Brayshaw Comeback Huge Boost For Royals

East Perth’s chances of winning an elusive Sullivan Logistics WAFL Premiership have received a major boost with the return from injury of co-captain Hamish Brayshaw.

After spending three months on the sidelines following hamstring surgery, Brayshaw made his comeback in last weekend’s loss to Subiaco.

The Sandover Medallist finished with 23 disposals against the Lions in a promising sign heading into the club’s Elimination Final against South Fremantle on Sunday at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

“I felt good considering it has been 12 weeks since I played,” Brayshaw said.

“I would have loved to have had a half in the reserves to blow out the cobwebs, but I pulled up well.

“I had always planned to return for that game knowing that our ladder position would turn the game against Subiaco into a virtual final, so I’m really happy to get through unscathed and it is a good time of the year to be back.”

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The Royals scraped into the top five by percentage after the Lions fell 1.5% short of displacing their co-tenants in the finals.

While the result was never in doubt in the final quarter, the margin proved a dramatic narrative for everyone at the ground.

“It was one of the weirdest games I have ever played in,” he said.

“We were 40 points down and then our members started celebrating after we kicked a goal to pull the deficit back to 34.”

After consecutive Grand Final defeats, East Perth will have to win four consecutive matches to claim the flag.

“We are as confident as we have ever been,” Brayshaw claimed.

“Last couple of years we have finished near the top, and we’ve done the finals in different ways but to no avail.

“It hasn’t worked for us, so let’s try it from fifth.”

Brayshaw is hoping he’ll be joined in the side by co-captain Christian Ameduri and champion ruckman Scott Jones who are both coming off injuries.

Playing South Fremantle in an Elimination Final provides extra motivation for Ross McQueen and his charges after last year’s Grand Final heartache.

“We don’t forget what happened last year and it certainly would be nice to send them home,” Brayshaw said.

“We have beaten the Bulldogs twice this year in games that don’t mean much, but we all know what is on the line this Sunday.”