Pre Season v. West Perth

EAST Perth have started their first competitive scratch match of the 2014 pre-season with a 37-point loss at the hands of West Perth under lights at Medibank Stadium on Friday.

Freddie Clutterbuck kicked the only goal of the night in the opening minutes of the third quarter in the Royals’ 1.5 (11) to 7.6 (48) loss.

The Royals’ blooded their youth with only five members (Brendan Lee, Steven Payne, Jarrad Oakley Nicholls, Paul Johnson and Mitch Fraser) of last year’s losing Grand Final team taking a place in the lineup.

Colts including Tom Hodgson and Tom Shanahan played their first senior game for the Royals as did Reserves regular, Jackson Slater. 

Reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist Josh Smith, co-captain Craig Wulff, defender Kyle Anderson and Dean Cadwallader missed the match. 

League regular Garry Moss, who is still recovering from an ACL injury that kept him sidelined for the better part of 2013, was a Runner in the Reserves match.

The Royals’ take on Swan Districts in a second pre season hit out next Saturday afternoon before season proper against Peel Thunder on March 22.