INACCURACY COSTLY

By Darrell Kent

Thirteen more inside fifties and nine more scoring shots. This would indicate a win but this was not the case at Shark Park on Saturday. West Perth were defeated by forty-six points due to the incredible accuracy of East Fremantle and the opposite for West Perth. The 20.3 (123) to 9.23 (77) score line highlights this.

The trend started early with West Perth scoring first, a behind. The Sharks scored the first major thanks to key forward, Hugh Dixon, who finished with five for the day. Tyler Keitel then evened things up with his first after some good work by Nathan Murray and Keegan Knott. The Falcons had the next five scoring shots but they were all behinds before the home team kicked two. Ben Delaporte then took a strong grab on the goal line to kick West Perth’s second. He tried hard all day. East Fremantle got another to lead by seven before the Falcons kicked three behinds to finish the term. Their 2.9 (21) score line was not value for effort. The Sharks led by four after kicking 4.1 (25).

East Fremantle scored a goal early before Shane Nelson kicked a beauty on the run from forty. Another followed straight after when Shane Nelson kicked the ball out of the middle and Keegan Knott took the ball off hands to snap accurately. This gave West Perth a three-point lead. The Sharks returned the compliment to grab back the advantage and added another to lead by eight midway through the quarter. The Falcons attacked consistently and were rewarded with a second to Tyler Keitel. At the twenty-six-minute mark they led by one but East Fremantle kicked the last two to take a twelve-point lead into the main break: 9.2 (56) to 5.15 (44).

The third quarters of East Fremantle have been very good in recent weeks and this was the case again. They outscored West Perth six goals to two and set up their victory. Unfortunately for Falcons supporters they also scored eight behinds. Aaron Black scored one for the Falcons but the West Perth highlight came at the twenty-four-minute mark. Mitch Peirce kicked a beauty from right on the boundary, forty out, on his left. It was a great goal. Sasha Kernutt then took a screamer forty out but unfortunately his kick went behind. This was one of four behinds that West Perth kicked to end the quarter and as a result they trailed by twenty-nine: 15.3 (93) to 7.22 (64).

West Perth were outscored by five goals to two in the last term. Aaron Black kicked his second as did Keegan Knott. At the final siren West Perth had suffered a forty-six-point loss: 20.3 (123) to 9.23 (77). It concluded a big day for the home team that was playing its last game at home for two years while the oval is redeveloped.

Best players for West Perth were Dean Munns, Aaron Black, Sasha Kernutt, Steve Potente, Tyson Moulton, Shane Nelson and Tom O’Donnell. The result leaves the Falcons in fourth spot and as a result should host Swan Districts in the elimination final in two weeks after the final home and away game against Perth on Saturday.

The Reserves had a hard fought 8.10 (58) to 6.11 (47) win over the home team. It was a vital victory as it keeps them in the five, seven percent clear of South Fremantle who have played their last game. Only a big loss against Perth next week will prevent them from playing finals. Mitch Antonio pressed for a League recall after kicking three and Corey Rundle kicked two. Best players were Mitch Antonio, Trent Manzone, Callum Johnson, Corey Rundle and Chapman Jones.

The Colts went down by twenty-one: 7.15 (57) to 5.6 (36). They will finish fifth and ensure that all three grades will play finals footy. Jasper Scaife kicked three and was amongst the best along with Griffith Julian, Jack DeMarte, Kane Bevan and Daniel Gathercole. Final game before finals against Perth next week at Mineral Resources Park. Be there to get the teams over the line