THE PERTH Demons will be aiming to end their long finals drought in 2020, after adding some exciting players to the already talented line-up.
Despite losing the likes of Clint Jones (retired), Cody Leggett (East Fremantle) and Cody Ninyette (South Fremantle), the Demons secured some big names in Chris Masten (West Coast), Fraser McInnes (West Coast), Brady Grey (West Coast) and Kieran Delahunty (NT Thunder) in its bid to play finals for the first time since 1997.
It is worth noting that the Demons only just missed out on finals in 2019, with their percentage (91.8%) inferior to that of West Coast’s Reserves (99.8%), and West Perth (97.5%).
Inspirational skipper Corey Yeo is set to lead the Demons again, while he will be supported by the likes of Lachlan Dennis, Christian Eyres, Brant Colledge, Michael Sinclair and Mitch Henderson. Other players to watch out for include Richard Bourne Jnr, Jacob Coniglio, Guy Langdon and young stars Regan Clarke, and Ethan Hansen.
The Demons’ Reserves team will be aiming to be back playing in finals for the first time since 2017. The Colts team, headed by notable players Logan McDonald and Nathan O’Driscoll, will be out to play in finals for the first time since 2016, when they won the minor premiership. While McDonald and O’Driscoll are clearly the leading players in the Colts line-up, other notable youngsters include Bailey Kane, Conor McPartland, and Jayden Narrier among others.
2020 League Coach: Earl Spalding
2020 League Captain: Corey Yeo
2020 Colts Coach: Michael Pratt
League Gains for 2020: Jack Amos (EP), Kieren Delahunty (NT), Liam Dellamarta (EP), Sam East (EP), Andrew Fisher (WCE), Brady Grey (WCE), Chris Masten (WCE), Fraser McInnes (WCE), Ryan Murphy (Claremont), Jacob Peletier (Subiaco), Jayden Quill (EF), Jack Richardson (CL) Sam Stubbs (Mt Gravatt), Kade Tombides (CL), Dylan Williams (Amateurs).
League Losses after 2019: Clint Jones (Retired), Cody Leggett (East Fremantle), Cody Ninyette (SF).
2020 NAB AFL State-Based Academy Players: Logan McDonald, Nathan O’Driscoll
—
Picture: Daniel Carson/Getty Images