IMPRESSIVE FALCONS BEAT SWANS IN ANZAC ROUND

WEST Perth hit back impressively from a couple of tough weeks to deliver a strong performance to beat Swan Districts by 31 points in ANZAC Round at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

 

It was a relatively even battle in what was the sixth straight meeting to commemorate Anzac Day between the growing rivals with the Falcons only managing to lead by 12 points at quarter-time and then four points at the main break.

 

But the Falcons turned it on with seven unanswered goals during the third quarter to set up the eventual 15.6 (96) to 9.11 (65) victory at Steel Blue Oval.

 

It improved West Perth to a 2-2 record on the season as the Falcons rebounded from losses to East Perth and South Fremantle since an opening round victory against Claremont at HBF Arena.

 

It was yet another remarkable performance in the midfield for West Perth by triple Breckler Medal winner Shane Nelson. He amassed 47 possessions to go with nine marks, three tackles, three inside-50 entries and a goal in a dominant display.

 

He had plenty of support through the middle for the Falcons too with Corey Chalmers racking up 28 possessions, Trent Manzone 27, Aaron Black 26, Luke Meadows 24, Blake Wilhelm 23 and Kris Shannon 17.

 

Jay van Berlo continued his new role spending more time forward so far in 2018 and the former captain kicked two goals to go with 21 possessions and 12 marks.

 

Tyler Keitel kicked three goals from 13 possessions and seven marks with Keegan Knott, Rudy Riddoch and Michael Lourey booting two goals too for West Perth.

 

West Perth also had two debutants with Connor West playing well with 15 possessions and six tackles while Baylee James contributed eight disposals, three marks and three tackles.

 

Swan Districts was looking to bounce back from last week's 96-point loss to Subiaco and came out encouragingly with the first two goals of the game, both courtesy of Brayden Noble in the opening 12 minutes.

 

But West Perth responded impressively with the next four goals through Shane Nelson, Kody Manning, Tyler Keitel and Jay van Berlo to head into the first change with a 12-point lead.

 

Swans got a goal back to start the second term thanks to Jackson Slater before an immediate West Perth reply to Michael Lourey.

 

The Falcons pulled further away when Rudy Riddoch kicked his first against his old team but the black-and-whites finished the half strongly with goals to Todd Banfield and Matthew Rogers to be within four points at the major break.

 

West Perth then came out in the third quarter and displayed its best football so far of the 2018 season to put the game beyond doubt.

 

Keitel got things rolling with a couple of early goals for the Falcons before Chris Keunen and Ben King both converted from 50m penalties. By the time Keegan Knott had added a couple and Riddoch his second, the Falcons held a match-winning 44-point lead at three quarter-time.

 

Swans coach Adam Pickering swung Tony Notte forward and Corey Gault back for the last quarter. Notte kicked an early goal for Swans and then Levi Ridley, Rhys Palmer and Adam Faulkner did as well in response to van Berlo's second for West Perth.

 

That gave Swans a brief glimmer of a comeback but it didn’t last and Lourey kicked the game's last goal as the Falcons cruised to the strong 31-point triumph.

 

West Perth's reserves also had a solid 14.13 (97) to 9.12 (66) victory in the reserves at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

 

Brayden Antonio and Mitch Antonio kicked three goals each for West Perth as did Dylan Yem.

 

Scott Nelson racked up 35 possessions for the Falcons, Mitch Peirce 25, Liam Tedesco 22, Tom Boyes 19, Dean Munns 18 and Yem 15.

 

Swan Districts' colts bounced back well from their first loss of the season to beat West Perth by 71 points at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday.

 

Swans had lost their top-of-the-table clash to Subiaco at Leederville Oval the previous Saturday but bounced back strongly on home turf as part of Anzac Round to beat West Perth 14.10 (94) to 3.5 (23).

 

Swan Districts kicked the only four goals of the first quarter and then again kicked four goals to nil in the third term, and four goals to one in the last to come away big winners.

 

West Perth's goals came courtesy of Ben Johnson, Jack Burke and Koopah Todd.

 

Nathan Murray gathered 28 possessions for West Perth, Alec Johnson 23, Filimone Muavou 21, Bailey Chalmers 20 and Todd 18 to go with 11 marks.

 

West Perth stays on the road to head to Lathlain Park on Saturday to play a Perth side that is coming off a 37-point loss to East Perth on Saturday.

 

 

WEST PERTH – Goals: Keitel 3; Lourey, van Berlo, Knott, Riddoch 2; Nelson, Keunen, King, Manning.

Best: Nelson, Manzone, Wilhelm, Meadows, Chalmers, van Berlo, Keitel, Black.

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Noble 2; Palmer, Faulkner, Rogers, Banfield, Slater, Notte, Ridley.

Best: Palmer, Turner, Notte, Riggio, Ellard, Payne, Watson.