Discarded Hawk to fire up Demons
Perth’s fresh bid to turn around more than a decade of onfield disappointment has gathered momentum with Hawthorn discard Jarrod Kayler-Thomson agreeing to return to his former WAFL club.
The 25-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Demons after being delisted by the Hawks with just three matches in a short-lived AFL career as a mature-aged rookie.
His signing is a key plank in Perth’s planned resurgence after finishing with the wooden spoon in 2010 behind perennial battlers Peel Thunder in a horror end to Andrew Jarman’s two years at the helm.
The Demons have not made the finals since 1997.
The deal with Kayler-Thomson, who has played 88 matches for Perth, depended on him securing solid teaching prospects.
It is another significant victory for Perth, after former Brisbane forward Matthew Moody re-signed for two years.
Moody, 25, was close to signing with club of origin South Fremantle but changed his mind after discussing Perth’s future with officials.
Recently-appointed football manager Darren Solomon said Moody’s decision was not about money.
“He just really wants to be part of a successful footy club,” Solomon said. “We had to show him how we’re going to improve and how we’re going to work our way up the ladder.”
Perth’s evolution started with the signing of key forward Damon White last month and continued with the appointment of former colts coach Damien McMahon to the senior role.
The off-season moves continued yesterday with the club signing new strength and conditioning coach Sam Robertson.
Defender Aaron Zucconi has also officially re-signed, while forward prospect Aaron Baker will play in the red and black in 2011.
