3/05/94 Augusta-Margaret River HODGSON, Thomas 24 17/05/95 Ballajura 1 RILEY, Blake 26 13/03/95 Busselton EATON, Nathan 27 26/05/97 Mt Lawley JONES, Scott 28 20/05/95 Busselton HICK, Jack 30 12/01/96 Augusta-Margaret River ALLSOP, Ciaran 31 6/01/97 Coolbinia BLACKLEY, Matthew 32 1/02/95 Towns (Broome) LAGUE, Mitchell 33 23/07/93 Busselton 12 BEST, Jarrod 35 12/09/94 Cervantes DOBSON, Mitchell 36 16/03/98 Ballajura BURGESS, Dylan 37 14/06/94 Toodyay JONES, Jake 40 15/02/96 Wembley MURPHY, Stephen 42 13/06/97 Coolbinia CAPORN, Kristian 43 17/04/95 Ballajura DIPLACIDO, Alex 44 8/11/94 Noranda LONGBOTTOM, Mark 45 28/05/94 Kukerin-Dumbleyung WAITE, Nelson 46 7/10/97 Mt Lawley BLANCH, Harry 47 19/11/97 Noranda AMOS, Thomas 48 7/06/97 Mazenod NORTH, Taylor 49 31/07/97 Boyup Brook RYAN, Oliver 50 7/12/94 Busselton BALESTRA, Jake 51 8/12/98 Mt Lawley CHRISP, Kobe 52 15/08/97 Ellenbrook AMOS, Jack 53 7/06/97 Mazenod MICHELON, Alex 54 18/07/97 Mt Lawley LOO, Joshua 55 13/02/96 Belmont BOLTON, Dwayne 56 3/05/95 Maddington HEWETT, Joshua 57 20/05/97 Busselton AJANG, Ajang 58 1/01/97 Ellenbrook BROWNE, Jordan 59 22/12/96 Quinns District HADDEN, Kane 60 9/10/97 Augusta-Margaret River SEYMOUR, Matthew 61 18/10/96 Imperials CHRISTOFIS, Ethan 62 21/03/98 Deanmill JONES, Jayk 63 30/01/96 High Wycombe DUGAN, Jake 64 7/02/98 Busselton KINGI, Steven 66 27/12/96 Noranda ABBOTT, Campbell 67 21/11/96 Mt Lawley TUCKER, Ben 68 29/08/94 Thornlie VADER, Mark 69 21/07/95 Noranda RUSSO, Daniel 70 10/12/96 Coolbinia Patrick McGinnity, right, is a co-captain. Picture: Danella Bevis

9 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 WAFL EAST FREMANTLE FC Coach Rob Wiley Captain Jamie McNamara Flags 29 Last one 1998 Major sponsors Titan Ford, New Choice Homes Ground Oval Address Moss St, Inquiries Sharks to maintain the rage LAST YEAR 6TH WINS 9 LOSSES 11 Bridget Lacy Rob Wiley is quietly confident can build on his first season in charge and return to the finals. But the highly regarded coach knows every team will go up a gear this season and the Sharks need to do the same to finish in the top five. There was plenty of promise last season wins against and South Fremantle were highlights but they couldn t maintain the rage, dropping seven of their last nine games to tumble out of the finals race. Wiley says he s been able to drill into his game plan more in his second pre-season. We are certainly far more advanced 12 months down the track with the style of footy that we want to play, he said. We did well last year until the middle of the year when a number of factors made us lose games. We definitely want to improve from what happened last season. The whole group realised that they can play good football, they can match it against the best. Unfortunately we weren t consistent enough in the back half of the year. We needed to get probably a little bit fitter. We ve been able to tick the boxes. I m quietly confident that we can build on what we created last year. The Sharks have brought in a host of players. Jonathon Marsh leads the ins after leaving Collingwood. Jonathon Marsh brings AFL experience to after deciding to leave Collingwood. The versatile tall is expected to play a variety of roles in Picture: Football Club Wiley said the quick and powerful Marsh could play several positions. Forward Alex Howson is back after illness, while big ruckman Cameron Symonds returns. Prendergast medallist Tom Omodei has been poached from East, with Jesse Mirco () and Nathan Fahey ( Thunder) also added. Big man James Bristow is missing after deciding to go travelling, while Brock O Brien is battling serious hamstring and knee injuries. Prime mover George Hampson is fighting to be ready for round one because of a hamstring injury. Wiley said the Sharks would be ready for the battle. It ll be very tough to make finals, he said. It s hard to win games. We are under no illusions that we are a walk-up start after a promising year last year. NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES EARDLEY, Cameron 1 24/06/93 East Frem JFC 56 McNAMARA, Jamie 2 6/03/88 Booragoon JFC 127 ANTHONY, Liam 3 9/09/87 Railways (Geraldton) 76 CRICHTON, Jesse 4 18/06/91 Werribee 20 HENSON, Sean 5 3/03/92 Rossmoyne 96 DOROTICH, Jordan 6 31/10/93 Melville 32 PEAKE, Brett 7 5/07/83 Willetton 120 JUPP, Matthew 8 28/09/93 South JFC 62 PERHAM, Jack 9 12/06/90 Brigades (Geraldton) 87 MARSH, Jonathon 10 17/10/95 Margaret River/Collingwood HAMPSON, George 11 8/02/90 21 STEPHEN, Andrew 12 9/08/88 Melville 145 SCHOFIELD, Jayden 13 14/05/92 Railways (Geraldton) 85 HARROLD, James 14 6/02/97 Bull Creek Leeming JFC 15 O BRIEN, Brock 15 30/05/88 Thunder/Pinjarra 99 OMODEI, Tom 16 5/09/93 East BRISTOW, Tim 17 3/05/87 Launceston 28 LESTER-SMITH, Ryan 18 19/06/92 Willetton 76 FRANKLIN, Miles 19 6/04/95 Palmyra JFC 16 ANTHONY, Dion 20 26/04/94 Railways (Geraldton) 20 WATSON, Matthew 21 16/07/92 Carlton 20 WINTON, Dylan 22 27/07/96 Thunder 13 READ, Samuel 23 23/10/91 Willetton 67 SCHLEICHER, Jake 24 8/01/94 Willetton 14 MIRCO, Jesse 25 28/01/97 SYMONDS, Cameron 27 23/09/92 Bull Creek Leeming JFC 20 FAHEY, Nathan 28 3/04/96 Thunder ADAMINI, Jesse 29 21/07/96 Railways (Geraldton) 7 STOKES, Andrew 30 14/12/93 Railways (Geraldton) 11 MARSHALL, Tom 31 19/12/97 JFC 1 KALAJZIC, Joel 32 2/12/93 Federals HOWSON, Alex 33 25/05/94 Booragoon JFC 2 ELLIS, Brandon 34 30/12/93 Rossmoyne 22 TINGEY, Brendan 35 22/04/96 JFC CRONAN, Michael 36 19/02/97 JFC BENNETT, Tom 37 30/04/97 Willetton JFC McCARREY, Zac 38 10/08/93 Applecross JFC REGAN, Conor 39 8/08/95 Winnacott JFC 3 KRAKOUER, Lewis 40 20/03/91 Halls Head 4 GREEN, Carl 41 6/06/96 Towns (Geraldton) 1 CUNEO, Joshua 42 3/01/95 Winnacott JFC 22 BAILEY, Lachlan 43 9/02/98 Attadale JFC MORENO, Alex 44 21/07/94 Federals BURTON, Matthew 45 11/06/98 Bullcreek Leeming JFC HEBITON, Josef 46 26/11/96 Applecross 2 HOLMES, Corey 47 19/08/97 Canning Vale JFC FLETCHER, Jack 48 8/02/95 Bull Creek 6 WILLIAMSON, Jordan 49 7/02/96 Railways (Geraldton) MORTON-SMITH, Nathan 50 3/05/96 Rossmoyne DELANEY, Peter 57 4/10/97 Bullcreek-Leeming JFC PARISH, Ollie 52 24/03/97 JFC QUAIFE, Tom 53 5/10/93 Busselton BASKERVILLE, Kyle 54 19/07/98 Winnacott JFC HARDING, Ben 55 20/02/98 Attadale JFC NEVILL, Dwayne 56 7/08/98 Rovers (Geraldton) NEWTON, Alex 57 13/05/97 Bullcreek-Leeming JFC AMBROSE, Ryan 58 22/11/98 Winnacott JFC CREASEY, Harry 59 28/01/98 Bunbury DALY, Fraser 60 5/03/96 Brigades (Geraldton) MONTAUBAN, Alex 61 3/03/98 Rossmoyne SORRELL, Tyler 62 17/02/98 Melville PEARTON, Leon 63 7/03/98 JFC EGAN, Stuart 64 14/07/94 Towns (Geraldton) BONOMELLI, Nicholas 65 12/06/98 Melville CLEMENT, Jye 14/07/97 Gosnells AFC PARADELLA, Jaidyn 31/12/97 Towns (Geraldton) MINERVINI, Matthew 8/01/96 JFC

10 10 WAFL 2017 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 CLAREMONT FC Coach Darren Harris Captain Jake Murphy Flags 12 Last one 2012 LAST YEAR 7TH WINS 7 LOSSES 13 Major sponsors TFS, Hertz, Emco, Liquor Barons Ground Oval Inquiries Harris hails ingredients John Townsend After lost a WAFL record eight matches by single-figure margins last season, new coach Darren Harris identified a clear and overwhelmingly positive aspect in their plight. If you lose eight games by close margins, you must be doing a lot right, Harris said. Turn four of those games into wins and you play finals. One of the best recruits in the competition with a coaching resume that includes a flag at West, two State wins and a long period as a senior AFL assistant, Harris has been chosen to build s next golden era. It coincides with the Tigers building the best State league facility in the country, though it will be mid-season before they are at their new $16 million home. Their on-field success may also take some time to arrive, but Harris has plenty to work with. And he has already identified stronger defensive pressure as a non-negotiable element of his game plan. My coaching philosophy is that every minute of every game adds up to you winning or losing, he said. It is not the last 10 minutes, or the last three minutes that count, it is the whole game. We have to value everything we do. If we value winning every stoppage, every single moment, that will be the big step up for us. If we value that and are good at that defensively, offensively we can put some real pressure on teams. Recruiting has been low-key, though there are high expectations of dual premiership player Tom Lee, who has returned after four years with St Kilda, while the mercurial Anthony Morabito will try to reignite his injury-hit career. The leading goal kicker in s 2012 premiership season, Lee may be required in defence and is almost certain to pinch-hit in the ruck for a team that is not endowed with big men. Lee will have to play a bit of everything, Harris said. We are not overly blessed with height and ruckmen, so he will potentially play in the Tom Lee, left, coach Darren Harris and reigning Sandover medallist Jye Bolton. Picture: Daniel Wilkins ruck, a bit back and a bit forward. Harris wants premiership veterans Jake Murphy, Ian Richardson and Beau Maister, plus reigning Sandover medallist Jye Bolton to set the benchmark for his young playing group. We have 35 players aged 18 to 20 so the focus has to be on the development of players, Harris said. We know what we will get with tried and true players like Richo, Maister, Matty Davies and Mitch Andrews but the growth of the next crew, the Bailey Banfields and Matt Guelfis, is what will enable us to be successful. NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NEATES, Ryan 1 26/06/91 Carine JFC/WCE 94 YU, Keifer 2 6/04/91 Broome/Hale/Marist JFC 64 LEE, Tom 3 2/01/91 Scotch/Adelaide/St Kilda 52 RICHARDSON, Ian 4 14/10/87 West Coast JFC 170 MURPHY, Jake 5 18/01/90 Cottesloe JFC/Scotch 123 LIM, Ryan 6 20/03/96 West Coast JFC/Hale 38 BRADSHAW, Jack 7 3/09/92 West Coast JFC/Hale 93 HOLT, Aaron 8 19/02/91 West Coast JFC/Scotch 63 DAVIES, Matthew 9 12/10/91 Scarborough JFC 81 RICHARDSON, Jack 10 15/02/93 Scotch 25 BOLTON, Jye 11 3/03/92 Werribee 20 MORABITO, Anthony 12 29/10/91 /Fremantle HARDISTY, Jared 13 7/03/96 Marist JFC /Hawthorn 20 LEDGER, Tom 14 17/03/92 West Coast JFC/Scotch/St Kilda 56 BUSHER, Haydn 15 21/08/91 Vic Park JFC/ 33 LE FANU, Charles 16 21/12/93 FC ROSS, Dylan 17 26/06/90 Marist JFC/ 19 ROGERS, Bailey 18 22/03/97 Marist JFC 23 WINMAR, Nick 19 27/04/91 Scarborough JFC/St Kilda/ 22 PLANT, Toby 20 4/08/93 Port Melbourne 2 LANGDON, Zac 21 13/11/95 Dampier Sharks 11 SHANAHAN, Tom 22 28/04/95 Marist JFC/East 14 McADAM, Shane 23 28/05/95 Halls Creek/Hale 11 ANDREWS, Mitch 24 5/12/86 Broadbeach/West 96 LAURIE, Jess 25 21/09/90 Denmark/Port Adelaide 68 HAMP, Anton 26 21/07/92 Hale/West Coast 89 MANUEL, Alex 27 19/08/95 Collegians 7 PALFREY, Matt 28 1/12/95 Railways 14 BENTLEY, Max 29 23/05/95 JFC/Scotch 9 BEECK, Jack 30 26/07/95 Swanbourne JFC 31 DAVIES, Morgan 31 8/12/96 Nth Albany/CCGS 5 GUELFI, Matt 32 14/08/97 Wembley Downs JFC 5 HIGGS, Ben 33 28/08/95 Railways, Albany 3 BANFIELD, Bailey 34 26/02/98 Broome/Scotch 2 SPEED, Justin 35 28/09/94 Wanneroo 8 WILLIAMS, John 36 8/10/88 Essendon FC/ 45 McCRACKEN, Harry 37 7/07/95 Marist JFC/Hale 16 GRIFFITHS, Jack 38 27/10/94 Neerim South MADDOCK, Luke 39 22/01/96 Werribee SIMPSON, Eddie 40 10/02/97 Swanbourne JFC BEVAN, Sam 41 12/06/96 Wembley Downs JFC/Hale MAISTER, Beau 42 20/03/86 Railways, Albany/WCE/St Kilda 129 MARTINIS, Lachie 43 6/07/96 Wembley WEEDON, Gerrick 44 25/05/91 Derby/West Coast 50 GILBERT, Fraser 45 6/02/97 Scotch WILSON, Brett 46 11/12/96 Bridgetown WILKINS, Aden 47 10/05/97 West Coast JFC/Hale EHLERS, David 48 6/12/96 Marist JFC/Aquinas WHITEHEAD, Mason 49 16/04/95 Scarborough GODDARD, Jeremy 50 27/03/98 Marist JFC EHLERS, Matthew 51 6/12/96 Marist JFC/Aquinas OAKLEY, CJ 52 1/09/97 Cable Beach 1 MUSITANO, Ben 53 14/11/96 West Coast SINCLAIR, Harry 54 9/08/97 Scotch SIDERIS, Jacob 55 29/01/98 Wembley JFC BENNETT, Bailey 57 20/02/98 Railways, Albany BENNETT, Josh 58 2/10/97 Cottesloe JFC/Scotch LAWRENCE, Tom 59 12/02/98 Wembley JFC SMALLWOOD, Dylan 60 19/05/98 Albany Sharks STERGIOU, Jake 61 11/01/98 JFC/CCGS TWEEDIE, Lachie 62 2/12/97 Wembley JFC HOLT, Dylan 63 6/03/97 Railways, Albany MURPHY, Ryan 64 20/05/97 West Coast JFC/Scotch EASTLAND, Oliver 65 26/03/98 Scotch RUSHFORTH, Ben 66 30/07/97 West Coast JFC MORTON, Shaq 67 11/07/98 Warringarri/Clontarf ENGLAND, Tyson 68 29/07/97 Wembley Downs JFC/Hale MITCHELL, Corey 69 23/05/98 Scarborough JFC QUENBY, Cam 70 14/04/98 Mt Barker DELAPORTE, Jacob 71 23/10/95 Marist JFC DELAPORTE, Ben 72 26/06/97 Marist JFC GILBERT, Kaiden 73 3/04/95 Scotch SPEED, Adam 74 6/12/92 Wanneroo

11 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 WAFL PERTH FC Coach Earl Spalding Captain Clint Jones Flags 7 Last one 1977 Major sponsors Provident Capital Partners, Southside Mitsubishi/Volkswagen, Lucky Shag Ground Lathlain Park Address Goddard St, Lathlain Inquiries LAST YEAR 8TH WINS 7 LOSSES 13 Demons rely on potent midfield New skipper Clint Jones was a standout for the Demons in their seven-win season last year. Picture: Sharon Smith Russell Reid A quality midfield brigade will be the key to s bid for a first finals appearance in two decades. The addition of former and St Kilda player Clint Jones to a midfield unit already boasting Sandover medallist Aidan Tropiano and Liam McKenna was critical in the Demons notching seven wins in That was a vast improvement from just two wins the previous year and a similar improvement should see them reach the finals for the first time since Jones led the league in disposals in 2017, averaging 34 possessions and five marks as one of the competition s better performers. The 33-year-old was rewarded when announced as captain for the upcoming season, replacing retiring skipper Dene White, who bowed out after a frustrating run of injuries restricted him to 11 games last season. Coach Earl Spalding said Jones was an obvious successor to White, whose leadership skills would be missed at the club. Clint just works so hard to find the ball, Spalding said. We ve certainly made a point of mentioning it to the rest of the group, especially the younger guys coming up from the colts who you see a bit of potential in, that unless you are prepared to work that hard, you will never reach your full potential. Spalding said a strong midfield was critical to success. That s where the game is won and lost I believe or where the momentum starts, he said. If you are playing South Fremantle and your mids are getting beaten, you are in all sorts of trouble because they have got those key forwards like (Ben) Saunders and (Mason) Shaw. Spalding said the club hoped for more from key forward Spencer White in 2017, and also predicted teenage forwards Zareth Roe, Gordon Narrier and Anton Scotney would be players to watch. Recruited from St Kilda before the start of last season, White finished with 17 goals from 10 games in an injury-interrupted campaign. Spalding said a good start was a priority, with away matches against Swan Districts and before their first home game against. I think we are better balanced at both ends this year, Spalding said. Our best six forwards are going to be really challenging to play on and our best six backs are going to be really competitive and make it hard for other forward lines. Confidence is a massive things and if you can get off to a reasonable start in terms of your output then guys can grow a leg from there. NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES McKENNA, Liam 1 18/04/92 Thunder 39 IRONS, Jarrod 2 20/09/92 Port Adelaide/South 18 ROE, Zareth 3 18/09/98 South JFC TROPIANO, Aidan 4 21/10/92 Brigades 45 JONES, Clint 5 02/02/84 St Kilda/ 20 WALLEY, Callum 6 06/04/90 Scarborough 22 SINCLAIR, Michael 7 14/03/94 South JFC 67 JACOBS, Julian 8 02/01/89 /Esperance 67 WHITE, Spencer 9 22/09/94 St Kilda 10 LATCH, Brent 10 09/04/92 34 STACK, Brennan 11 26/05/88 Western Bulldogs/Belmont 63 COLLEDGE, Brant 12 25/10/94 Attadale JFC/Aquinas College 2 BROWNE, Mitchell 13 15/01/96 Wongan-Ballidu 9 BYRNE, Corey 14 19/05/97 Thornlie JFC WILKINS, Laine 15 20/03/94 /Halls Head 17 CARY, Kristian 16 22/03/95 North Albury 14 CHESTER, Kurtis 17 08/03/95 Goomalling 10 ETTO, Taran 18 06/07/95 Western Sydney 14 NINYETTE, Cody 19 30/12/97 Kelmscott 3 McFARLANE, Devin 20 04/09/92 Thunder EYRES, Christian 21 10/10/90 Trinity Aquinas 50 SCOTNEY, Anton 22 12/03/98 Dandaragan THOMPSON, Matthew 23 23/11/94 Boyup Brook 4 McPHAIL, Brad 24 22/02/96 NARRIER, Gordon 25 27/11/98 Hale BOYES, Ashley 26 25/09/92 East 12 MORISEY, Kristian 27 25/01/98 Willetton JFC GIBLETT, Clayton 28 31/01/96 East JONES, Marshall 29 26/08/97 York 12 JOHNSON, Blake 30 21/02/98 Thornlie JFC BELL, Jared 31 27/05/96 South JFC 32 BURKE, Joshua 32 07/07/97 Kenwick JFC EDMONDS, Brent 33 27/07/94 Federals 36 HENDERSON, Mitchell 34 20/02/96 York JOHNSTONE, Jayden 35 05/01/98 Huntingdale JFC LEGGETT, Cody 36 10/06/96 Attadale JFC 32 PERKUSICH, Sam 37 24/03/98 Dongara CHIVERS, Clint 38 03/04/97 Mingenew/South JFC DUKE, Jarlath 39 18/08/94 Swan View/ DENNIS, Lachlan 40 03/09/93 Curtin Wesley 21 KICKETT, Cody 41 15/01/98 Railways PIGGOTT, Guy 42 14/04/91 South Bunbury GARSTONE, Samuel 43 01/06/95 Upper Swan JFC 22 MARLIN, Lennon 44 21/12/95 Victoria Park JFC 16 LEONARD, Chris 45 25/10/97 Chapman Valley LEVIEN, John 46 15/05/98 Kenwick JFC PATTISON, Bradley 47 28/11/97 South JFC SMITH, Shaun 48 23/03/95 Federals PUNCH, Arnold 49 11/10/97 Maddington HILL, Zachary 50 07/04/97 Federals HORAN, Daniel 51 04/07/96 South JFC NICHOLAS, Kasey 52 01/05/96 South JFC/Curtin Wesley SIEGERT, Josh 53 18/09/97 Goomalling PAPERTALK, Callum 54 12/08/92 Chapman Valley PIGGOTT, Braden 55 15/07/95 South Bunbury ANDERSON, Cedric 57 19/04/98 Maddington MARSHALL, Callum 58 06/10/94 Mundijong BILITY, Abdule 61 23/03/98 High Wycombe MERCER, Andre 62 12/06/95 Curtin Wesley VAUGHAN, Jake 64 24/12/97 Thornlie JFC

12 12 WAFL 2017 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 SWAN DISTRICTS FC Coach Greg Harding Captain Tallan Ames Flags 8 Last one 2010 Major sponsors BHP Billiton, Chevron, Midway Ford, Steel Blue, Swan Towing, PMG Ground Steel Blue Oval, Bassendean Inquiries Swans lean on seniors input LAST YEAR 9TH WINS 2 LOSSES 18 Dale Miller Coach Greg Harding s goal of a finals berth for Swan Districts this year will rely heavily on smart player management. Swans identified the need for more experience after a horror 2016 season that produced just two wins and some of the lowest scores in the club s history. The response has been an aggressive recruiting drive, with retired West Coast and Hawthorn defender Xavier Ellis one of six former AFL players to arrive. Doig medallist Ryan Crowley has re-signed after one season as an Essendon top-up player. Swans have also been strengthened by the return of homegrown products David Ellard, Corey Gault and Jamie Bennell. A pre-season knee injury that will force former Fremantle defender Clancee Pearce to miss the season has been an unexpected blow. But Harding is confident his team still has the right blend of experience and youth to vault into finals contention. Careful management of his squad will be the key. Crowley is rising 33 and full-back Tallan Ames is a year older, while Ellis had three injury-plagued seasons at West Coast. The biggest query for us is going to be the management of the player group, Harding said. Our success this season really depends on our ability to keep our best players on the ground for long periods. Even last year, you saw the impact of our really important players like Tim Geappen, Ryan Davis and Nathan Broad going out of the side in a short space of time and then us copping a few injuries. We were lucky with getting a number of recruits that can play across all three lines. Swans gave league debuts to 18 players last year. The wooden-spoon season took an added toll on their list. Experienced defenders Justin Simpson and Graham Jetta have retired, while indigenous trio Nelson Ansey, Albert Dean and Rudy Riddoch have left. Ruckman Nathan Blakely is unlikely to play this year as he juggles training as a doctor with his recovery from a serious knee injury. This season looms as an important one for Harding after being re-signed midway through 2016 despite the lack of wins. He acknowledged the expectation created by the club s recruiting efforts and said it was important to reward loyal supporters. We re definitely targeting finals, Harding said. How high we can finish on the ladder remains to be seen. Ricky Cary was leading goal kicker in their difficult 2016 season with 21 majors. Picture: Duncan Watkinson NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES NAME NO D.O.B RECRUITED GAMES MANTON, Rodrick 1 23/10/89 Bassendean 12 BLIGHT, Jarred 2 24/01/91 Midvale 58 CONIGLIO, Jacob 3 25/07/95 La Salle 19 BENNELL, Jamie 4 06/07/90 Carey Park/WCE 12 ELLARD, David 5 13/03/89 Midvale 1 UGLE, Kirk 6 06/05/92 Carey Park 66 FAULKNER, Adam 7 03/05/92 Swan View 90 ROGERS, Matthew 8 10/09/90 /Cunderdin 85 BANFIELD, Todd 9 28/06/90 Swan View 31 ELLIS, Xavier 10 28/02/88 WCE AMES, Tallan 11 18/10/83 Trinity 245 GAULT, Corey 12 28/10/92 Brookton Pingelly 1 STEWART, Taryce 13 21/12/19 Midvale JFC 2 NUICH, Jake 14 07/05/93 La Salle 22 CROWLEY, Ryan 15 03/05/84 Essendon GRESCOS, Laurence 16 08/04/95 Upper Swan 33 CIPRO, Josh 17 10/05/98 Upper Swan/GGS 1 RIGGIO, Matt 18 14/03/88 Waroona 140 DANIELS, Jason 19 12/01/96 Bassendean 12 SMIRK, Tom 20 16/02/89 Collegians 26 SHAND, Justin 21 06/01/96 Upper Swan SLATER, Jackson 22 12/02/93 East 9 CARY, Ricky 23 12/10/91 Attadale 53 WATSON, Jack 24 23/07/97 Gidgegannup 9 HOWARD, Alex 25 20/06/93 Swan View 91 WHITSED, Benjamin 26 07/08/85 Mazenod 13 CLUTTERBUCK, Freddie 27 22/09/90 Noranda JFC 18 NOTTE, Tony 28 15/04/90 Upper Swan 178 TURNER, Jessie 29 10/08/96 Bassendean 21 YUKICH, Troy 30 10/12/94 Upper Swan 17 RIDLEY, Levi 31 17/02/97 Bassendean JFC MAGUIRE, Ethan 32 04/06/96 Bunbury ELLIS, Harry 33 27/11/95 Waroona SUTTON, Brody 34 28/08/96 Bassendean JFC 3 ERCEG, Brandon 35 13/02/93 Bassendean 10 NOBLE, Brayden 36 31/07/92 Trinity Aquinas AFC HUGHES, Logan 37 09/04/92 Harvey 2 HOLMAN, Ben 38 04/05/94 Guildford Grammar 3 WITYK, Steven 39 02/02/92 Bayswater-Morley JFC/East 6 CRANENBURGH, Callan 40 01/06/96 Darlington Parkerville POWER, Josh 41 28/02/97 Wesley NESS, Jacob 42 02/06/96 University 1 MURRAY, Lindsay 43 20/02/96 High Wycombe JFC 9 MANTON, Jesse 44 10/08/93 Kalamunda JFC 16 HACKETT, Brayden 45 01/02/97 South Hedland Swans 5 DANIELS, Chad 46 13/08/97 Bassendean 1 WILSON, Warwick 47 29/01/96 Clontarf 17 IPSEN, Tyler 48 18/04/96 Deanmill MONOCO, Daniel 49 05/06/94 Mt Lawley AFC/Swan Ath AFC RAYNOR, Tristen 50 14/07/97 High Wycombe JFC BARR, Sachin 51 04/06/98 Newman National WATSON, Tobe 52 12/03/97 Donnybrook O KANE, Brendan 53 30/08/97 La Salle DENT, Giles 54 10/01/97 Mazenod WALKER, Meava 55 01/08/98 Karratha Kats McKENZIE, Mitchell 56 10/07/95 Kalamunda SPACKMAN, Braydon 57 04/01/98 Upper Swan/GGS ARMSTRONG, Jonathon 58 14/04/97 Kalamunda JFC PRICE, Mitchell 59 10/08/97 Kalamunda JFC/GGS JONES, Dillan 60 09/06/92 Newman Saints MORGAN, James 61 19/04/96 High Wycombe JFC ANDERSON, Jake 62 04/03/96 Wesley Curtin FULLGRABE, Brad 64 01/04/98 Upper Swan BILL, Jordan 66 25/09/97 Swan Valley

13 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 WAFL Western Australia s talented under-16 side celebrates its win over Vic Metro at Southport on the Gold Coast in last July s national titles. Picture: WA Football Commission Growing love for the game Russell Reid New strategies to engage and retain more teenage participants at clubs around the State will be implemented by the WA Football Commission in The strategies are aimed at 13 to 17-year-olds and based on findings of a youth football working group that looked at reasons why young people drop out of sport. The football working group included representatives from the WAFC, WAFL clubs, WA Amateur Football League, WA Country Football League and District Football Development Council. West Coast premiership player Craig Turley, who specialises in community and social impact research, was an independent consultant. More than 600 players, coaches, parents and club committee members were asked about influences on playing, reasons for drop-out, engagement in school football, influence of other sports and coaches impact. Recommendations were developed for inclusion in a WAFC youth football participation plan for the next four years. The plan aims to grow youth community club football in WA, improve player retention and increase the interaction of school football with community competitions. Key focus areas included: Environment create an environment where players continue to have fun, enjoy the game, learn new skills and are challenged. Leadership develop and support quality coaches to help retain players. Format consider new timeslots and alternative game formats such as Friday night games and 15-a-side football to address competing time demands with school, study and/or work. Partnerships build stronger partnerships between junior clubs, schools and senior clubs. Executive manager of football operations Jon Haines said increasing and enhancing youth participation in football was a crucial focus for the WAFC. Growing participation in the youth segment is really important for the future of our game, he said. We want to ensure that once participants are engaged they remain involved as lifelong participants.

14 14 WAFL 2017 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 Biggest year yet looms WAWFL 2017 SWAN DISTRICTS COACH: Nicole Graves and Rob Kennedy LAST YEAR: 1st FLAGS: 3 GROUND: Steel Blue Oval AFLW PLAYERS: Fremantle: Kara Donnellan, Ebony Antonio, Kirby Bentley, Stephanie Cain, Ashley Sharp, Emily Bonser, Stacey Barr, Taryn Priestly, Akec Chuot, Taylah Angel, Gemma Houghton. Adelaide: Chelsea Randall, Kellie Gibson. GWS: Jacinda Barclay. EAST FREMANTLE COACH: Steph Walding LAST YEAR: 2nd FLAGS: 6 GROUND: Oval AFLW PLAYERS: Fremantle: Brianna Green, Melissa Caulfield, Cassie Davidson, Belinda Smith, Gabby O Sullivan. Brisbane: Jessica Wuetschner. Collingwood: Caitlyn Edwards, Ruby Schleicher. GWS: Emma Swanson, Alex Williams. COASTAL TITANS COACH: Andrew Di Loreto LAST YEAR: 3rd FLAGS: 7 GROUND: Grenville Reserve, Tuart Hill AFLW PLAYERS: Fremantle: Kiara Bowers, Hayley Miller, Lara Filocama, Tiah Haynes, Amy Lavell, Kelly Clinch, Dana Hooker, Tarnica Golisano, Brooke Whyte. Collingwood: Emma King. GWS: Renee Forth, Aimee Schmidt. Russell Reid The success of the AFL Women s competition and the sharp rise in females playing the game in WA adds up to a big season ahead for the Mundella West Australian Women s Football League. Three new teams will contest the competition when it begins on April 2, with Angels, East and last year s reserves premiers West fielding sides in the top division for the first time. The success of the AFLW in its inaugural season has been key. Crowd numbers have exceeded the AFL s expectations, including a lockout when 24,500 turned up to see the first game between Carlton and Collingwood at Ikon Park. Fremantle s first home game against Brisbane attracted a bumper crowd of more than 10,000, confirming national interest in the new women s competition. WA Football Commission chief executive Gavin Taylor said the code was heading for a significant and exciting year in The growth of female football over the past few years has been remarkable and we only expect this to continue with the arrival of the AFL Women s competition, Taylor said. Last year, there was a 61.3 per cent increase in the number of females playing club football in WA and the Ready for season 2017 are s Sabreena Duffy (2016 youth girls best and fairest), Jen Homes, of Angels, (2016 reserves best) and Coastal Titans Kiara Bowers (2016 league best). Picture: Michael Bain total number of club-based teams almost doubled from 84 to 157. It s really important that we can continue to support the growth in female participation and that WA football offers positive, welcoming environments while also providing opportunities for players to aspire to the elite level, Taylor said. Reigning WAWFL premiers are among the favourites this season. The black and whites grand final win over East Fremantle last year was their third flag in the past four seasons. Captain Kara Donnellan and round three AFLW Rising Star nominee Ashley Sharp were among 11 Swans squad members named on Fremantle s inaugural list. Further proof of their strength came when Adelaide selected Swan Districts squad member Chelsea Randall and Kellie Gibson as their marquee players in 2017, while Greater Western Sydney claimed Jacinda Barclay. Randall and Gibson won t be back in 2017 as they are contracted to play in Adelaide, with other WAWFL

15 Wednesday, March 15, 2017 WAFL for women s footy Kara Donnellan grasps the WAWFL premiership cup as she and her teammates revel in their grand final victory over at Medibank Stadium. Donnellan is currently captain of Fremantle in the AFL Women s inaugural season. Picture: Phil Barnes clubs also missing players recruited by interstate AFLW clubs as marquee players. Donnellan said though the loss of Randall and Gibson wasn t ideal, it created opportunities for other players at. It s unfortunate Chelsea and Kellie won t be able to come back as they will be playing in South Australia, she said. But it gives opportunities for younger girls coming through. Their development will shine through and they will no doubt be able to step up and fill the void. The 25-year-old said she remembered the role Swans had played in helping her reach the elite level. The development and the culture they set down there at is second to none and to be able to give back and play in the black and white is something I am looking forward to after the season, Donnellan said. She said having so many familiar faces at Fremantle made for a smooth transition into the AFLW. We know how each other tick on and off the field and it made it easier in terms of gelling and building that trust and belief in each other when you pull on the Fremantle jumper, she said. Coastal Titans, who had 12 players drafted into the AFLW, are expected to mount another strong challenge in 2017 after finishing as minor premiers last year. Eight of 10 players drafted into the AFLW will play WAWFL on the club s 30th anniversary. SOUTH FREMANTLE COACH: Brendon Logan LAST YEAR: 4th FLAGS: 0 GROUND: Anning Park, South Lake AFLW PLAYERS: Fremantle: Beatrice Devlyn. Brisbane: Sabrina Frederick-Traub. Collingwood: Tara Morgan PEEL COACH: Mark Fenton LAST YEAR: 5th FLAGS: 0 GROUND: Bendigo Bank Stadium AFLW PLAYERS: Fremantle: Taylor Bresland, Demi Okely, Kira Phillips CLAREMONT COACH: Patrick Litherland LAST YEAR: 6th FLAGS: 5 GROUND: Oval AFLW PLAYERS: None EAST PERTH COACH: Justin Hocking LAST YEAR: - FLAGS: 0 GROUND: Altone Park, Beechboro AFLW PLAYERS: None PERTH ANGELS COACH: Gerry O Dea LAST YEAR: - FLAGS: 0 GROUND: Lathlain Park AFLW PLAYERS: None WEST PERTH COACH: Paul Beaver LAST YEAR: FLAGS: 0 GROUND: HBF Arena AFLW PLAYERS: None

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