Perth chief executive Jared Bell says retaining a core group of players is key to ensuring Perth remains primed for success in the coming years after extending a star quartet of players.
On Tuesday, Perth announced Charlie Constable, Blake Schlensog and Aaron Clarke would remain at Lathlain until 2026, while Brandon Parfitt is set to stay until 2026.
The quartet have been a revolution for the Demons, who ended almost three decades of pain and no finals wins with a comeback victory against East Fremantle in the elimination final two weeks ago.
Constable and Parfitt were pivotal in forming a formidable midfield duo, served by Schlensog in the ruck, who has gone up another level this year to become a handy goal kicker.
Meanwhile, Clark finished fourth in the Bernie Naylor Medal count with 37 goals – not including his eight goals kicked in finals.
Speaking to SportFM, Bell said locking away these players would help with Perth’s continued growth and development moving forward.
“We’ve brought in some pretty significant signings and fantastic to have Charlie, Blake, and Aaron sign on until 2027,” he said.
“That was probably our first priority is retaining these key players. Those boys are only going to help the development coming through.
“We’ve seen some players step up from our Colts this year and over the last couple of years. Some of these young boys are now playing 30, 40, 50 league games and really developing and coming on.”
Bell says there are still some other players to lock away at the club in the meantime.
He also says the club is looking into ways to strengthen other areas of its list as it chases further success in the future.
“The conversation’s already been had between Mark and Brad and the football department about what we need to bring in and looking outside of our four walls,” he said.
“Whether that’s other players from within the WAFL competition, or whether we need to look at recruiting from over east. Those conversations have been had.
“Positions like a key back is probably one that stands out as an important first step, and also, I guess another midfielder as well.”
Although the season came to an end against Claremont this weekend, Perth has left this season optimistic about its future after winning its first final since 1997 the week prior.
However, this season has renewed belief among the Demons’ faithful, with fans showing up more and more each week, and in droves during their two finals against East Fremantle and Claremont over the past fortnight.
Bell says he hopes to keep repaying members for their loyalty with continued on-field success.
“Everyone has just had to see the smiles on everyone’s faces after,” he said.
“It was a pretty special moment for not just the current boys, but also the past players, and some of the members who have been through some pretty lean times.
“It’s just been incredible, our support from our sponsors to the volunteers that have stuck with us over the last 28 years that we’ve had such a lean run.
“Hopefully, now we can repay them with a bit more success moving forward, and that will put us in good stead.”
IMAGE: Salt Diaries