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WAFL Preview: West Perth looks for improvement after solid 2017

Mark DonaldsonJoondalup Times

WEST Perth scraped into the WAFL finals last year only to have a first-round exit at the hands of Swan Districts.

The Falcons will be looking to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish amid the excitement of overhauling their match day experience with the completion of their multi-million-dollar clubrooms.

They will be backing a list similar to the one they had in 2017 after a quiet off-season recruiting phase.

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Newly-appointed football manager and premiership player Steve Trewhella said season 2018 was all about improvement.

“Each year we are trying to improve as a footy club and ultimately win the premiership,” he said.

“We didn’t achieve that and the evidence probably indicated that there was a bit of a gap between the top three sides and the rest.

“But there were plenty of positives we look to build upon for 2018.”

With a couple of player movements, Trewhella said improvements both on and off the field would be vital to a surge up the ladder.

“The club has made some structural changes over the pre-season and brought in some new coaches to support the senior coach and the players,” he said.

“We lost a couple of key defenders with Nic Rodda moving to Victoria and Scott Simpson taking a break from football, but the club welcomes Mitchell Dzelebdzic from South Fremantle, Liam Tedesco and James Finchett from Wanneroo.

“This coupled with our new headquarters provides our people with what we think is the best facility in the WAFL and it will support the development of our playing group so they have every opportunity to be the best they can be.

“Our best football will be good enough to compete and beat any team-the players have had a very good pre-season and all indicators tell us that we are stronger and faster than at the same time last year.

“There is a real resolve within the group and a burning desire to compete and improve-if our list can stay relatively healthy there is no reason that we can’t achieve success in September.”

West Perth will kick off season 2018 against Claremont at HBF Arena on March 31.

Quick questions with Steve Trewhella Who is West Perth’s player to watch? Connor West What are the biggest rounds for the club? No one game is bigger than any other game. Who do you think will win the Sandover Medal? Luke Meadows.

West Perth Falcons Fixtures

Rd 1: Claremont @ HBF Arena. March 31. Rd 2: East Perth @ Leederville Oval. April 7. Rd 3: South Fremantle @ HBF Arena. April 15. Rd 4: Swan Districts @ Steel Blue Oval. April 21. Rd 5: Perth @ Lathlain Park. April 28. Rd 6: Subiaco @ Leederville Oval. May 5. Rd 7: East Fremantle @ HBF Arena. May 19. Rd 8: Bye. Rd 9: East Perth @ HBF Arena. June 4. Rd 10: Peel @ Bendigo Bank Stadium. June 9. Rd 11: Claremont @ Claremont Oval. June 16. Rd 12: Perth @ HBF Arena. June 23. Rd 13: Subiaco @ HBF Arena. June 30. Rd 14: East Fremantle @ East Fremantle Oval. July 6. Rd 15: Bye. Rd 17: Peel @ HBF Arena. July 28. Rd 18: South Fremantle @ Fremantle Community Bank Oval. August 4. Rd 19: Subiaco @ HBF Arena. August 11. Rd 20: East Perth @ Leederville Oval. August 18. Rd 21: Bye.