STRIJK SPARKS FALCONS THUMPING OF SHARKS

WEST Perth delivered another impressive performance hammering East Fremantle by 88 points at Joondalup Arena on Saturday with Andrew Strijk delivering a career-best effort but his act was far from a lone hand.

 

The WAFL resumed on Saturday following the State game break which saw Western Australia beat South Australia in Adelaide for the first time in 24 years.

 

The Falcons had been in good form prior to the break winning two consecutive matches and then putting in the most competitive showing anyone has managed against Subiaco to date so they had every reason to be confident ahead of hosting the Sharks.

 

East Fremantle had suffered three disappointing losses to South Fremantle, Swan Districts and East Perth prior to the break, but would have been hoping the week off helped them find a way to be competitive.

 

It wasn’t the case, though, with West Perth kicking four goals in the opening seven minutes. The Falcons went on to kick four goals in five minutes just before half-time, the only two majors of the third quarter and then another nine goals to five in the last term.

 

That all set up the emphatic and comprehensive 24.14 (158) to 10.10 (70) victory for West Perth that improves the Falcons to a 4-3 record on the season in third position.

 

West Perth was playing its first game at Joondalup Arena in five weeks and put in a dominant performance finishing with 81 more possessions than East Fremantle, 13 more marks, 26 more inside-50 entries and 38 scoring shots to 20.

 

Bafflingly despite the fact that clearly the game plan isn’t working, East Fremantle persists with trying to play with an AFL-style approach of kicking short, maintaining possession across half-back and through the middle before attempting to go forward.

 

That saw the Sharks take 100 marks from their 203 kicks in the game, but they only went inside-50 on 35 occasions for the entire game and never gave themselves a chance to be competitive.

 

Andrew Strijk's performance for West Perth was remarkable. In the 215th appearance with the Falcons in his glittering career, he kicked more than five goals for the first time and delivered eight majors to go with 23 possessions and 10 marks.

 

There were plenty of other impressive performers in the Falcons' forward-line with Michael Lourey kicking three goals, Steve Potente three, Tyler Keitel three and captain Aaron Black two to go with 37 possessions, 11 marks, four tackles and four inside-50 entries.

 

Shane Nelson racked up another 39 possessions for West Perth to go with seven inside 50s and five marks. Luke Meadows also finished the afternoon with 33 disposals too to go with nine inside 50s, eight marks and a goal.

 

Trent Manzone also compiled 28 disposals, Mitch Peirce 22, Blake Wilhelm 21, Corey Chalmers 19, Jay van Berlo 18, Keitel 17, Connor West 17 and veteran ruckman Chris Keunen 17 to go with six marks, 17 hit outs, four inside 50s and a goal.

 

It was a tight colts contest for four quarters at Joondalup Arena on Saturday but East Fremantle kicked four goals to two in the last term to come away with a three-point victory.

 

East Fremantle started strongly with four goals to two in the first quarter but West Perth responded with four goals to two themselves in the second term to trail by just three points at half-time.

 

The Falcons continued with that momentum in the third quarter kicking four goals to two to be on top to the tune of nine points at three quarter-time.

 

But it was the Sharks who finished the stronger with four goals to two in the last term to end up beating the Falcons 12.9 (81) to 12.6 (78).

 

Jack Burke, Lachlan Scurria and Callum Johnson kicked two goals apiece for West Perth.

 

Nathan Murray had a big performance for the Falcons racking up 34 possessions with Tyron Hindmarsh gathering 23 disposals, Alec Johnson 22, Daniel Rowe 22, Eamon Gilbert 21 (13 hit outs, six tackles), Filimone Muavou 21, Ben Johnson 20 and Noah Clune 19.

 

West Perth's reserves also put in an impressive performance beating East Fremantle 17.6 (108) to 9.12 (66) at Joondalup Arena.

 

The Falcons reserves kicked six goals to one in the first quarter and another three to one in the second to set up the eventual 42-point victory.

 

Tyson Moulton kicked six goals for West Perth from 10 kicks and nine marks with Mitch Antonio and Dylan Yem kicking two goals apiece as well.

 

Yem also racked up 27 possessions and 13 marks with Scott Nelson finishing with 26 disposals, Brayden Antonio 24 (11 marks), Mitch Antonio 24 (13 marks), Kael Coleman 23, Kurt Monaghan 21 and Conal Lynch 20.

 

West Perth will now have the bye in Round 8 following the big win over East Fremantle before taking on East Perth in the WA Day Derby at Joondalup Arena.

 

 

WEST PERTH – Goals: Strijk 8; Lourey, Potente, Keitel 3; Black 2; Meadows, Manzone, Keunen, Knott, King.

Best: Strijk, Black, Meadows, Nelson, Manzone, Wilhelm, Keitel, Peirce.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Fletcher, J Wynne, Loersch 2; Perham, Hampson, Lester-Smith, Jansen.

Best: Jansen, Hampson, Winton, Fletcher, Eardley.