FALCONS TIE THUNDER IN KNOTTS

FALCONS TIE THUNDER IN KNOTTS

By Darrell Kent

The skies were heavily overcast but Keegan Knott lit up David Gray Oval in Mandurah on Saturday. He had a day out kicking six majors and was a key player in the twenty-eight-point victory. The League win completed a top day out for West Perth who also registered victories in the Reserves and Colts. Nathan Alexandre and Zac Guadagnin both played their fiftieth game and overall it was a day much enjoyed by the diehard supporters who attended the game. It was a most important win, for all sides, in the context of the season.

It was a cold and wet day in Mandurah with the lights needing to be turned on very early in the match. Peel had the best of the first quarter and controlled the game. Blair Bell kicked the first two for the home team while West Perth could only manage behinds. The only Falcon goal of the term went to Tyson Moulton who, after a great individual effort, scored from the top of the square. Thunder kicked three for the quarter and as a result led by ten at the first change; 3.2 (20) to 1.4 (10).

It was going to take a big effort to turn around the run of play but that is what West Perth produced in the second quarter. Tyler Keitel scored the first of his three when he bounced one through from outside fifty and the Falcons grabbed the lead after Mitch Peirce handballed to Keegan Knott who ran into an open goal to kick the first of his six. This gave West Perth the lead that they did not relinquish for the rest of the game. The Falcons moved the ball forward at all costs as a steady rain set in. Keegan Knott kicked his second when he intercepted a Peel kick out of defence and Tom O’Donnell hit the scoreboard after Conal Lynch and Aaron Black combined to hit him on the chest thirty out. The lead was now fifteen. This was extended at the twenty-minute mark, after Tyler Keitel scored his second. He took the ball off hands at the top of the square and another followed immediately after a Rudy Riddoch soccer out of the middle enabled Tyler Keitel to handball to Keegan Knott for his third. In a major turnaround West Perth now led by twenty-eight. Thunder narrowed the margin to twenty-one just before the half time siren but the West Perth effort in the trying conditions was excellent. They led 7.7 (49) to 4.4 (28) at the main break.

The strong form continued in the third quarter with West Perth piling on four more while holding Peel goalless. The conditions had deteriorated even more as heavy rain continued to fall. Tyler Keitel had his third within the first minute and Keegan Knott his fourth shortly after. West Perth attacked relentlessly and at the thirteenth minute mark Keegan Knott’s fifth had the visitors out by thirty-eight. Peel scored two behinds before Mitch Peirce scored a beauty. He soccered the ball from forty and it bounced through for an unlikely goal after being shepherded through by Keegan Knott. At the final change the Falcons were well and truly in control leading by forty-two; 11.8 (74) to 4.8 (32).

Peel had the best of it in the last quarter and by the twenty-four-minute mark had scored three majors and as a result they narrowed the margin to twenty-three. The only Falcon goal came three minutes later when Noah Pegoraro, Conal Lynch, and Rudy Riddoch combined to get the ball forward to Keegan Knott who received a free in the square. He kicked his sixth to give West Perth a 12.8 (80) to 7.10 (52) victory. It was a strong win in ordinary conditions and sees the Falcons sit at three and three for the season; outside of the five by percentage.

The Falcons had a number of very good players but the defensive efforts of Zac Guadagnin and Noah Pegoraro was a feature and the intercept marking by Mark Hamilton was a real factor. Troy Yukich battled hard in the ruck all day against Lloyd Meek and Shane Nelson had plenty of it. Scott Nelson, in his first game for the year was very good. And of course the effort of Keegan Knott cannot pass without mention.

The Reserves came home very strongly after being headed in the last quarter. They had a 10.8 (68) to 7.12 (54) victory. They looked in trouble on a number of occasions but did a great job to steady and win. Nathan French finished with three while Mitch Antonio kicked two on his return from injury along with Corey Rundle. Best players were Chapman Jones, Tom Boyes, Jacob Turner, Corey Rundle and Nathan French.

The Colts started the day with a convincing thirty-six-point victory; 10.19 (79) to 6.7 (43). Lachlan Cox, Jack Demarte and Zarne Robis kicked two each. They were among the best players as well as Luke Reilly, Darcy Dixon and Sebastien Borrello. The Colts set the tone for what was a very successful day. I know that we say it every week but the games against Perth at Provident Financial Oval next week are vital in the context of the season ahead. Be there to help get the team over the line.