by Costas Kastanis
 West Perth Football Club welcomed back one of its favourite sons, Darren Harris, at a luncheon held at The Old Swan Brewery on Friday August 22.
Harris, currently a West Coast Eagles Assistant Coach, played in the Falcons 1995 premiership before returning to coach the team to success in 2003.
The luncheon served as an opportunity for Falcon's sponsors and supporters to meet Harris, and help raise money for football operations and junior development for the West Perth Football Club.
West Perth Promotions Officer Clair Armstrong said West Perth was always happy to bring back one of their own. "Darren is a great supporter of the club and we truly appreciate the time and effort he took to present to our club sponsors, members, and supporters who attended the function," she said.
Harris spoke of his disappointment at news the Eagles were not renewing his contract beyond 2008.
"I didn't see it coming," he said. "But I also understand the industry ... it's a pretty cut-throat industry."
Despite his disappointment, Harris said he was grateful at the opportunity the Eagles had given him.
"I've had three years at the AFL," he said. "I've never played AFL so to be given that opportunity by John (Worsfold) and the footy club has been sensational to me. Now I have that experience behind me it's important that I hold my head up ... and get on with the job."
Harris said he hoped to continue coaching in the AFL. "I think I've still got some unfinished business at AFL level," he said. "I'll definitely be putting my hand up for anything that's available."
He rated sharing the Eagles 2006 Premiership with the people he had built relationships with at the club as the highlight of his AFL coaching stint so far.
"In 10 years time when there's a reunion ... I'll be there and I'll have a big smile on my dial and I'll remember what a good experience that was," he said.
Harris said the opportunity to come back to West Perth was very important to him.
"It doesn't matter wherever I go, my heart is red and blue," he said. "I really love the place."
He said he would have liked to have spent more time back at the Falcons, but the commitments of AFL coaching made that difficult.
Harris has had the opportunity to watch Falcon's games, but as a West Coast official to scout the performance of Eagles listed players.
"I've probably seen 15-20 West Perth games," he said. "Every time I go and watch them I'm meant to be there in a professional sense watching other players for West Coast, but I end up barracking because my heart is with West Perth.
They've been great to me and for as long as I live I'll be indebted to what they've given me."
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