BRILLIANT LAST QUARTER SETS UP VICTORY

By Darrell Kent

West Perth played an outstanding last quarter of football to record a thirty-point victory against fellow premiership contenders, East Fremantle. It was a tight contest all day, but the Falcons dominated the closing term to win convincingly. The League, Reserves and Colts all had a victory and now sit on top of the ladder. A remarkable achievement that all at the Club should be proud of. Co-captain Dean Munns played his hundredth game for West Perth and Mitch Dobson his fiftieth WAFL match. The result was a fitting recognition of these achievements.

The first term was controlled by the home team. The first four scores were all behinds, two to each side. The first major went to Mitch Dobson who finished from the square after a clever kick forward by Rudy Riddoch. Dobson kicked his second at the fifteen-minute mark after an Aaron Black pass. It was a very good finish from forty-five, on the boundary. The lead was out to eighteen five minutes later after Rudy Riddoch kicked the first of his four. It was a great kick from fifty. Another behind to West Perth saw them nineteen in front at the first change; 3.3 (21) to 0.2 (2). It was a very good quarter of footy. Youngster, Joe Hinder, showed plenty of dash and is a player of the future.

East Fremantle turned the tables on the home team in the second quarter. They dominated play to establish a two-point lead by half time. The only West Perth major came at the six-minute mark and it was the first of two to Sasha Kernutt. It came after some good work by Tyler Keitel. The lead was twenty at this point. But from here it was all the Sharks as they had the last seven scoring shots to establish their two-point lead: 4.4 (28) to 4.6 (30).

It was now up to West Perth to respond and they did that in what was a very even quarter of football. The first goal wasn’t scored until the fifteen-minute mark. It went to Anton Hamp who was on the end of a long Sasha Kernutt pass. The Falcons now led by five. Two more behinds extended the lead before Rudy Riddoch scored his second. He was on the end of some good work by Luke Meadows and Keegan Knott. The thirteen-point advantage was reduced right on the siren thanks to a Jeremy Goddard major. He marked at the top of the square and finished after the siren. At the final change West Perth led 6.9 (45) to 5.8 (38).

Not even the most ardent West Perth supporter would have expected the outstanding last quarter that the Falcons produced. They never gave their opponents a look in as they scored five unanswered goals. It only took a minute to score the first and it was a second to Sasha Kernutt. He scored from the square after an Anton Hamp mark and handball. At the nine-minute mark Shane Nelson kicked the ball forward out of a congested pack. Rudy scored his third under great pressure in the square. Five minutes later he kicked his fourth after he was rewarded for a strong tackle forty out. The lead was now twenty-five and the Falcons had some real breathing space. But they weren’t done with yet. Aaron Black and Sasha Kernutt combined to get the ball to Joe Hinder on the wing. He showed impressive speed and poise to take two bounces and put a long pass on the chest of Anton Hamp, thirty out. He kicked his second. Keegan Knott finished the run with a “Knotty” special. He took possession fifty out, ducked and dived around opponents and slotted it. A fitting end to a great quarter of football. At the final siren West Perth had won by thirty-six; 11.10 (76) to 5.10 (40).

This was an important win in the context of the season but also for the self-belief that it must give to the entire playing group. Rudy Riddoch finished with four, Mitch Dobson, Anton Hamp and Sasha Kernutt two each. Best players included Mitch Peirce, Rudy Riddoch, Luke Meadows, Tristan Hobley, Aidan Lynch, Anton Hamp, and Dean Munns.

The Reserves recorded a strong 13.13 (91) to 4.5 (29) victory. They were in control all day and, they too, now sit top of the ladder. The strength of the team is highlighted by the fact that regular League players such as Blake Wilhelm, Zac Guadagnin and Trent Manzone are having to fight to regain their place after returning from injury. Jack Burke finished with three, Zac Patterson, Michael Mallard and Darcy Dixon two each. Best players were Trent Manzone, Kellen Johnson, Koopah Todd, Ben Delaporte and Callum Johnson.

The Colts were also very good, and consolidated top spot, with their seventy-eight-point victory. The scores were 17.11 (113) to 5.5 (35). As the scores would indicate they had the better of the contest all day. They have played consistently good footy all year. Eli Alexander finished with five, Noah Farrow four and Jasper Scaife two. Best players included Nate Dimanlig, Kane Bevan, Eli Alexander, Byron Sherwood, and Riley Sprigg. A week off before a game against East Perth at Leederville. Just two games after that before finals. Be there to get the teams over the line.