EAST Perth coach Tony Micale believes he has a stronger list heading into his second season back in charge of the Royals and sees depth and competition for spots as crucial elements to a successful side.
East Perth has signed up former West Coast champion David Wirrpanda, Brisbane Lions key defender Jason Roe, Wodonga Raiders forward Adam Prior and ruckman Zac Beeck returns from Peel Thunder, with Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls back to the Royals after spending four years at Richmond.
Aaron Sweet and Nick Kane are also returning, and Micale is expecting youngsters like Kyle Anderson, Jye Keath, Curtin Martin and Brett Dobson to gain more opportunities.
Ryan Webster has also returned to join his brother Luke, while Jamie Birrell (Trinity Aquinas) and Brad Ure (East Coast Eagles) are others that could push for a spot. Micale is happy with the new arrivals and overall depth of his squad coming into the 2010 season.
"When you look at recruiting with Wirra, Roe, Zac Beeck, Adam Prior and Oakley-Nicholls coming in, you've got to say that our list is better," Micale said.
"The good thing about our side this year is that it is genuinely competitive for spots. Because of the players we have added to the squad, it gives us plenty more depth and that's important."
Like South Fremantle gained in profile, experience and class last year with the returns of Peter Bell and Jeff Farmer, Micale has already noticed the impact the arrival of Wirrpanda has had.
He had a direct impact on Roe then signing up with the Royals too and Micale is delighted to have both on board for 2010.
"He has been massive just with his influence around the club and his natural ability to mentor the young kids. We've had very few Aboriginal kids at the footy club and all of a sudden now we have a few of them coming on board," he said.
"If it wasn’t for Wirra and Jason Roe, I don’t think that would have eventuated. Wirra was responsible for Roe coming, and then since Roe has come he has warmed to the task and has a terrific job with Aquinas College looking after their Indigenous program. It has all tied in really well."
East Perth's ruck brigade will be one to watch closely in 2010. Beeck returns after two years with Peel Thunder where he earned a state guernsey in 2008 before a 2009 ravaged by injury and suspension.
He elected to return to the Royals where he played 56 games between 2002-07. While Micale is happy with how he's shaping and is confident he has matured sufficiently to stay out of trouble, he is still working out the right way to juggle both him and Zac Clarke when he's back from Fremantle.
"It's going to be interesting with both Zac's. The big one will be what happens to Clarke. The signs are that they will give him some footy with Fremantle, but if and when he comes back to us fitting him and Zac Beeck in will be a major management issue because of the fact that we have guys like Noakesy, Merrington and Prior as our key forwards, along with Shepheard," he said.
"Zac's (Beeck) shown at training that he really has enormous ability to get his hands to the ball and to give you first use of it at the stoppages. That is something that we really missed last year. As much as Zac Clarke was good for us, he was more in the mould of being good around the ground, and he continues to improve his tap work.
"Zac (Beeck) two years ago was state ruckman and he probably would have rucked again last year had he not been suspended. He is still only 27 as well and has shown signs of maturity with his training. We all know he can be a little bit hot-tempered and lose his cool, but he has shown good signs so far. Hopefully we will be able to contain himself throughout the year."
The Royals did suffer two major personnel losses from last season with fairest and best winner and state representative Trevor Oliver having to retire because of a chronic knee problem and key defender Ben Stratton being drafted to Hawthorn.
While they are big losses and will be missed, Micale is confident they can be covered.
"The other thing is that obviously people are talking about who we've lost and they have been more than valuable given they are our fairest and best in Oliver and Stratton. They will be sadly missed because they were key players to our defence and it was very good last year," he said.
"We are looking for some replacements for those guys. Nick Kane is another one who has come back to the club after travelling last year, so we hope that he and Roe can help step up with Stratton gone from our defence."
As well as the big name recruits, Micale is delighted to welcome back Sweet to the club after he took 2009 off after an encouraging 2008. There is also several other young players the coach will be giving more opportunities to.
"Kyle Anderson is a young kid that we gave a few games to last year who we always had the impression and hope that he would come on, so we hope he steps up. There are other guys who are borderline players like Jye Keath and Curtis Martin who are kids that we would like to think will get some sort of a chance," he said.
"Sweet was a highly-rated youngster who gave it away last year and we chased him hard to come back, but couldn’t convince him. He's now had the year off, got whatever he needed to out of his system and he has shown with his training and practice games that he has something to offer."
