RETURNING to WAFL Women’s level after starring down south for Donnybrook, East Perth’s Jess Verbrugge is looking forward to her second year back at the top flight in Western Australia. The former South Fremantle junior who played four games for the Bulldogs back in 2022 and went through the Under 18s talent pathway, returned after two years off to run out for the second year Royals.

Verbrugge returned to the WAFL Women’s having won two Nola Marino Medals in the South West Football League, becoming the first ever player to achieve the feat. But the itch that needed scratching was back at state level and the then-19-year-old opted to join East Perth.

“I’m from down south played for Donnybrook down there and I think since playing juniors I’ve been doing the South West Talent Pathway with Jamie Douse,” Verbrugge said of her football beginnings. “From there I did some state programs, state 18s with Beau McDonald which is really good and East Perth I was lucky enough to get an invite from them to come along and since then I’ve been really enjoying playing at the WAFLW level.”

Turning 21 next week, Verbrugge has returned to the Royals where she hopes to build on her first season at the club. In 2024, the midfielder averaged 12.6 disposals, 2.5 marks and 3.8 tackles, finding her fair share of the ball around the contest as East Perth grabbed their first premiership points in women’s club history and avoided the wooden spoon.

Though Verbrugge throughly enjoyed the experience, she admitted towards the back of the year she needed a refresh, which is something she has targeted over the off-season.

“I think I fell out of love with it a bit at the end of last season, and this preseason I’ve really put back into just enjoying the game, enjoying the process and loving the game,” she said.

Verbrugge is not the first footballing talent to come from Donnybrook, with Fremantle’s Dana East following the same pathway. East also switched to the region-aligned Royals last season, having played for Swan Districts prior to East Perth having a team, and is the player Verbrugge looks up to from the top level.

“I’ve really enjoyed watching her pathway and to the level she’s got up at playing for Fremantle Dockers and I enjoy talking to her when I get to hang out with her,” Verbrugge said. “I love watching her keep growing.”

The Fremantle supporter is expecting to play a balance of inside and outside midfield in the 2025 WAFLW season, with her goal of improving her physicality around the ball, overhead marking and consistency on her to-do list.

Recording the top score in the yo-yo test at the recent WAFLW Preseason Testing event, Verbrugge showcased her gut-running which she regards as one of her strengths.

“For me, fitness and my speed are my strengths, and probably my favourite part of the game, and I think my team values or my leadership is another strength of mine that I enjoy,” she said.

The East Perth midfielder is keeping it simple when it comes to what she wants to achieve both individually and as a team collective.

“Individually I just want to be really consistent with my games,” Verbrugge said. “I feel like i was a bit up and down all over the shop last year, so consistency is a goal for myself. “And as a team, I would really love us just to push ourselves and go out there and enjoy it and play as a united front.”

East Perth has trial games against East Fremantle and South Fremantle on March 8 and 15 respectively in the lead-up to the opening night action against Swan Districts at home.