Jack Petruccelle Biography

Jack Petruccelle hopes a detailed off-season program designed to improve his flexibility can help him leave his soft-tissue injuries behind.

"A guy called Jake Lalich wrote me up a really nice program that had me doing something every single day to improve that. Sit and reach was the main test for me, and I did improve and could feel my flexibility getting better," he said.

"It's something I've never gone above and beyond with before, so I decided to have a play with that and see how that would look for me, just to hopefully strengthen my body, improve my flexibility a little bit, and hopefully steer clear of any soft tissue injuries this year."

Liam Ryan signs a contract extension with West Coast to remain at the club until the end of 2023.

Jack Petruccelle's blistering runs have become so popular he has been nicknamed 'Sonic the Hedgehog', and recently featured in a fan-made video showing him outrunning Usain Bolt, racing cars and greyhounds to the tune of Queen's hit Don't Stop Me Now that went viral.

"I have seen it, I had a good laugh with my mum watching that. She couldn’t stop laughing, she was in hysterics," Petruccelle said.

"None of the players call me that (Sonic). I think it's just a fan thing. I just get 'Petch' from the players."

Jack Petruccelle is the 2019 AFL Rising Star round 5 nominee after kicking goals from 18 disposals and 7 marks in West Coast's 42-point loss to Port Adelaide at Optus Stadium.

"There was a shining light tonight, and it was 'Petch'," West Coast coach Adam Simpson said after the loss.

"That was our only avenue [to goal] ... Unfortunately, If we didn't get it in 'Petch's' hands, we didn't score, which is great for a six- or seven-game player."

Jack Petruccelle makes his AFL debut for West Coast at Perth Stadium with 4 disposals (a kick and 3 handballs), a mark and a tackle in an 8-point win over Fremantle.

West Coast draftee Jack Petruccelle wants to light up the AFL stage with his blistering pace but is also keen to show he's more than just a speed demon.

"I like to play to my strengths – use my speed and my athletic ability. I back myself in the air, can take a good mark, and I'm a little bit of a goalsneak; I like to get forward and kick a goal," Petruccelle said.

"That (speed) is really all that's been talked about (with) me, but I'd love to prove that there's a lot more to my game than just the speed."