Porplyzia and Willits Join Westies

PORPLYZIA JOINS WESTIES



By ZAC MILBANK | Twitter @zacmilbank

West Adelaide has enticed Jason Porplyzia back to Richmond, with the retired Crow inking a one-year contract for season 2015.

Porplyzia, who was the Bloods’ 2005 best-and-fairest, will combine his playing role with a job in the front office at Milner Road.

The 29-year-old will be the club’s Centre of Excellence co-ordinator, administering West’s Under-18 and Under-16 sides three days a week.

‘’It’s absolutely fantastic news as it is really important to have our home grown talent come home,’’ West Adelaide football manager Andrew Marks said.

‘’With Jason’s experience, he has got so much to offer the young guys at the footy club.

‘’He’ll administer the needs of those two sides and his interest is also with strength and conditioning so he will have the opportunity to influence a couple of those developing boys in that area.’’

Porplyzia, who kicked 181 goals from 130 AFL matches between 2006 and 2014, is expected to play a variety of roles on the field for Bloods coach Mark Mickan.

‘’He will strengthen our midfield, there no doubt about that,’’ Marks said.

‘’For his size (177cm and 80kg), Jason is a great mark and a great kick from a forward line point of view.

‘’And we noticed when he played for the Crows’ SANFL side that he also played a bit across half-back as well so with his nice kick, that could be quite penetrating for us.’’

The Bloods have also welcomed back former Power bigman Ryan Willits, who last played for the club in the 2012 SANFL Grand Final.

The 27-year-old – who measures in at 198cm and 98kg – has spent the past two seasons playing for Montmorency in Victoria.
‘’He will play a very similar role to the one he played before he left,’’ Marks said of Willits.
‘’He adds depth to our talls in the ruck, up forward and down back.’’

Great announcements, spelling needs some work on the Official site though.

Well that's three good signings now. Porplyzia could be as good as any recruit to any SANFL club for 2015. And he could be a real magnet for kids in his role at the club.

Excellent news. Congratulations to all those involved in these signings. It would have been a disaster to see Porplyzia playing against us. He will add much needed structure and goal-sense to our forward line. Surely he wouldn't play in the backline.
Never saw Bruce (Willets) as a natural ruckman but he is a huge unit, still only 27 and it will be interesting to see how his ruck skills develop under Mark Mickan.

F Webb Hardy Fielke

HF Beech Willits Porplyzia

C Stevens Schmidt Silverlock

HB Ezard Milne Keough

B A.Anderson Hartlett Caire

Ruck Nelson TUCK Helbig

Int Hill Newell Green Favretto

Richmond Rocker wrote:F Webb Hardy Fielke

HF Beech Willits Porplyzia

C Stevens Schmidt Silverlock

HB Ezard   Milne        Keough

B A.Anderson Hartlett Caire

Ruck Nelson TUCK Helbig

Int Hill Newell Green Favretto

There's a possibility you might have to take Johnno Beech out of that side R.R. rumors are the Crows are showing a fair bit of interest in him, he could be playing against us if he was put on their rookie list. But good luck to Beechy.

Helbig,Porplyzia and Willits. Three very good recruits.
Well done recruiting committee

If Beech gets drafted we must find a key forward

Thanks Lachlan, we think that fills our needs well.

If Beechy is drafted, we have plans in place to try to cover him.

I really hope Johnno is picked up. He's been an example to all players and deserves a chance at a higher level.

Pretty stoked about this news!

the tractor wrote:Pretty stoked about this news!

Tremendous news (and we keep Beech) Will be travelling up from Meningie regularly for games

Coorong wrote:

the tractor wrote:Pretty stoked about this news!

Tremendous news (and we keep Beech) Will be travelling up from Meningie regularly for games

Would love to catch up with you sometime during the season Coorong.