Heat on in Perth Derby

ANOTHER defining chapter will be added to one of the West Australian Football League’s most bitter rivalries when East Perth run onto Medibank Stadium on Saturday afternoon to take on old foes West Perth.

With an expected top of 31 degrees, the Falcons will go into the match having won four of the past five in the grand final rematch. However, the Royals have started season 2014 strongly and join Subiaco as the only other unbeaten team after three rounds. 

Kody Manning is one of four inclusions for West Perth. He will play his first game of 2014 after he was given a three week suspension by the match review panel for a late bump on former Royal Arthur Bennell in last year’s grand final. Marc Crisp, Max Alexander and Matthew Spencer are the other inclusions, while Joseph Morrow has been omitted.

For the Royals, eight players from last Friday’s 75-point win over South Fremantle will not take to the field in this weekend’s clash. 

Scott Lycett, Dom Sheed, Josh Hill and Sam Butler have been named as inclusions for an injury riddled West Coast Eagles team. Pat McGinnity, Jeremy McGovern and Jacob Brennan have been listed as emergencies for the Eagles. Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls is in Coffs Harbour, Queensland, as coach of the WA Team in the Kickstart Cup Under 15 Indigenous Football Carnival.

Matt Gordon, Will Magginness and Malcolm Karparny have been selected as replacements for the Royals following good form in the Reserves.

Jacob Payne, Callum Hart, Dylan Main, Steven Wityk, Julian Locantro, Jackson Slater and Mitch Lague have been named in the extended 25-man squad.

Bouncedown is at 2.05pm, with Reserves (11.35am) and Colts (9.05am) to be played earlier.