Falcons Go Down To Demons

FALCONS GO DOWN TO DEMONS

By Darrell Kent

It is ten years and nineteen games since Perth had beaten West Perth but that run ended at Provident Financial Oval on Saturday. The Demons were harder at the ball for most of the day and as a result they had a ten-point victory over the Falcons. The oval was sodden underfoot but most of the game was played in fine conditions. A very heavy downpour in the last quarter squashed any hopes of a Falcons fightback. The Colts and Reserves both had wins to improve their place on the ladder.

West Perth had the best of the first term. Perth scored the first two behinds before Tyler Keitel opened the scoring for the home team. He scored from forty after a pass from the skipper, Aaron Black. Matty Lloyd was involved in the next goal when he passed to Mitch Antonio. He scored from thirty, on an angle. He is a very reliable kick and was back in the team after returning from injury. This goal was scored at the ten-minute mark and Perth got one back shortly after. It went to Kristian Cary who kicked the entire Perth score in the first quarter. The game became a real slog from here and neither team bothered the score board. At the first change West Perth led 2.0 (12) to 1.2 (8).

The second quarter became even more of a battle with both teams kicking one goal each. The Falcon goal went to Keegan Knott who ran onto the ball at the back of the pack after a big ‘tory’ by Rudy Riddoch. At half time the West Perth lead was back to three; 3.2 (20) to 2.5 (17). It was an uninspiring half of football but at least the Falcons had the lead.

Play opened up, a little, in the third quarter. Perth took the lead after a second to Kristian Cary. It was the result of a West Perth defensive error. Mitch Peirce got the lead back when he scored from thirty but the Demons kicked the next two to lead by nine midway through the term. Going into time on Keegan Knott scored his second after taking the ball off hands. The margin was just three but Perth kicked another and after two behinds to West Perth the Falcons trailed by six at the final change; 5.6 (36) to 6.6 (42). The home team was well and truly still in the game because their last quarters are normally very good.

West Perth scored two behinds early with the second being touched on the line after a kick on goal by Tyler Keitel. The margin was now four but at the eight-minute mark Perth kicked their seventh to take the lead out to ten. Shortly after the heavens opened and it belted down making any more scoring nigh on impossible. As a consequence, that was to be the last score of the game and the Falcons had gone down by ten; 7.6 (48) to 5.8 (38). In the context of the season it was a loss that could do a lot of damage.

It was a struggle to find best players but Aaron Black led the way and he was supported by Noah Pegoraro, Connor West, Matty Lloyd, Dean Munns, Zac Guadagnin and Tristan Hobley. It was a very tough day at the office for all of the players. 

The Reserves scored a thrilling two-point victory. They fought back after trailing by two goals in the third quarter. The scores were 7.9 (51) to 7.7 (49). Tom Boyes was amongst the Falcons best and kicked two majors including the sealer. Nathan Murray had a top game and others to come under notice included Kris Shannon, Tom Medhat and Sasha Kernutt. It was great to see Dylan Yem return for his first game of the season after suffering a season ending broken leg injury in Round 8 2020 and Sasha Kernutt playing his first game of the season after recovering from a broken wrist he also suffered in the 2020 season

The Colts got the ball rolling with a seventy-five-point victory; 14.7 (91) to 2.4 (16). They dominated all day to record an impressive victory. Zarne Robis scored three with Lochlan Paton, Jack De Marte and Harrison Baxter kicking two each. All figured in the best players along with Luke Reilly and Luke Michael. 

Next week we look forward to the traditional derby against the old enemy next Monday. Make sure you get along to Leederville Oval as we look to get back on the winners list.