FALCONS TOP UP ATTACKING WEAPONS WITH DUFFY, LEESON

GIVEN the strength of West Perth's playing squad with the majority of the group back again for 2016, there was little room for wholesale changes but adding skilful and quality finishers never goes astray which is where Max Duffy and Joel Leeson fit in.

Aside from the drafted Marcus Adams, retired Ray Bartholomew and Marc Crisp, and the departed Matt Johnson and Jordan Jones, the majority of the West Perth playing group from 2015 will be returning in 2016.

With Seva Mozhaev (Martin), Max Alexander and Shayne Zanetti back as virtual new recruits after missing most, if not all, of 2015 as well there wasn’t a great need for West Perth to go on a recruiting spree to try and improve on a season that saw them finish in second spot and make the grand final.

However, adding two players who are good ball winners with elite kicking skills is something that can help the Falcons improve and Duffy and Leeson both appear set to have a significant impact at West Perth in 2016.

Duffy has elected to sign with West Perth rather than return to East Fremantle for 2016 after finding himself delisted by Fremantle at the end of 2015.

After playing his development football with Perth, Duffy joined East Fremantle to begin playing colts football in 2011 and he has always been a player of considerable talent.

He played the first 15 league games of his career for 33 goals with the Sharks in 2012 and subsequently was drafted by the Dockers.

He continued to play 12 more games with East Fremantle for 16 goals in 2013 and the last two years has played in the WAFL with Peel Thunder in 24 matches for 30 goals.

The 22-year-old also played one AFL game in each of the last two years with Fremantle and despite showing he could handle the top level, he found himself off their list at the end of 2015.

However, given he is yet to turn 23 and has tremendous natural ability and continue to improve his fitness and decision-making, not only can he be a standout WAFL player but there's no reason he still can't have an AFL future.

Duffy joins West Perth with the ability to provide another dangerous goal scoring option but he also has the opportunity to spend time further up the ground where he can win plenty of the ball, and has proven more than able to run and carry it to set up attacking forays.

Leeson is the other new arrival at West Perth for 2016 and with his elite kicking skills he will be a tremendous fit for the Falcons either through the middle, across half-forward or potentially even off half-back.

The 24-year-old previously played 49 league matches for 56 goals with Perth having made his debut in 2010. While he wasn’t at the Demons in 2015, he kept himself in good touch and shape and is now ready to make a significant impact at WAFL level with his second club.

West Perth coach Bill Monaghan is looking forward to adding Duffy and Leeson to the attacking weapons he has at his disposal.

"We were trying to find ways of scoring more and Max has natural ability to find the ball and to do things with the ball in the front half that a lot of players can't do," Monaghan said.

"We are going to give him the licence to try and score, and create scoring opportunities. We have also added Joel Leeson from Perth and between the two of them they have played 100 WAFL games and we think that will add to a good band of small to mid-forwards that we've got.

"We might also be able to release a (Steve) Potente, (Luke) Meadows or (Kody) Manning further up the ground as well as so we are really looking forward to having Max and Joel at the club. Hopefully that will create a few more goals."