STABILITY of the coaching staff has played a big part in West Perth's success in recent seasons and that's again the focus in 2016 with league coach Bill Monaghan in his eighth season in charge and colts mentor Craig Thomas his sixth.

West Perth has either taken part in finals or only narrowly missed out in all seven seasons that Monaghan has been in charge with a premiership and grand final appearance along the way the highlights.

Now for 2016 stability throughout the entire coaching staff structure is the key.

Monaghan will continue to extend his time as the longest ever league coach in the club's history with his assistants again being Craig Smoker, Paul Sanzone and Joe Commande.

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WEST Perth kicked the first two goals at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday but that was about as good as it got with South Fremantle handing the Falcons a second straight 35-point Round 1 WAFL defeat.

Things started positively for the Falcons but ultimately it was the same result as the corresponding fixture 12 months ago.

On that night down at the port to open 2015, South Fremantle beat West Perth by 35 points.

However, it's no time to panic for the Falcons considering they went on to make the grand final in 2015 and the Bulldogs won just seven more games for the season to end up in seventh position well out of finals contention.

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WEST Perth started the 2016 season, as they did their last, with a loss to South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Saturday. The Falcons started the game well, kicking the first two goals, but after that the Bulldogs took control and ran out 35-point winners. West Perth wasn’t able to match the run and ball use of the home team.

The Falcons got off to a dream start kicking the first two majors within five minutes. The first went to the skipper, Jay van Berlo, who received a free 30 metres out and the second to new recruit Max Duffy who scored with his second kick for his new club. This was after marking and kicking from just inside 50. It was the first of three for the day in what was a promising debut.

At the 15-minute mark Ashton Hams, who had a prolific first quarter during which he racked up 15 possessions, kicked a behind that gave the Bulldogs the lead; one they didn’t relinquish the rest of the game. The Bulldogs big men up forward were having a big influence. Mason Shaw and Ben Saunders were causing all sorts of problems and were getting plenty of it as a result of a dominant midfield.

Souths kicked five in a row before Aaron Black found Nick Rodda in the square. His kick reduced the margin to 13 at the 25-minute mark. The Bulldogs kicked another before Michael Lourey scored his first from 30 to reduce the margin to 12 at the first change. On the run of play the Falcons were lucky to be that close. The scores were 6.1 (37) to 4.1 (25).

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WEST Perth's 2016 WAFL season begins on Saturday at Fremantle Community Bank® Oval with the Garlic Munchers Cup on the line against South Fremantle.

The Falcons lost the corresponding fixture to begin 2015 at the port to the Bulldogs but went on to have a strong season making the grand final.

Now West Perth's aim will be to get 2016 off to a positive note even if 2013 premiership stars Shane Nelson, Steven Browne, Steve Potente and Laine Rasmussen won't be there for Round 1.

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WEST Perth coach Bill Monaghan comes into his eighth season in charge of the Falcons feeling as though his team is ready to have a crack at going one step better than 2015, but only hard work will enable that to happen.

Monaghan is West Perth's longest serving coach heading into his eighth season in charge having already led the Falcons to a premiership in 2013 and grand final in 2015.

Last year was a tremendous effort by the Falcons to qualify for the grand final, but that last Sunday in September didn’t go to plan resulting in a 66-point loss to Subiaco.

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WEST Perth's leadership will have a new look for the 2016 WAFL season with Jay van Berlo to take over as the sole captain with the Falcons.

Van Berlo has shared the captaincy role with Luke Tedesco the last two seasons since the retirement of premiership skipper Jason Salecic.

However, some growing commitments off the field have meant that Tedesco has decided to step down from his co-captaincy leaving van Berlo to take on the role solo for the 2016 season.

Van Berlo has now played 123 matches for the Falcons and is a 2013 premiership player and Breckler Medal winner from 2008.

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WEST Perth will officially launch its 2016 WAFL season this Thursday night at HBF Arena with it also including the Jumper Presentation and Corporate Classic and a special chance to spend an evening with the legendary Kevin Sheedy.

The 2016 season is quickly approaching ahead of Round 1 against South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval on Saturday March 19.

And Thursday night will provide a special way to launch the Falcons' campaign for 2016.

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A huge week at HBF Arena will conclude on Saturday with a massive afternoon and evening planned for the Falcons Family Day as West Perth continues to gear up for the 2016 WAFL season.

The afternoon begins with West Perth's reserves taking on Perth in the final pre-season hit out ahead of the season opener against South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval. The league side then also takes on the Demons at 6pm.

A fortnight before our first game in the home and away season, it will be a great opportunity to not only see the senior teams in action but to also bring the family for plenty of activities and to see some premiership greats of the club in action too.

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WEST Perth will still be opening its 2016 WAFL season against South Fremantle in Round 1 but it will now be in the afternoon and not at night as originally fixtured.

The Bulldogs were set to host West Perth under lights at the port to open the 2016 season on Saturday March 19. However, it was determined the lighting couldn’t be increased to a sufficient broadcast standard without affecting playability.

The fixture remains at Fremantle Oval on Saturday March 19 but instead of a night clash, it will now be in the afternoon as South Fremantle hosts West Perth with the Garlic Munchers Cup at stake.

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WEST Perth's preparations for the 2016 WAFL season heat up on Saturday in the first pre-season match against Subiaco at Medibank Stadium in scorching conditions.

With the temperature expected to get near 40 degrees, the 2.15pm bounce down will make it difficult for the players of both teams in the grand final rematch, but the Falcons will be looking to build some momentum after a strong summer of work.

West Perth coach Bill Monaghan has been happy with the pre-season of his team, but knows every other coach in the league will be saying the same thing at this time of year.

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