WINNING RUN COMES TO AN END

ALL good things must come to an end and that was the case at HBF Arena on Saturday when South Fremantle was too good for the West Perth. The Bulldogs prevailed by 35 points after making the most of their scoring opportunities.

Both teams had the same number of scoring shots but the Bulldogs' use of the football and strong marking by their key forwards was the difference between the two teams.

The Falcons kicked the first major of the day courtesy of big man Mark Hamilton who marked 20 metres out. His accurate kick gave West Perth the dream start but from here it was all South Fremantle as they took control and peppered the goals.

Ben Saunders kicked two of his six goals to get the first couple for the Bulldogs. When South Fremantle second gamer Brandon Donaldson kicked his first the visitors had well and truly wrested back the advantage to lead by 13 at the 25-minute mark.

Shortly after Corey Chalmers got one back for the Falcons when he soccered one from the goal line after a scrambled kick forward by Max Duffy but the last score of the quarter belonged to the Bulldogs. Another one of South Fremantle’s big forwards, Mason Shaw, marked 20 out and as his kick split the middle on the siren to give the Bulldogs a 13-point lead; 4.3 (27) to 2.2 (14).

The second term was dominated by the home team but unfortunately this was not reflected on the scoreboard. The Falcons had 10 scoring shots to two but only scored three majors. West Perth had the first seven scores of the quarter and the first was a goal to Duffy who scored from 30.

At the five minute mark Andrew Strijk was on the end of a series of passes and he marked 30out on the boundary. His accurate kick brought up the first of his four for the day and tied up the scores. Strijky was undoubtedly the most dangerous Falcons forward. The next four shots all were behinds, however, and as a result West Perth led by four midway through the term. South Fremantle then had its best minute of the quarter kicking two quick goals including a third to Saunders and second to Donaldson.  Strijk kicked his second after taking the ball off the back of the pack and two more behinds followed before the half-time siren. The scores were all tied up; 5.9 (39) to 6.3 (39).

Just as West Perth had the better of the second term the Bulldogs did it in the third. The difference was that South Fremantle finished much better, often from on or just outside 50. There wasn’t a score until the 10-minute mark as both teams battled to control the game. The score was a behind to West Perth and it was to be their only score for the quarter. From here it was all South Fremantle as its midfield took control and big men dominated the marking contests.

The Bulldogs kicked six unanswered goals with Saunders and Shaw kicking two each. It wasn’t until the 31-minute mark that the visitors kicked a behind. As a result the match was out of the Falcons reach at the final change as South Fremantle led 12.4 (76) to 5.10 (40).

The final quarter was an even contest with both teams kicking four goals. West Perth had the better of the term by a point. Shaw kicked his third to start the term before Strijk kicked the next two to reduce the margin to 30 at the 12-minute mark. Shaw and Saunders kicked their fourth and sixth respectively to put the game completely out of reach. It is fair to say that West Perth missed the big body and defensive work of the injured Nick Rodda.

The last two Falcons goals went to Joel Leeson and Corey Chalmers but at the final siren West Perth had suffered its first defeat in eight games; 16.6 (102) to 9.13 (67).

The other results went the Falcons way and they sit a game clear in third spot ahead of East Fremantle and Peel. These are the two teams that West Perth play in the next two weeks so their fate is very much in their own hands. Victory against both of these teams can go a long way towards setting up a top three finish.

It wasn’t a great day for the home team with the colts and reserves also going down. The reserves were in it for a long way but were just over run in the final quarter after leading for large parts of the game.

Players to receive an award in the league included Blake Wilhelm, Shane Nelson, Dean Munns and best was Andrew Strijk.

Congratulations to Luke Tedesco who played his 150th game. It is a well-deserved honour for a bloke who has been a credit to the football club and himself. Back at HBF Arena next week for the Sharks. See you there.

BY DARRELL KENT
PHOTOS BY BELINDA TYAYLOR