FALCONS FALL JUST SHORT

The Colts and Reserves started the day with strong victories but the League team fell just short against last year’s Grand Finalists, South Fremantle. No more than ten points separated the two teams all day but in the end the Bulldogs ran out 5.9 (39) to 4.7 (31) victors. The low scores indicate what a tight, and at times, scrappy contest the game was. Goals were at a premium with only one being scored in the last term.

South Fremantle had the best of it early but only managed behinds. At the twelve-minute mark Keegan Knott took advantage of a scrimmage in the goal square to soccer the first major for the game. This gave the Falcons a four-point lead. After fifteen minutes Brandon Donaldson scored from thirty for the visitors. This followed three consecutive behinds. Luke Meadows and Conal Lynch were involved six minutes later when they combined to get the ball into the hands of Connor West fifty out. His wonderful long kick restored the West Perth lead. The Bulldogs finished the quarter with two behinds to tie the scores at quarter time. The score was West Perth 2.0 (12) to South Fremantle 1.6 (12). It is fair to say that if the visitors had finished better they would have had a handy lead.

The Falcons failed to find the middle opening in the second quarter while the Bulldogs scored two majors. West Perth had some opportunities but only finished with four behinds. The endeavour and attack on the footy was very good but some drizzly rain during the term turned the match into a real slog. It was great to see Luke Meadows back in the red and blue and he worked hard to run into form. He scored one of the behinds, on the run, from fifty. The Falcon defence held firm under a lot of pressure but a free kick to South Fremantle twenty out, late in the term, really hurt. The resultant goal gave the Bulldogs a ten-point lead at the main break; 3.8 (26) to 2.4 (16).

Early in the third quarter a Tom Medhat kick forward was marked by Mike Lourey in the square. His accurate finish reduced the margin to four. It was a hard day at the office for the key forwards due to the slippery conditions and rushed entries into the fifty. The next ten minutes saw the teams trade behinds before Souths went end to end and Caleb Datson finished from the square. This took the Bulldogs advantage back out to ten. West Perth rallied late in the term to have the last two scoring shots. Conal Lynch scored from thirty and Luke Meadows went behind after a great pass from Shane Nelson. This left West Perth trailing by only three at the final change; 4.9 (33) to 4.6 (30).

It had been a tight hard fought contest all day and the last quarter was certainly no exception. There were only two scores for the entire quarter. The first was a rushed behind to the home team at the six-minute mark. For the next ten minutes West Perth attacked consistently but couldn’t register a score. They had a number of opportunities but weren’t able to finish. At the sixteen-minute mark, danger forward, Mason Shaw, marked thirty out and his first goal for the day gave the Bulldogs their eight-point winning margin. The final scores were 5.9 (39) to 4.6 (30). A very low scoring affair but supporters from both teams were on the edge of their seats all day.

The Colts continued their very strong start to the year registering an 8.16 (64) to 5.6 (36) victory. There is a lot to like about the way they are going about their business and they loom as a live chance this year. Coach, Ryan Lasscock, has the team playing very good football. Best players were Heath Chapman, Callum Johnson, Jack De Marte, Brady Alvaro and Michael Mallard. The same can be said for the Reserves as they also had a strong win. Blake Arnold has ensured that there is no premiership hangover and the team dominated all day to record a 13.7 (85) to 5.3 (33) victory. A number of players are knocking on the door for League selection and the depth must be pleasing for all coaches. Best players included Tom Menaglio, Tom Boyes, Troy Yukich and Mitch Antonio who bagged six. Players to receive awards for the League team were Zac Guadagnin, Conal Lynch, Shane Nelson and Blake Wilhelm. A must win game for the League team against Peel, in Mandurah, next Saturday. Be there to help get the team over the line.