FALCONS STRENGTHEN SQUAD WITH SIGNING OF KEITEL

THE West Perth Football Club wishes to announce that it has further strengthened its playing stocks for the 2015 McDonald's WAFL Premiership season with the signing of exciting youngster Tyler Keitel.

Over the past three seasons, Keitel has played 37 colts matches with East Perth with the strongly built key position player averaging almost 15 possessions and five marks a game.

The 19-year-old has the potential to further add to West Perth's options up forward this season having kicked 38 goals in 15 colts matches in 2014, and 39 in 18 games in 2013. But he has also shown an equally ability to play key defensive roles as well.

Keitel was also part of the West Australian State 16s in 2012, the State 18s in 2013 and again in 2014, he was a key member of the WA State 18s team.

He was expected to be picked up by an AFL club either in the National Draft or Rookie Draft, but now that he was overlooked he will receive a fresh start in the WAFL with West Perth as he graduates to senior football after three seasons playing in the colts.

The signing of Keitel is on top of the recruitment by West Perth for the 2015 season of centre half-forward Michael Lourey from VFL club Frankston.

Veteran defender Michael Pettigrew has also returned to the club after travelling with work meant he had to miss the 2014 season.

After 103 games in the AFL with Port Adelaide either side of starting his career with West Perth and then returning to his original WAFL club, he is a welcome return for the Falcons in 2015.

Former East Perth and Peel Thunder player Brent Fotheringham is another new signing for West Perth in 2015 along with former West Coast Eagles rookie Callum Papertalk and State 18s player Chris Yarran.

Along with the exciting new recruits the Club is blessed with an abundance of emerging youngsters many of whom played in a drought breaking reserves premiership in 2014. That group of players looking to make their mark as regular league players in 2015 includes Brayden Antonio, Luke Meadows, Kris Shannon, Corey Chalmers, Max Alexander, Aidan Lynch, James Batterham and Mitch van Berlo.

With Sandover Medallist Aaron Black, dual Breckler Medallist Shane Nelson, and a band of emerging young stars including Laine Rasmussen, Marcus Adams, Nick Rodda and Kody Manning, all players who are now experienced, the future looks very bright indeed for the Falcons in season 2015 which kicks off on Friday March 20 at Fremantle Oval against South Fremantle.