FALCONS SCORE IMPRESSIVE VICTORY OVER SWANS

FALCONS SCORE IMPRESSIVE VICTORY OVER SWANS

By Darrell Kent

West Perth recorded a classy forty-six-point victory against Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday. Their passing and use of the footy was far superior to that of their opponents and there was much to like about the win. They increased their lead at every change. The most pleasing aspect of the recent Falcon form has been the performances of the younger players who have really stepped up. Conal Lynch, Tristan Hobley, Zac Guadagnin, Matthew Lloyd, Noah Pegoraro, Tom Boyes, Tom O’Donnell, Tyson Moulton and Mitch Antonio, to name a few, have really found their niche. Throw in the wonderful example set by experienced players like Aaron Black, Shane Nelson, Tyler Keitel, Mark Hamilton and you have a side that is developing into a really good team.

Conal Lynch kicked the first major of the game at the two-minute mark. He was on the end of a kick in by Tyler Keitel and finished from the square. Conal set the tone early and had one of his best games for West Perth. Swans replied with the next three scores to lead by two before Nathan Alexandre got the lead back for the Falcons. He finished from twenty after marking and receiving fifty. The Ducks scored again to grab back the lead midway through the term before Nathan Alexandre was again involved. A very clever pass found Tom O’Donnell thirty out. He calmly went back and kicked the first of his two for the game. This gave West Perth the lead that they didn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. Conal Lynch then scored his second before the Falcons kicked three behinds to finish the quarter. They led by fifteen at the first change: 4.5 (29) to 2.2 (14).

Nathan Murray was unlucky not to kick a major early when he hit the post after some clever evasive work. Mitch Antonio then kicked the first of his brace when he finished from thirty out. He was on the end of some good work that saw the ball come from deep in defence. At the ten-minute mark Tyler Keitel scored the first of his three when he slotted one from twenty, on a sharp angle. The lead was now twenty-eight. The teams then traded goals for the rest of the quarter. Brayden Noble hit the scoreboard for Swans before Tom O’Donnell kicked his second. He is developing real flexibility in his game, as he is moved forward, back and into the ruck. Swans scored again before Tyler Keitel kicked his second after receiving fifty. This gave West Perth a twenty-eight-point half time lead; 8.6 (54) to 4.2 (26).

Corey Gault really lifted Swans in the third term and by the ten-minute mark had led a mini recovery that saw Swans close to within twenty-two. It would have been closer if not for the great work of the West Perth defence. But at the fourteen-minute mark the Falcons had a run that broke the game open. Rudy Riddoch kicked the first of his three second half goals after a clever pass from Keegan Knott. Tyler Keitel received a free and scored his third before Rudy Riddoch kicked his second after some good work out of the middle. At the final change the Falcons led by forty-one: 11.9 (75) to 5.4 (34).

Tyson Moulton got the ball rolling with a major from just outside fifty. He is a beautiful kick of the footy. Tom Boyes then passed to Rudy Riddoch for his third and after seven minutes the lead was out to fifty-three. Midway through the quarter Aaron Black showed why he is such a good leader when he dived to smother a Swans kick. This type of desperation sets the standard for the team to follow. Swans then kicked the next two before Keegan Knott finished the game with a goal, that only he can kick. He was right on the boundary thirty out, after marking, but somehow managed to banana it through. Keegan has terrific goal kicking skills. At the final siren West Perth had recorded a forty-six-point victory: 14.9 (93) to 7.4 (46). It was a win that resulted in them replacing Swans in fourth spot.

It was a very good overall team performance with the backline playing a major part. They have developed into an unheralded, but very effective combination. Zac Guadagnin, Tyson Moulton, Dean Munns, Noah Pegoraro, Shane Nelson, Conal Lynch, Tristan Hobley, Mark Hamilton and Aaron Black were amongst the best.

The Reserves went down by fourteen: 6.18 (54) to 6.4 (40). Koopah Todd and Logan Foley scored two each. Players to stand out included Henry Ryan, Steve Potente, Alec Johnson, Logan Foley, Tom O’Halloran and Jacob Turner. 

The Colts went down to a Swans team that has only lost one game this year. They lost by fifty-one: 12.14 (86) to 5.5 (35). Zarne Robis and Taj Ross kicked two each. Best players included Brock Lewis, Lachlan Cox, Zarne Robis, Jye Skender and Byron Sherwood. A big game against the ladder leading Claremont next week. Be there to help get the teams over the line.