Round 3 Rogers Cup Wrap Up

By Dave Burton

Round 3 saw our Rogers Cup team head to Bassendean for a midday kickoff against Swan Districts, just as the mercury hit its peak of 34, but with last weeks win etched in the book, this group were determined to add another.

In a game that ebbed and flowed from tight tussle, to a couple of break away quarters West Perth did secure its second win of the season with a 5.4 (34) to 4.4 (28).

Both teams started with great intensity and the early attack came from the Falcons who had some early looks inside 50, but just couldn’t capitalise early and a run against the early play saw Swans run the ball down the ground but also missed an opportunity. West Perth gained composure and with the midfield of Mia Russo, Chloe Smoker, Olivia Colotti and Mischa Jezierski working hard it enabled Paige Dodunski to kick the opening goal in her Debut game and when Kyra Abbott added another not long after West Perth headed into the first break 13 points up.

The second quarter was more of a grind as the draining heat took affect on the players run, but it certainly didn’t quell the contest. The strong defensive efforts of Maddison Taylor, Amber Rundle, Zara Deschamps were preventing any real chance of the Swans gaining any ascendency, but it was Keeley Oakes’s ability to attack the ball at pace, ability to break the lines of the Swans forwardline and her strong tackling and in a best on ground performance that was a highlight of the day, hopefully a knee injury that forced her from the field isn’t a serious one. West Perth headed to the long break 4 points ahead.

With fresh legs and some time out of the heat the run from the Falcons kicked into gear again and the smalls were causing havoc, Jamarah Walley was weaving and dodging and then with sharp hands able to help set up some good attacks coming from half forward, the Falcons Captain, Abbey Brimson was using her pace to great affect, one of the goals of the game came from a great passage of play across the far wing, when precision kicking and fast ball movement set up Hayley Biddefeld who finished it off with a goal from the square, Mia Russo who worked tirelessly all day hit the scoreboard with the teams 4^th goal and Kyra Aboott finished off a strong quarter with her second goal. With 1 quarter left the Falcons had a handy 24 point lead.

The last quarter had the Swans throwing everything at the Falcons who seemed to hit a bit of a wall after the strong third quarter, kicking to the end where only 1 point was scored all day, they certainly did look to be running uphill. While the run may have slowed in the West Perth legs, they were doing all they could with strong tackling, Chelsea Wainwright who spent time in the ruck and forwardline was showing her flexibility by also executing several critical rundown tackles. Swans managed three goals for the quarter and with only a few minutes left the game was headed for a tense finish, but this young Falcons team showed they have great resilience as gained composure late and were able to keep the ball deep in its forward half and hold on for a much deserved 6 point win.