Royals Head South to Take on Peel

AFTER a mixed pre-season campaign the Royals will head south to Mandurah to take on Peel at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday.

After a 37-point loss to last year’s premier, West Perth, in the first of two pre season matches, the Royals bounced back with a two goal win against Swan Districts the following week.

The victory, however, came at a cost, sidelining captain and dual FD Book Medallist, Brendan Lee, with a broken finger that required surgery. Lee is expected to return within 8-12 weeks.

With a win and loss from two encounters in 2013, both teams will be hoping to start 2014 off with a victory.

East Perth will welcome back some familiar faces to their lineup. Brett Dobson, returns for the first time since Round 10 last season, after an injury sidelined him for the better part of 2013. While, Bernie Naylor Medallist, Josh Smith, has regained match fitness following off season surgery in a pre season Reserves appearance and will rejoin the league side this weekend. Wingman, Freddie Clutterbuck, who missed last year’s losing grand final with a hamstring injury will return to the side after some early pre season form.

The WAFL’s premier defender, Kyle Anderson, will be supported in the backline by experienced West Coast Eagles, Will Schofield and Premiership player Sam Butler.

20-year old, Mitch Fraser, who hails from Busselton, will be looking to continue his outstanding debut 2013 season, where he played 16 games including the grand final. 

Fraser is joined by East Perth stalwarts, Paul Johnson, captain Craig Wulff, Steven Payne, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Nathan Blee, who will play his first game for the club since being drafted to Port Adelaide at the end of 2011.

Peel’s side has been bolstered with some AFL experience combined with some reliable stocks.

Garrick Ibbotson, Zac Clarke, Colin Sylvia, Hayden Crozier, Clancee Pearce and Anthony Morabito have been named in the 25-man squad. They will be joined by club regulars, Brendon Jones, new captain James Flaherty, forward Kristin Thornton and Kelvin Lawrence.

Bouncedown is at 2:00pm.