Clint Jones to lead the Club in 2017

2016 runner-up Butcher Medalist Clint Jones has been named captain for the 2017 season.

Jones will replace Dene White who last month retired from WAFL football.

Senior coach Earl Spalding announced Jones' appointment to the playing group at training last night.

Jones will be supported by fellow leaders Michael Sinclair, Liam McKenna, Aidan Tropiano and Callum Walley who round out the 2017 leadership group.

Jones spent five seasons at South Fremantle between 2002-06, accumulating 84 senior games, two best and fairest medals and a premiership.

He was then picked up by St Kilda in the 2006 Rookie Draft where he played 149 games from eight seasons.

The 33-year-old was recruited by Perth for the 2016 season where he averaged over 34 disposals a game, finishing third in the Sandover Medal and runner-up in the Butcher Medal.

Jones says he is honoured to be named captain of a Club with such rich history.

"There's a lot of history at this footy Club over such a long time so it's a real honour," Jones says.

"Obviously I've only been here a couple of years but hopefully I can fulfill the role as good as those before me."

Jones, well known in football circles as a hard worker, aims to set the training standard and bring teammates up to it. 

"I'll just try and lead by example in the way I train and the way I play, nothing really changes from that perspective," Jones says.

"We'll try and get the young guys up to speed as quickly as we can."

Spalding says Jones' experience and understanding of the game plan made him the obvious choice.

"He understands what we're trying to do in terms of our ball movement and defensive structures," Saplding says.

"With Whitey going a year or two earlier than we hoped, we're probably not quite right to make that choice of appointing a younger guy just yet."

Jones will lead the side out for the first time this Saturday afternoon when we take on Peel Thunder at Rushton Park in our first of two preseason games.

Watch Clint Jones on DeeTV