Perth skipper relaxed, refreshed and ready to rollTHERE'S a renewed sense of optimism at Perth Football Club. The West Australian Football League's perennial cellar-dwellers are building on a fair season in 2008 into one captain Troy Cook hopes will enable his side to close the gap on the traditional power clubs.
One of only two Aboriginal club captains in the WAFL*, Cook is back on deck for his second stint as skipper. He's relaxed, refreshed and ready to lead the Demons back to the promised land: finals football, where they haven't been seen since 1997. Their last premiership came a generation ago in 1977.
Perth has recruited shrewdly in the off-season. Flamboyant South Australian, former Adelaide Crows champion, Andrew Jarman was appointed coach last year. His success rate as coach of North Adelaide speaks for itself. Jarman took the Roosters from being wooden spooners to the finals in 2004 (5th), 2005 (4th), 2006 (3rd) and 2007 (2nd).
A number of key signings have followed, including former Brisbane Lion Matthew Ferguson, one-time St Kilda utility Matthew Moody and West Coast premiership forward pocket Steven Armstrong. One-year Essendon rookie Dean Dick also returns. Together with a core group of 'hungry' players that's experienced nothing but disappointment, it seems all points are heading north for the Demons.
The WAFL premiership season gets underway tonight but Perth must wait until next week because of a first-round bye. The Demons' first game is against Peel in Mandurah. The Perth players will play an intra-club match this weekend.
"We started off well last year but we had a few late injuries late and the season slipped from us," Cook said yesterday of 2008, "where Perth finished in seventh place. "We've got a renewed focus and a new-look place with new-look players, a new coach ... it’s exciting times at the club.
"Andrew's kept things nice and simple. He's brought in a game-plan that's been successful for him. Footy's a simple game so we're keeping it basic. We’ve played Peel, West Perth and East Fremantle in the pre-season and we're getting our game-plans and structures right. Hopefully, we can perform well on the field and win more games than we lose.
"(The recruits are) more about adding experience to our side and to be consistent through the whole year. We can't afford to have lapses, we have to stay in form and win more than we lose. I look forward to playing those better sides and if we're good enough we can press on for the finals."
At 32, and two years free from the rigours of 24/7 life as an AFL footballer, Cook is looking forward to what 2009 has in store.
"The reason I came back is to have those pressures taken off me; I want to have fun while I can and I'm enjoying the place," he said. "Perth was always going to be where I wanted to finish up and I am enjoying my footy. In my last season at Freo, it wasn't as enjoyable. The body's in reasonable shape, the passion to play is still there. I got through pre-season OK. I'm still enjoying the game and I'm ready to go."
Cook said Jarman is good value for the club.
"He's known as a bit of a clown on TV but as a coach he's very professional," Cook said. "He was a great player for Adelaide and for him to accept the job, just having him down here is great for the Perth Football Club. Hopefully, it gets numbers up through the gate."
Cook spent time in South Africa last month doing some work for Fremantle helping develop football among the townships there. Back home, and outside football, he is kept busy working full-time with the David Wirrpanda Foundation.
* South Fremantle's Toby McGrath the other.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Friday, March 20, 2009Updated: Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Last Modified on 24/03/2009 19:20