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WAFL 2022: East Perth captain Jackson Ramsay looks to premiership team of 1972 to inspire form turnaround

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Mitchell WoodcockThe West Australian
East Perth captain Jackson Ramsay and 1972 premiership player Ken McCaullay with the heritage guernsey they are wearing this weekend.
Camera IconEast Perth captain Jackson Ramsay and 1972 premiership player Ken McCaullay with the heritage guernsey they are wearing this weekend. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West Australian

A wave of emotion hit Jackson Ramsay when he put on East Perth’s replica 1972 premiership guernsey.

The Royals captain is hoping the success of the past will help his side turn around a form slump, having lost six of their last seven mates, when they play Claremont at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

East Perth will run out in front of players from the premiership side of 50 years ago, who defeated Claremont by 15 points in front of more than 46,000 fans at Subiaco Oval.

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Ramsay will wear the same number as Simpson medallist Ken McAullay, who he spent time with earlier this week.

“I told Ken I will be mentioning the 1972 and 2002 premiership sides as a bit extra to the day, a bit more motivation,” Ramsay said.

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“Pulling on the guernsey does feel a bit weird, but also exciting and thrilled to be able to wear the old school guernsey with the collar and no sponsors, it looks good.

“Definitely use it as motivation for Saturday, that’s for sure.”

Ramsay conceded the Royals were under pressure to turn their form around given they’re two games outside of the top five.

“If you look back at our record we’re showing improvement, although we haven’t got the wins on the board yet,” he said.

“You look back at last year and we were out of most games, but this year, apart from the weekend (against Peel Thunder) and Claremont in the wet, we’ve only lost the four games by two goals.

East Perth captain Jackson Ramsay and 1972 premiership player Ken McCaullay with the heritage guernsey they’re wearing this weekend.
Camera IconEast Perth captain Jackson Ramsay and 1972 premiership player Ken McCaullay with the heritage guernsey they’re wearing this weekend. Credit: Michael Wilson/The West Australian

“We’re thereabouts with top sides, but like any side it’s about learning how to win and learning how to finish off games and more importantly getting those wins across the line.

“It’s not all doom and gloom at the club because we’re doing a lot right and showing improvement for the past two years, it’s just the wins that’s the thing that is standing out at the minute.”

Ramsay is trying to string a number of games together after a knee injury cost him most of 2021, while calf and hamstring troubles have restricted him to just six games this year.

“I had knee surgery at the end of the year and the body is playing a bit of catch-up from a limited pre-season,” he said.

“But a new role for me as a high half forward, so hopefully I start to get some continuity. Play against Claremont, have the bye and then attack the last seven or eight games.”

East Perth will regain forward Nick Robertson from a groin injury for the game.

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