Falcons Continue Dominance Over Demons

West Perth played a very good second half of football to get the better of Perth and record a thirty one point victory on Saturday at The Arena. The Demons led at quarter and half time but a seven goal to one third term set up the victory that now sees the Falcons a game clear in fifth spot. The Reserves were involved in another nail biter and got up to win by five points after trailing late in the game. They are now second on the ladder. The Colts also sit in the same position after a strong thirty nine point win on Sunday. A great weekend of results for the Football Club.

There wasn’t much to like about the first quarter as the Falcons struggled to hit the scoreboard. In fact, they only scored a behind for the term. Perth had by far the better of it and kicked three majors to have a handy eighteen point lead at the first change. They led 3.1 (19) to 0.1 (1).

Geoff Valentine’s address at the quarter time break had its effect as the Falcons started the term full of run. They took the ball out of the middle and Mike Lourey marked and finished from thirty. It was the first of four for the day. He is playing as good football as he has since joining West Perth from Melbourne. Tyson Moulton hit the scoreboard shortly after with a fine snap and when Aaron Black scored from the square, after receiving fifty, the margin was just one. At the twelve minute mark the Falcons grabbed the lead after Rudy Riddoch finished from fifty. He was on the end of a really good pass from Aidan Lynch. But just as West Perth controlled the first part of the quarter, the Demons dominated the rest. To their credit they steadied and kicked the next four goals to grab a twenty two point lead by the thirty two minute mark. The situation could have been worse because at about this time the visitors missed a simple set shot. West Perth took the ball forward and Tyler Keitel snapped a terrific goal from deep in the pocket. It was a great individual effort. As a result the margin was a manageable sixteen at the main break; 7.5 (47) to 5.1 (31).

The first four scores of the third quarter were behinds before the Falcons took control. Trent Manzone, who had a very good game, got the ball rolling when he showed his class to finish after taking possession forty out. Mike Lourey kicked his second after contesting the mark, taking possession on the ground and scoring from thirty five. The Falcons regained the lead at the nine minute mark when a precise Brayden Antonio pass hit Tyler Keitel on the chest forty out. He went back and kicked his second. Shortly after Perth scored their only major for the term thanks to dangerous forward Kristian Cary. This gave them the lead back but the Falcons kicked the last four of the term to take a handy twenty point lead into the final change. Some strong bullocking work by Andrew Strijk enabled Brayden Antonio to finish from close in; Brayden Antonio was also involved in the next when Mike Lourey kicked his third. Going into time on the lead was out to sixteen when Tyler Keitel kicked his third from the square after he was on the end of a series of passes. Perth scored two behinds before the skipper, Aaron Black, scored from thirty after a strong attack on the footy by Tyson Moulton. Aaron Black is a wonderful leader and a footballer of the highest order. West Perth led by twenty going into the final term; 12.4 (76) to 8.8 (56).

Perth were always going to fight back and they did, reducing the margin to thirteen. Tyson Moulton kicked his second after intercepting a kick in and at the eighteen minute mark Trent Manzone scored his second on the run from fifty. The lead was now twenty four but was reduced when Cody Leggett got one back for the Demons. He was amongst the Demons best.  West Perth controlled the rest of the game, however, to score the last two. Rudy Riddoch, who had another great game, was involved in both. He passed to Mike Lourey who kicked his fourth and then kicked the goal of the game. It was very hard to describe. Rudy marked sixty out, went for a torry that dropped about twenty short but managed to swerve through a number of players to bounce through. It was a well-deserved second goal. At the final siren West Perth had won by thirty one; 16.7 (103) to 10.12 (72).

It was a very good win that is important in the context of the season. Best players were Trent Manzone, Rudy Riddoch, Noah Pegoraro, Zac Guadagnin and Mike Lourey. The Reserves were involved in a tight tussle all day. The lead fluctuated but Perth managed to grab the lead in the closing minutes and the Falcons looked like going down, once more, by less than a kick. To their credit they dug deep to snatch the lead back in the dying seconds. It was a very good win against another team that is in the top five. Best players included Liam Tedesco, Dylan Yem, Lachlan Johns, Kris Shannon and Mitch Antonio. On Sunday the Colts played Perth and had another good win. They led all day and ran out thirty nine point winners; 13.8 (86) to 7.5 (47).  The team now sits a game clear in second spot. Best players included Heath Chapman, Tyron Hindmarsh, Jay Cutler, Ryan Hudson and Tommy Taylor-Shreeve. The Colts and Reserves have a week off but the League face a rampant West Coast Reserves team. It is going to be a real challenge so be at Lathlain Park on Sunday to help them win a crucial game.

We would like to sincerely thank Richard Homsany and Cardinal Lawyers for their very kind sponsorship of our NAIDOC guernseys. Richard is a very generous and passionate supporter of our great club.