ROUND 2 PREVIEW V PERTH

THE similarities to the opening of 2015 couldn’t have been greater last Saturday for West Perth and now the Falcons will be hoping that continues this Saturday at HBF Arena against Perth.

Like 2015, West Perth lost to South Fremantle by 35 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval last Saturday. The same thing happened in Round 1 last year and West Perth bounced back with home victories over Peel Thunder and Perth the next two weeks.

The Falcons will host Perth on Saturday with an eight-game winning run over the Demons and desperate to record their first win of 2016.

The Falcons and Demons enter 2016 after vastly different 2015 seasons with West Perth coming off making the grand final and looking to improve enough to go one step better while the first step for Perth is to find a way to be competitive again.

An impressive performance on Saturday at the Joondalup venue, therefore, is important for both teams to start building some momentum in 2016 meaning both will be desperate to come away with the four points.

West Perth had every reason to be positive heading into the season but it wasn’t an ideal start last Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

After the Falcons kicked the opening two goals, they were outplayed the rest of the afternoon before losing by 35 points.

Ironically it was the exact same 35-point margin in Round 1 last year against the same opponent at the same venue.

And 12 months ago the Falcons rebounded with a Round 2 win over Peel and Round 3 win over Perth at HBF Arena to set up their 2015 season that ended up in the grand final.

They will be confident of being able to get their 2016 back on track starting this Saturday.

Perth, meanwhile, had the bye in Round 1 and enter 2016 on the back of two successive wooden spoons and having won just two of its last 34 matches but there is reason for vast improvement at the Demons for the new season heading into Earl Spalding's second year in charge.

West Perth has had a good recent record over Perth as well having won the last eight meetings between the two clubs by an average of over 47 points.

The Demons' last win over the Falcons came in Round 18, 2011 by 29 points at HBF Arena.

From the West Perth team that lost to South Fremantle last Saturday, 2013 premiership player and 118-game veteran Steven Browne returns after missing the opening round through suspension stemming from the grand final loss to Subiaco.

Steve Potente did his chance of returning no harm with 28 possessions in the reserves last week while James Batterham and Sam Rotham are two players also in the mix for their first league appearance of 2016.

Blake Wilhelm is the only player out of the West Perth at this stage.

A lot of the optimism at Perth coming into 2016 is based around an impressive group of recruits including former AFL players Clint Jones, Angus Graham and Spencer White who will all make their debuts for the Demons on Saturday.

They aren’t the only new arrivals with Kristian Cary, Taran Etto and Laine Wilkins all set to make their first appearances for the Demons as well to open their 2016 campaign.

Key defender Aaron Zucconi also returns to Perth to resume his 98-game career that started in 2005 and ended in 2012, until now. His return is important to give the Demons some size and experience in defence following the departure of Chris Billings.

Midfielder Julian Jacobs is another player to return to Perth who will add further depth to an on-ball brigade already consisting of Sandover Medallist Aidan Tropiano and captain Dene White as well as Jones, Michael Sinclair and Liam McKenna.

ROUND 2
WEST PERTH v PERTH – HBF ARENA, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams 

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