Player Signing – Mitch Howlett joins Swan Districts

SWAN Districts has bolstered its playing stocks with the signing of former East Perth ball magnet Mitch Howlett which will see him join the club with immediate effect. 

Having previously played 26 games at WAFL level with East Perth and proving himself a prolific ball winner, strong contested player, goalkicker and good user of the ball, he joins Swan Districts with the ability to be a significant addition for the Black Ducks moving forward.

Originally from Busselton, Howlett played his colts football at East Perth which also saw him part of the State Academy 18s in 2011.

He graduated to senior football in 2012 where he would play 17 reserves matches for the Royals before breaking through for his league debut in Round 15, 2013. He impressed as well with 18 possessions against Peel Thunder.

Howlett would go on to play four games that season at league level with East Perth but couldn’t quite hold his place come finals time as the West Coast-boosted Royals reached the 2013 Grand Final.

It was another Grand Final year for East Perth in 2014 with Howlett managing seven games for the season including a Foxtel Cup appearance. 

He played some impressive football too in the back half of the season averaging 21.1 disposals but again lost his place come finals time due to the availability of AFL-listed players from West Coast.

Howlett cemented himself in East Perth's league team in 2015 going on to play 15 games and kick 14 goals, but unable to break into the side early in 2016 largely due to the Royals alignment with West Coast, he decided to leave the club.

Now he is ready for another crack at WAFL football.

Given former East Perth teammates Steven Payne, Freddie Clutterbuck and Jackson Slater are all at Swan Districts and he has had Adam Pickering as his reserves coach and league assistant previously with the Royals, the Black Ducks were the ideal choice for him to resume his WAFL career.

The 26-year-old is a chance to play his first game for Swan Districts as early as next Saturday against West Perth at Joondalup Arena.