SANFL: West Adelaide wants to cement a legacy as a premiership-winning footy club

WEST Adelaide’s drought breaking premiership side has already resolved not to let another 32 years pass before it wins another flag.

27/09/15 - Colour photos from SANFL Grand Final at Adelaide Oval between West Adelaide and Woodville West Torrens. West Adelaide players singing the club song. Photo Tom Huntley

WEST Adelaide’s drought breaking premiership side has already resolved not to let another 32 years pass before it wins another flag.

The Bloods overpowered Woodville-West Torrens at Adelaide Oval on Sunday to win their first flag since 1983 and made the biggest improvement by a club in a single season since South Adelaide came from bottom to win the 1964 flag.

West was ninth last year but internally believed 2014 was a wasted season and set about improving the standards across the club.

Since World War II the Bloods have seemingly been in a position to become a football powerhouse after previous premierships — 1947, 1961 and 1983 — but it has never come to fruition.

Football manager Andrew Marks said the players had already spoken about wanting to make this era different.

“You can see the progression of this football club to get to this point and now we’ve got to keep that going,’’ Marks said.

Bloods win SANFL Grand Final

“Our junior program is one of the best around. Seventeen of the premiership players were from our zone and we’ve not got kids who are desperate to play for West Adelaide.

“We’re in a strong position to develop a successful culture.”

Premiership player Taite Silverlock echoed Marks thoughts: “We don’t want to be a side that wins a flag and then falls away,’’ he said.

“Why let your supporters wait that long again? We want to set the standard the way Central did and then Norwood.”

In a great sign for the club, Marks wasn’t aware of any premiership player who planned to retire.

There is some doubt about whether Travis Tuck will back up but Marks said he hadn’t been given that indication.

Jason Porplyzia wants to play on in 2016.

Aaron Francis, Hugh Haysman, Will Snelling, Jack Agostino and Riley Bonner are all draft hopefuls.