Can Duke lead Demons out of abyss?
Carlton premiership player Earl Spalding has been given the task of hauling Perth out of the doldrums after being appointed as the WAFL club's senior coach for the next three years.
The former Fremantle assistant was unveiled as the replacement for sacked coach Damien McMahon last night when he addressed the players at Lathlain Park.
Spalding's appointment has ended a protracted search that lasted almost four months. The 49-year-old was chosen after the club had twice advertised for candidates.
The 1995 premiership forward refused to promise immediate on-field success.
"I love a challenge and the club's certainly got that ahead of it," Spalding said.
"People have written it off as being a basket case and it's far from that. Off the field it's in as good a shape as any club, probably bar Subiaco.
"On the field it's showing a lot of potential and just not being able to finish that off. It's certainly not as bad as people are portraying it to be.
"I know having gone to Melbourne and being lucky enough to play in the finals first year there, that was after a 23-year drought and I know the joy it brought to people who hadn't seen success for a long time.
"Hopefully we get to do the same thing here."
The 211-game AFL forward, known as The Duke, said he wanted the job because he'd always had a soft spot for Perth.
Spalding started his league career with Perth in 1983 and played 63 matches for the club before joining Melbourne.
The Demons claimed this year's wooden spoon after winning only three games and have not played finals since 1997.
Perth offered the position to Spalding after Todd Curley rejected advances, preferring to coach South Fremantle.
It will be Spalding's first senior role at WAFL level since he coached East Fremantle in 2001 and 2002, taking the club from eighth in his first season to fourth the next year. He was axed after his second season.
He has coached Wesley Curtin in the WAAFL for the past five seasons, guiding the senior team to two flags.
