FALCONS’ REMARKABLE FIGHTBACK

FALCONS’ REMARKABLE FIGHTBACK

By Darrell Kent

When a team doesn’t kick its second goal until midway through the third quarter supporters don’t expect to walk away with the four points but this surprisingly was the case at Provident Financial Oval on Saturday. West Perth trailed by thirty at the five-minute mark of the third quarter, had only one major on the board but managed to finish strongly to grab an important, season defining, nine-point victory. The game saw Kellen Johnson make his debut, Jack Burke play his second game after playing his first last week and Jason Salecic return to League football after last playing in the 2013 premiership. All players contributed to the victory.

There was no doubting the efforts of both teams at any stage of the game but Swan Districts had the best of it early. They made better use of their opportunities and dominated the score board in the first half. The visitors scored two first quarter goals with the only West Perth major going to Tyson Moulton. He received a free for a strong tackle twenty out and finished accurately. Supporters would not have expected that this would be the last goal kicked by the Falcons until midway through the third quarter. At the first change Swans led by eight: 2.2 (14) to 1.0 (6).

Both teams attacked the footy hard but Swans used it better and as a result extended their lead to twenty-three at the half time. They scored three goals to the Falcons three behinds. Scores at the main break were 5.2 (32) to 1.3 (9). The job was well and truly in front of the home team.

Things didn’t look any better in the third term with Swans extending their lead to thirty within five minutes. West Perth scored two behinds before they kicked their second major at the fifteen-minute mark. It went to Jack Burke, who kicked his first League goal after a scrimmage in the square. It was great to see all of the players get around him and it seemed to lift the team. The next came in short order and it was the first of three second half goals to Rudy Riddoch. He finished from forty after a strong shepherd from Jason Salecic gave him space. The Falcons now only trailed by sixteen and were back in the game. The game really opened up from here but, as you would expect, Swans lifted. They got one back courtesy of a third to Brayden Noble. At the twenty-five-minute mark Conal Lynch snapped a clever goal on his left. He was an important contributor all day. But the visitors hit back straight out of the middle to take the lead back out to twenty-one. It seemed to put the game back in Swans favour but West Perth were not done. Some great work and hard running from defence by Liam Tedesco resulted in Rudy Riddoch scoring his second from twenty. At the final change the Falcons had halved the early term three deficit to trail by only fifteen; 8.3 (51) to 5.6 (36).

In recent years the high level of fitness of the West Perth players has been on display so supporters had high hopes that this would enable them to finish the game strongly and this proved to be the case. Troy Yukich scored a behind from forty before Keegan Knott received a free for an out on the full fifty out. He passed to Rudy Riddoch thirty out.  He showed great skill to kick his third from near the boundary. The margin was just eight. At the twelve-minute mark, Liam Tedesco was rewarded for a great tackle fifty out. His long kick split the middle to take the deficit to just three. He played an outstanding game and his strong attack on the footy made him West Perth’s best on the day. Six minutes later West Perth grabbed the lead for the first time all day. A long kick forward by Aaron Black resulted in Tyson Moulton kicking his second with a clever snap. Both teams looked dangerous for the next eight minutes without hitting the score board. The spectators of both teams were still unsure of what the result was going to be. The sealer came at the twenty-five-minute mark and it went to Tom O’Donnell. He had been moved forward after half time and had a real impact. He snapped one from thirty, under a lot of pressure, after receiving a hand ball from Tyson Moulton. At the final siren West Perth had achieved a terrific come from behind victory; 9.8 (62) to 8.5 (53). It was great to see both teams line up at the end of the game to acknowledge the two hundred and fifty games played by Tony Notte. A great achievement.

The importance of the victory to keep the Falcons in touch with the top five cannot be underestimated. Best players were Liam Tedesco, Noah Pegoraro, Connor West, Rudy Riddoch & Aaron Black.

In the Reserves West Perth went under by seventeen points; 13.11 (89) to 11.6 (72). Swans did best, in a tight contest, after half time to score victory. Logan Foley kicked four and was amongst the Falcons best. Nathan Murray scored three. Other good players included Tom Boyes, Rohan Scurria and Scott Nelson.

The Colts went down by fourteen after being outscored by three goals in the last quarter. The final scores were 10.7 (67) to 8.5 (53). Luke Reilly kicked two and was among the best players. Others to stand out included Nate Dimanlig, Aiden Nelson, Tyler Mouritz and Clayton Taylor.

A bye next week and then a road trip to Mandurah. Let’s see if the team can build on this wonderful victory and all teams can notch a win.