The reserve grade was in sixth place before the 2021 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the leading reserve grade and under 18s clubs across Group 10 and Group 11 set to merge in 2022 to form the Peter McDonald Premiership, the mindset of many reserve grade clubs are set to change.

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Gunn said there'll be more focus on player development.

"I think going into next year with the new competition format with the Western competition, it'll be about development," he said.

"It'll be heavily targeted towards our young guys, who have graduated out of the 18s in the past three to four years.

"We'll be trying to get as many faces back but we'll be trying to adapt with the new competition, trying to get them into first grade."

While Panthers' reserve grade team will focus on player development, Gunn believes that'll be the focus in the coming years for the rest of the clubs too.

"With reserve grade, the focus point for a lot of clubs will be developing players into first grade," he said.

"Panthers is one club that has a lot of local juniors in first grade, so we're on the front foot there, but in the next three to four years, we'll see a lot of growth for a lot of the clubs."

Gunn labelled Storm Seijka as one of his best players from the 2021 season.

He played a majority of his games in reserve grade, he also played several games in first grade.

Gunn expects Seijka to be one of his bests, if he doesn't get promoted to first grade.

"He played a bit of first grade this year and he looked like he belonged there," he said.

"I think Jake [Betts, Panthers first grade coach] has some great plans for him. If we get a bit of time with him, I think he'll be a standout."

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