FALCONS GO DOWN IN INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL FESTIVAL GRAND FINAL REMATCH

ANOTHER strong crowd of over 6000 turned out for the annual International Football Festival but West Perth wasn’t able to earn a measure of revenge over Subiaco in the grand final rematch with the Lions winning by 44 points.

The International Football Festival was once again a tremendous success thanks to the City of Joondalup and with a crowd of 6090 watching on, Subiaco kicked 12 of the last 16 goals to with 17.15 (117) to 11.7 (73).

Subiaco made a fast start with the first three goals, but West Perth hit back hard and three goals quickly to start the third quarter saw the Falcons take the lead. But it was their only lead of the afternoon for the home team as the Lions scored the 44-point win in the grand final rematch.

West Perth came into the game without injured pair Chris Keunen and Kody Manning with Seva Mozhaev coming in to take over the rucking duties in his first game since Round 23, 2014. He finished with 57 hit outs and seven possessions.

Without Shane Nelson in the midfield, Subiaco put its attention into shutting down Aaron Black with Brett Mahoney tagging him closely all afternoon. Black still worked hard for 23 possessions, seven tackles and a goal. He's now kicked five goals in three games in 2016.

Captain Jay van Berlo was a tireless worker again for the Falcons with 25 possessions, 10 tackles, four inside-50 entries and two goals.

Aidan Lynch also racked up 27 disposals for West Perth, Trent Manzone 25 (eight inside 50s, five marks) and Andrew Strijk 21.

Michael Lourey kicked four goals from 10 possessions and five marks in attack with Keegan Knott also booting two majors.

Subiaco made a flying start to the grand final rematch with three goals in the opening 14 minutes to Leith Kitchin, Lachlan Delahunty and Dylan Clarke before West Perth got on the board at the 19-minute mark.

Drew Rohde ran into the open goal for the Falcons' opening major and it was backed up soon after with captain van Berlo kicking truly before the Lions kicked the last goal of the quarter through Brett Robinson to lead by 17 points at the first change.

West Perth came out and booted the opening two goals of the second term through Lourey and Knott to get to within four points.

Knott's goal was likely the play of the season so far. Max Duffy grabbed the ball off half-back and launched a torpedo then got through Subiaco's defence, Knott swooped and kicked truly.

The Falcons trailed by just six points at half-time with the game up for grabs in front of the strong crowd.

West Perth then delivered a purple patch with three goals in four minutes to start the third quarter when Black, Lourey and Duffy kicked truly to give the Falcons their first lead of the game.

They moved to 12 points in front of Subiaco after Duffy's goal but the Lions quickly responded when Shaquille McKenzie kicked his first goal at his new club. The Lions went on to kick four more goals before three quarter-time to lead by 25 points.

Goals to Knott, van Berlo and Lourey brought West Perth back within 13 points during the last quarter, but Subiaco kicked six of the last seven goals to record the 44-point win.

The colts contest took place at HBF Arena on Friday night with West Perth dominating Subiaco after a slow start to win 15.11 (101) to 4.7 (31).

The Lions kicked three goals to two in the first quarter but only managed one more major the rest of the night while the Falcons kicked 13 goals from that point to win by 70 points.

Zac Guadagnin, Oscar Allen, Eamon Gilbert, Jayden Hooper and Ewan Larmett all kicked two goals apiece for West Perth.

Liam Baker had a big game racking up 36 possessions while Brody Zanon collected 24 disposals, Joel Horgan 24, Guadagnin 22, Nick Marinovich 19 and Joel Bennett 17.

The reserves contest at HBF Arena then took place on Saturday with Subiaco beating West Perth 16.12 (108) to 11.5 (71).

Shane Bonney, Mark Hamilton and Jordan Mills all kicked two goals each for West Perth while Mitch Peirce racked up 34 possessions, Scott Nelson 21, Nathan Alexandre 19 and Laine Rasmussen 19 to go with 11 tackles.

Michael Ashfield backed up from kicking the winning goal the previous week against Perth with a good game in the ruck for West Perth with 39 hit outs to go with eight possessions.

WEST PERTH        2.1    4.6    7.6    11.7    (73)
SUBIACO        4.6    5.6    10.13    17.15    (117)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Lourey 4; van Berlo, Knott 2; Black, Rohde, Duffy.
Best: Van Berlo, Lynch, Manzone, Lourey, Black, Strijk, Morrow. 
SUBIACO – Goals: Sokol 4; McKenzie, Robinson 3; Shepheard 2; Cockie, Clarke, Delahunty, Wheeler, Kitchin. 
Best: Cockie, Robinson, Sokol, Heal, Mahoney, Horsley, Kitchin.