A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT STRONG VICTORY

A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT STRONG VICTORY

West Perth was most impressive in their thirty-two-point victory against East Perth on Saturday. Their attack on the football made it very difficult for their opponents to develop any cohesion. The Falcons were relentless from the first bounce and didn’t let up for the entire game. Supporters would have to be buoyed by the football that is being played under Senior coach, Geoff Valentine, and be gaining a lot of pleasure from the way that the team is going. The Reserves suffered their first defeat for the year but the Colts continued on their winning way when they recorded a forty-one-point victory.

The score for the quarter doesn’t indicate what an interesting term it was. There were only two goals scored; both to the Falcons and both to Mike Lourey. At the five-minute mark he took advantage of a scrimmage in the square to snap his first of four and ten minutes later he took a strong pack mark twenty out after a long kick forward by Tyler Keitel. These were the only scores but the contest around the ball was intense with the West Perth effort being a feature. At quarter time the Falcons led the Royals 2.0 (12) to 0.0 (0).

There was a lot more scoreboard action in the second quarter. Once again it was Mike Lourey who got the ball rolling with a behind and his third at the five-minute mark. Apart from a rushed behind he had kicked all of the Falcons score up to this time of the game. The West Perth lead was twenty but East Perth steadied to kick the next two. The first went to ex-Falcon Aidan Lynch who battled hard all day. West Perth steadied, however, to kick the next three. At the sixteen-minute mark, backman Tyson Moulton, finished from twenty after receiving fifty. He is developing into a key player who uses the ball beautifully from defence. Shortly after a long kick forward by Mitch Peirce was marked thirty out by the red hot Mike Lourey who kicked his fourth. It was a dominant first half display by the key forward. Shortly after the skipper, Aaron Black, received a free just inside fifty, handballed to Luke Meadows who kicked a ripper from outside the arc. Aaron Black had a great game. Unfortunately, Luke Meadows was unable to continue shortly after due a suspected concussion. The lead was out to twenty-seven but East Perth got one back late in the term and as a result West Perth led by twenty-two at the main break; 6.4 (4) to 3.0 (18).

The third quarter was a tighter contest with the Royals scoring the first to narrow the margin. Scoring was difficult early on and the next score didn’t come until the twenty-minute mark. Conal Lynch intercepted a kick out of defence and finished from forty. He is having a very good season. The lead was out to a game high twenty-eight after Keegan Knott scored from just inside fifty. East Perth attacked consistently as the term came to a close and they were rewarded with two majors to Jayden Magro and as a result the game was still well and truly on going into the final term with the Falcons leading by just sixteen; 8.5 (53) to 6.1 (37).

If there was any doubt about the result it was dispelled in the first minute. A very clever tap into play, as the ball was about to go over the boundary, by Tyler Keitel was pounced on by Keegan Knott who kicked a very clever snap from deep in the pocket. It was a terrific goal that only a player like Keegan Knott can deliver. Three behinds followed before a precise tap by Tyler Keitel saw Mitch Peirce goal from twenty. The thirty-one-point lead was reduced when East Perth hit the score board but a second to Mitch Peirce saw this lead regained. As the game drew to a close Angus Scott scored for East Perth but the final say went to Tyler Keitel. He finished from outside fifty after Dylan Yem kicked the ball forward after receiving a free for a strong tackle. At the final siren West Perth had retained the Polly Farmer Shield for the fourth consecutive year with a strong thirty-two-point victory; 12.9 (81) to 8.1 (49).

The win sees West Perth sitting second on the table. In the shortened season every game is significant and the next two against Perth and East Fremantle, before the bye, are doubly so. In the League the following players were recognised; Connor West, Dean Munns, Shane Nelson, Aaron Black, Mike Lourey and best was Zac Guadagnin.

The Reserves struggled to develop any fluency and were over-run by the other undefeated team, East Perth. The home side had a terrific second quarter after a slow start, kicking four goals and reducing the margin to just 5 points at half time. The third quarter was a scrap an unfortunately the Falcons couldn’t find the goals while East Perth kicked one major. By three quarter time the game was up for grabs with 13 points separating the two teams. It wasn’t to be though as East Perth piled on 5 goals to none in the last quarter to run out comfortable winners. The final scores were East Perth 11.12 to West Perth 5.8. Players to receive awards were Alec Johnson, Henry Ryan, Ryan Hudson, Sasha Kernutt and Lachlan Johns.

The Colts scored a 12.11 (83) to 5.6 (36) victory to remain undefeated. They are playing extremely good footy and are a live chance. Best players included Michael Mallard, Kane Bevan, Brady Alvaro, Luke Reilly and Christian Henderson. Corey Rundle and Darcy Dixon got amongst the goals again, kicking three each.

Another tough one against the undefeated Perth Demons next week. Be at Mineral Resources Park to help get our teams over the line.