WAFL 2024: East Perth forward Shayne Hille opens up on Royals’ journey from West Coast alignment to purity

Shayne Hille has worn the black and blue coat of arms of East Perth for more than a decade but, at times, feels as if he played for several clubs.

The first 54 of Hille’s 130 games at the Royals were at the end of their much-maligned alignment with West Coast, with the clubs parting ways in 2018.

The separation forced East Perth to almost start again as a club, a rebuild back to a “pure club” that would be arduous with only 21 wins from 62 games over the next four seasons.

Hille, 28, has been there for the ups and downs of the change. And alongside half-back Stan Wright and co-captain Hamish Brayshaw will be the only Royals who played in the last game of the alignment to suit up for the grand final against Peel Thunder at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

“It’s been interesting. I sometimes feel like I’ve been at a few different clubs throughout that time,” Hille said.

“The club in the alignment version, the club trying to find themselves outside of the alignment for a few years and to the position we’re in now.

“It’s been a journey but one I’m proud of as a group that we’ve built to this stage. We’ve done it tough, but it’s been rewarding at the same time in getting to this point.”

Hille made his league debut for the Royals in round six of the 2015 season after coming up through the colts system.

A crafty small forward, Hille would share a changeroom with the likes of Tom Barrass, Eric Mackenzie, Lewis Jetta, Tom Cole and Oscar Allen when they were not in the Eagles’ side.

“It had pros and cons for both sides. The calibre of players at West Coast that they had at the time of their run between 2015 to 2018 which was when I started at the club, you were in awe with some of the players they had running around,” Hille said.

“You knew it was going to take a bit longer to cement yourself in (the best 22). I was lucky with the position of small forward opened up early days and I was able to work myself in there and thankfully been able to hold that spot down for most of my career.

“I am sure a lot of the boys would say it’s frustrating at times but that’s the nature of the business. I think any good club whether it be an aligned or not aligned club, you’re always going to have those challenges when you’re starting your career.”

Ironically, East Perth will look to end a 22-year premiership drought when they take a Peel Thunder side that are bolstered by their alignment with Fremantle.

For the Royals, claiming their 18th flag will complete the rejuvenation of their club in the post-Eagles’ era.

“It’s why we play. You’ve got 22 people who run out there on gameday but it’s a whole club thing and to be there for as long as I have and this is my first league grand final experience, it’s exciting,” Hille said.

“It’s not the be all and end all, but at the end of the day you’ve worked so long, even colts and pre-colts as well, you spend a lot of time and effort so to get that reward at the end would be just that satisfying feeling. And to share it with 22 of your best mates, I don’t think it can get much sweeter than that to be honest.

“As a club to come out the end of what we have and the culture that we’ve built as a playing group but also as a coaching group and supporter base as well, coming out of that alignment phase to get something that is purely ours … to be a pure club again and be a pure East Perth premiership-winning side would be exciting and rewarding for everyone involved.”