Fresh Royals on hunt for Victorian scalp
East Perth are confident of overcoming VFL side Williamstown in tonight's Foxtel Cup semifinal at Patersons Stadium after naming a relatively strong team.
The Royals have picked seven West Coast-listed players and a host of regular seniors in their 25-man squad.
Dangling in front of East Perth is the huge carrot of taking on arch rivals West Perth in what would be the first all-WA Foxtel Cup grand final, with $100,000 prize money on the line for the winner.
But they must first get past Williamstown, who won the inaugural Foxtel Cup in 2011 and qualified for tonight's semifinal with a comfortable 45-point triumph over Brisbane-based NEAFL side Aspley at the MCG in May.
East Perth had the bye last weekend and have had plenty of time to prepare for the clash. Coach Brian Dawson said the club was taking the interstate knockout competition seriously despite its main focus lying with the WAFL competition.
"The Foxtel Cup is a great thing to be a part of," Dawson said.
"We're prepared for it and we're certainly going out there to do our best to win."
Dawson has given several players without much league experience the chance to impress at senior level.
Dylan Main (one), Mitchell Howlett (four), Julian Locantro (three) and Callum Hart (10) have played fewer than 20 league games between them, while Steven Wityk has been picked to make his senior debut after playing 70 reserves games over the past four seasons.
"It's a good opportunity for a few of our guys who have been playing well in the reserves that have just had to be patient and wait their turn," Dawson said.
"It's great for a lot of those guys. We're quite happy with our side and I think it's a pretty capable team.
"Williamstown have probably got a few of their regulars that haven't made the trip, so we look forward to the game."
The Williamstown team will feature former South Fremantle players Sean Tighe and Mitch Banner, who both joined the Seagulls this year.
