New regional academy to reduce travel

Perth's Avon-based colts and under 16's will this preseason train one session a week in Northam as part of the club's recently implemented Regional Development Academy.

The academy aims to cater for the club's large contingent of Avon-based players, minimising their travel time to and from Perth for training.

The squad will train together at Northam's Henry Street Oval on Tuesday evenings and come down to Perth for Sunday morning sessions.

Perth Football Operations Manager Tyson Beattie said the academy will significantly reduce time on the roads for those living in the Avon region.

"It's basically an opportunity for players who live in the Avon and Wheatbelt region to travel to Northam to train on Tuesday as opposed to driving all the way to and from Perth," Beattie said.

"It gives them a chance to train together as a squad. On our first night we had 20 colts aged players involved with the 16's starting next week."

The program is run by Clontarf coaches Jarrod Chipperfield and Matthew Stokes, with Willie Dick Junior helping out as an assistant.

The sessions will mirror what Andrew Ruck has the rest of the squad doing in Perth, and the entire colts squad will come together for Sunday morning sessions.

"The session is exactly the same as what it would be in Perth. Rucky provides the program on Monday morning to Chipper and Chipper and Stokesy implement it," Beattie said.

"During the season the session will be on Monday's to provide those players the chance to recover from playing."

With 12 of the 20 players at Tuesday's opening session having an indigenous background, Beattie said the academy also aims to assist with the club's growing Indigenous catchment in the area.

The Perth Football Club would like to acknowledge Clontarf for helping make the Regional Development Academy possible.