POOR START COSTLY

POOR START COSTLY

By Darrell Kent

West Perth’s winning streak came to an end at Leederville Oval on Saturday. A poor first quarter saw the Falcons out of the game from the first change. They outscored the home team for the rest of the game and closed to within nineteen at different times of the match but the damage had been done. On the bright side the Reserves and Colts had victories and all three sides now sit in the five, in fourth spot.

There were twelve scoring shots in the first quarter and they all went to Subiaco. Fortunately, the Lions kicking on goal was off and they finished with four goals eight. Brandon Matera kicked three of his five during this time. The Falcons took a thirty-two-point deficit into the second quarter.

West Perth had the best of the first part of the second term as they fought to get back into the game. It was in response to a very measured quarter time address by coach, Geoff Valentine. Nathan Sharp scored the first major after a clever pass by Keegan Knott. The Falcons then scored three behinds and at the nineteen-minute mark had reduced the margin to twenty-four. It wasn’t really reward for effort. Subi got one back before Rudy Riddoch hit the scoreboard. He was on the end of a long kick forward by Tyler Keitel and finished from the square. Brandon Matera ended the term with his fourth and as a result, after a lot of hard work, the deficit had been reduced by only two. Subiaco led 6.9 (45) to 2.3 (15).

The Falcons best quarter was the third during which they outscored Subiaco four goals to two. Things didn’t look too good when the Lions scored the first but the response was quick. A Keegan Knott pass set Tyler Keitel up for his first from forty but the lead was out to thirty-six, again, after Nicholas Martin scored. He was a danger all day. But the rest of the term belonged to the visitors as they kicked three to reduce the margin to nineteen at the final change. At the sixteen-minute mark Rudy Riddoch scored his second after a Tristan Hobley pass. Mitch Peirce followed this up with a clever left foot snap and then Keegan Knott hit the scoreboard. As a result, West Perth had a sniff, trailing 8.10 (58) to 6.3 (39).

As was the case in all quarters, Subiaco scored the first to put the pressure back onto West Perth. At the ten-minute mark Tyler Keitel kicked his second. The scorer wasn’t troubled for the next ten minutes as the Falcons attacked without any result. Subiaco then scored their second for the quarter to seal the win. Keegan Knott finished the game with his second but at the final siren West Perth had gone down by twenty: 10.12 (72) to 8.4 (52).

The result makes a top three finish more difficult but there are still four games remaining. Best players were Zac Guadagnin, Noah Pegoraro, Shane Nelson, Tyson Moulton, Aaron Black and Conal Lynch. The effort to stay in the game was even more meritorious when you take into account that Matt Lloyd went off injured in the second quarter and did not return. Being one rotation down didn’t help. Let’s hope that the injury is not too serious.

The Reserves had a commanding 9.10 (64) to 3.11 (29) victory and are running into form at the right time. Corey Rundle finished with three and Zac Patterson two. Both were amongst the team’s best along with Ryan Hudson, Koopah Todd, Steve Potente, Tom Medhat and Michael Mallard. It was pleasing to see Blake Wilhelm get through the game unscathed. The vice-captain is a key component of the West Perth defence.

The Colts had an easy fifty-two-point win. They controlled the game all day and are also playing very good footy at the pointy end of the season. Byron Sherwood was the only multiple goal scorer. Best players included Jack Demarte, Luke Reilly, Daniel Gathercole, Jasper Scaife, Aiden Nelson and Darcy Dixon. A week off due to the revamped fixtures and then a clash against South Fremantle on August 14 that could decide a top three finish. Be there to get the teams over the line.