HARD WORK TO GET BACK PAYS OFF FOR TEDESCO

WHEN he went down injured in Round 21, West Perth vice-captain Luke Tedesco knew he had a huge fight on his hands to make it back on the field again in 2013 but he won the battle and his reward was becoming a premiership player as the Falcons beat East Perth in the grand final.

Tedesco celebrated his 100th game with the Falcons in the Round 16 win over Peel Thunder at Mandurah's Bendigo Bank Stadium, but then in Round 21 against Perth in Moora, he injured his calf and that put the rest of his 2013 in serious jeopardy.

However, straight away Tedesco was dedicated to his rehab staying up icing the calf right away, doing all his rehab exercises and anything that might enable him to get back playing this season and eventually it paid off.

There were some nervous times when he was still not quite ready to play in either the league or reserves' semi finals, but he did then play in the reserves preliminary final win over Perth and was given the nod to come into the league grand final side after coming through unscathed.

The 26-year-old then showed his toughness and reliability out on Patersons Stadium as a rock solid part of the West Perth defence against East Perth in the 49-point grand final win and it's something he is making the most of now being a premiership player.

"It's something that you think about over and over again, and I sat through years of watching Claremont, Subi, South Fremantle and Swan Districts win premierships whilst I've been playing and I have always dreamed of this moment," Tedesco said.

"Now that it's here I will just embrace it and be able to look back on in many years time with a lot of pride. I reckon it's going to be a good couple of weeks of celebrations now and in 10 years time we will double up with the 2003 team and that will be a hell of a premiership reunion as well."

It was only natural that Tedesco had some quiet moments where he thought he might be joining fellow veterans Anthony Tsalikis and Michael Pettigrew on the sidelines as the Falcons went into the grand final, but once coach Bill Monaghan gave him the all clear he breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"There were a few moments that were tough along the way. I didn’t get up for semi-final weekend and at that stage I was probably feeling like I might not make it, but after that week I kept focused and did everything I could, and got a bit of a luck. I got the chance to play in the reserves prelim," he said.

"Bill rang me on Thursday night to tell me he was going to back me in after I declared myself fit. It was a funny feeling all week and I was pretty anxious for a couple of weeks leading up to that so I was pretty happy to get the call that I was playing."

Tedesco was thankful for all involved at the club in helping get out there on grand final day and he knew that it was all worth it once it was late in the final quarter and the Falcons players knew they had the 2013 premiership won.

"It's the greatest feeling and it's just such a great reward for all our efforts. From the moment I did the injury I tried to do everything I could to get it right, I had a lot of assistance from the club physios and everyone who went above and beyond. I'm now just grateful to be here," Tedesco said.

"Once we got to about 22 or 24 points up and it was about the 28-minute mark, and I turned to Hunty and Strijk and it was probably the first time we knew that we had it won. The goals then kept coming and the more we kicked, the more enjoyment we were getting out of it.

"I really enjoyed those last 10 minutes and it's always how I pictured a grand final with it being nice and close, and then being able to break it open at the end so you are able to enjoy it. Then when that final siren went it was just the most amazing feeling."

Tedesco has played his entire 105-game WAFL career with Andrew Strijk, Matt Guadagnin, Dan Hunt, Chris Keunen, Ray Bartholomew and captain Jason Salecic so he's thrilled to celebrate the premiership with them but his heart goes out to Tsalikis and Pettigrew.

"The thing that stands out the most above everything else is for being able to share this moment with those senior guys who I have played my entire career with," he said.

"I am absolutely devastated for Slick and Petters because they have been such integral parts of our team – Slick for 12 years now and Petters the last couple since coming back from Port Adelaide.

"My heart goes out to them, but to share it with the guys who did get out there and play was just fantastic."

The West Perth back-line was outstanding right throughout the 2013 season.

Pettigrew was a rock at full-back until tearing his hamstring in Round 19 but once he went down Shaun Marusic joined Hunt, Strijk, Steven Browne, Jordan Jones, Trent Manzone, Laine Rasmussen and then Tedesco.

The defensive unit again stood up in the grand final against a dangerous East Perth forward-line but Tedesco knows that the massive pressure applied by West Perth all over the ground in both finals victories was a major reason for the premiership win.

"That's what we have been about all year is that team defence and we know it starts in the back-line," Tedesco said.

"Whilst our defenders did a good job one-on-one on their forwards, the pressure also came from up the field from our midfield and forward-line who were fantastic with their pressure. That helps to make it a bit easier for us guys down back."

BY CHRIS PIKE