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Demons could align with Eagles

Demons could align with Eagles

Perth have flagged a desire to replace rival East Perth in four years as the WAFL club aligned to West Coast, so long as the planned $60 million redevelopment of Lathlain Park comes to fruition.

The Demons are a key partner in the Eagles' bid to move their training base away from Patersons Stadium to a revamped Lathlain precinct, which they would share with Perth.

West Coast are aiming to secure the remaining funding and build their new headquarters by the end of 2017, meaning the complex will be up and running by the time their five-year alignment with the Royals ends the following year.

Perth president Vince Pendal said sharing a training venue with the Eagles would be a convincing argument to put to members about any new alignment deal.

"There is already a number of our members who may have been anti to it in the past that have seen the benefits that are flowing to East Perth today," Pendal said.

"With our lack of successes, I'm sure a lot of our members might actually change their mind by the time four years comes around. It'll be reopened and on the cards."

Perth and East Perth have been bookends on the WAFL ladder this season.

The Demons finished last with just three wins while flag favourites East Perth were minor premiers.

West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett said the club's immediate deal with the Royals would not change despite the Lathlain Park commitment.

"It's really up to the clubs to vote on that, whether that continues past the five years, but at the present stage it'll stay with East Perth," Nisbett said.

"Perth have always said that they want to run their own ship and want to run their own football club and they have their independence now. But down the track we'll talk about that."

The existing grandstand at Lathlain Park will be demolished as part of the plans, with a new indoor training and administration base for Perth to replace the old building at a cost of about $10.8 million.

The Demons are submitting a separate funding application to the State Government.