FALCONS DOMINATE ROYALS

FALCONS DOMINATE ROYALS

BY Darrell Kent

West Perth started the game in blistering fashion and never looked back in the game against East Perth at Leederville Oval on Monday. They kicked four goals in the first ten minutes and an incredibly accurate 19.5 for the game to run out comprehensive forty-three point winners. The victory lifted the Falcons into the five. Tyler Keitel was at his best finishing with eight and debutant, Nathan Murray, had a very good game finishing with nineteen touches and two majors.

Keegan Knott hit the scoreboard early after snapping a clever left foot goal. It was the first of three for the game. Mitch Antonio was on the end of a pass from Rudy Riddoch and he scored the first of his three from twenty. Shortly after Tyler Keitel passed to Rudy Riddoch who scored his first. The West Perth use of the footy was top class and it was highlighted by a play started by Dean Munns in the back pocket and ended with a second to Keegan Knott. The passing was precise and a pleasure to watch. This was the fourth goal in the first ten minutes. East Perth then scored what was to be their only goal for the quarter before Tom O’Donnell, Rudy Riddoch and Tyler Keitel split the middle. The first to Tyler Keitel was a clever major after he took the ball out of a ruck contest. At the first change the Falcons led 7.0 (42) to 1.0 (6). It was a terrific quarter of football.

East Perth scored a behind before the West Perth domination continued. Tyler Keitel kicked three in a row to take the lead out to fifty-three after eleven minutes. His fourth and final goal in the run came from a mark outside fifty. The first Falcon behind for the game came at the thirteen-minute mark before the Royals steadied to kick three straight. This narrowed the margin to thirty-five at the twenty-six-minute mark. Shortly after Nathan Murray scored his first League goal from the square. It was great to see how much it meant to him and the rest of the team. At the main break West Perth held a more than handy forty-point lead; 11.2 (68) to 4.4 (28).

Mitch Dobson kicked the first for the Royals in the second half before West Perth, once again, took control. Keegan Knott responded for the visitors with a left foot kick from deep in the pocket after a strong assist from Tristan Hobley. He makes the very difficult look easy. The Tyler Keitel show then recommenced and he kicked his fifth, sixth and seventh goals in quick order to take the lead out to fifty-eight midway through the term. East Perth responded but Mitch Antonio finished the quarter with two of his own to take his tally to three. The second goal followed a very strong pack mark. At the final change West Perth were well and truly in control leading by sixty-one: 17.3 (105) to 6.8 (44).

East Perth hit the scoreboard twice to commence the final quarter before Tyler Keitel kicked his eighth after a pass from Rudy Riddoch. The Royals then scored the next three and by the twenty-six-minute mark had reduced the lead to thirty-six. By now the heat was out of the game but the West Perth effort was still there. At the thirty-one-minute mark Nathan Murray was taken high thirty out. He calmly went back to kick his second and give the Falcons an impressive forty-three-point victory: 19.5 (119) to 11.10 (76).

It was a must win game and West Perth put the game out of the reach of East Perth early with some of their best football for the year. The spread of goal scorers was a pleasing feature with Tyler Keitel kicking eight, Keegan Knott and Mitch Antonio three each and a brace to Nathan Murray and Rudy Riddoch. The form of the youngsters such as Nathan Murray, Tristan Hobley, Tom Boyes and Mitch Antonio, to name a few, gives Falcons supporters much to look forward to. Having said that the senior players are doing a great job of leading the way with Aaron Black and Shane Nelson playing well each week. Mark Hamilton, Noah Pegoraro and Dean Munns were fantastic down back in what was a top team performance. It was also great to see new Eagle, Connor West, there to support the team.

The Reserves had a hard fought victory. They won by ten points in what was a tight contest all day. A number of players joined the team for the first time this year including Jared Cole, Cooper Schulz and Isaac Carey and more than held their own. They are now in fifth spot. West Perth took best advantage of their opportunities to run out 9.8 (62) to 6.16 (52) victors. Best players included Steve Potente Jared Cole, Alec Johnson and Ryan Hudson and Jack Burke.

The Colts went down by twenty-eight; 9.13 (67) to 5.9 (39). They battled hard all day but fell short. Five players kicked a goal each and best players were Luke Reilly, Jye Skender, Zarne Robis, Isaac De Marte and Clayton Taylor. A well-earned bye next week before a rematch with Swans at their home ground. Be there to help get the teams over the line.