Rogers Cup Round 2 Wrap Up

Season 2021 is under way, this year the WAFLW has been bought forward the season to align with
AFLW season, which certainly seems to be a winner for the spectators as we are seeing really good
numbers at our games. This week our Rogers Cup team took on Swan Districts at Provident Financial
Oval and it was a hot one.

Past games between these two teams have always been very competitive affairs and invariably
comes down to a single kick, but our young Falcons are keen to write their own version of those
stories. So on a 32 plus degree day, they were running as hot as the weather and comprehensively
accounted for the black ducks by a margin of 90 points, 14.12 (96) to 1.0 (6).

The game was setup by a very strong mid-field performance, highlighted by the bullocking work of
Kayla van den Heever, who was a clear stand out as Best on ground, her ability to get first use of the
ball from centre ruck, the strong running through packs or to be the enforcer around the ground
created so many of the West Perth attacking opportunities.

The Falcons got off to a dominant start, but the Swans were defending extremely well and clogging
up our 50 and even though it was there for well over half the quarter the return was just 2 points.
Tarzara Kelly set the tone early with her relentless tackling which created so many return entries.
She created the first goal when marking strongly 35 metres out, which Mahli Turland, who looked
certain to mark on the line was given a free kick for a push out, converted easily for the goal.
This seemed to open the game up a bit and when Molly Conroy pounced on a loose ball in the
pocket and kicked truly as the siren sound it gave West Perth an early 15 point advantage, 2.3 (15)
with Swans yet to register a score 0.0 (0)

The second quarter was quite different, the Falcons really started to apply pressure all over the
ground and kept it in their half for most if not all the quarter. Amber Rundle in her Debut game was
on the end of a pass just inside 50, calmly baulked around an oncoming player settled and kicked
truly for her first goal in the Red and Blue.

One of the highlights of the quarter was a fantastic hard hitting tackle laid by Jess Roper which
caused a turnover on centre wing preventing what look like the first real positive foray forward for
Swan Districts.

Elissa Price, last weeks leading goal kicker and who’s effort couldn’t be denied, registered her first in
spectacular fashion, running on to a loose ball deep in the forward pocket and from the very
slimmest of angles put it through the middle.

The mid-field were certainly switched on and were well up on the clearance count and there work
wasn’t limited to the middle of the ground either, Hayley Porter took a mark just outside 50 repelling
a Swan defensive kick, got it over the top to Caitlin Thomas who dodged her way to her first goal for
the Falcons and the teams third, which meant West Perth headed to the cool changerooms leading
by 38 points. 5.8 (38) to 0.0.(0)

The break certainly helped refuel Swan Districts who came out with great intent and applied their
trademark intensity, the game lifted a level and a good 5 minutes of hard contested footy followed,
but it was the fleet footed Pricey who broke the deadlock and booted her second and the sixth of
the game, this sparked a bit of an onslaught, the clear highlight was Holly Morris winning the centre
tap straight to a fast running Leuk Nelson-Marsden who hit Elissa Price on the lead who in turn
kicked to Chloe Shearing that was spending time up forward from her usual backline position and
kicked her first goal as a Falcon. It wasn’t just the mid-field’s game either, Liliana Grassenis earned
the recognition from the coach because anytime the black and white looked a chance it was always

Lil that thwarted them. Swan Districts did manage to break through the fortress for a solitary goal,
but this match was done as the siren sounded for the final change, West Perth extending their lead
to 63 points 10.9 (69) to 1.0 (6).

Swan Districts always earn the respect of the opposition as they started the last quarter facing a big
margin with even more intensity and while the heat of the day was more about the way West Perth
were playing it was a good game of hard fought footy and as much work that was happening on the
scoreboard no better play than the one that originated from Chanel Scott in defense better showed
a whole ground performance. Chanel held an intercept mark, deep inside 50, kicked out to Jess
Roper who put on the jets and kicked up to Jekylah Garlett, who hit Elissa Price on a hard lead, she in
turn kicked over the top to Amber Rundle who doubled up in her first game.

Final score was a blowout with West Perth winning convincingly by 15 goals 14.12 (96) to 1.0 (0)

Two good strong efforts to open the season, but many more games to go and one thing this team
does well is gets back to work on the training track and plans for next week.