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Royals must keep winning formula

It’s been an up and down season for the East Perth Football Club, starting with a major recruiting coup after signing four-time WAFL premiership coach, and former West Coast assistant coach Tony Micale.

Talks of a disappointing wooden spoon finish emerged for the newly appointed coach, after the Royals slumped to five consecutive losses, which included an embarrassing 56-point loss to wooden spoon contenders Claremont.

Finally a new low was set in WAFL in round 10 when a West Perth fan hurled a wooden spoon at Tony Micale’s head, causing a retaliatory response from East Perth coaching staff.

However since then, East Perth has experienced a mid-season turnaround, winning five of its last six games, including impressive wins over premiership hopefuls Swan Districts, and reigning premier Subiaco.

The Royals must now win their three remaining games this season, and must also rely on West Perth dropping a couple to steal fourth spot, along with an unlikely finals berth.

Currently in outright fifth position on the WAFL ladder, with eight wins, East Perth must defeat Perth at EFTel Oval in Round 20, to set-up an epic showdown with West Perth, before taking on four-time premiership hopefuls Subiaco.

Interestingly, the Royals have defeated Subiaco twice already this season, with both games being decided by less than a kick.

East Perth has also defeated Perth once this season, and has lost to West Perth by seven-points in round 1 and by two-points in the now infamous spoon-gate saga in round 10 at Arena Joondalup.