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Fast start and cool veterans maintain West Perth’s Lathlain streak
Tuesday, May 16, 2023 - 11:37 AM
Fast start and cool veterans maintain West Perth’s Lathlain streak
John Townsend
West Perth have extended to nearly 20 years their unbeaten record against Perth at Mineral Resources Park after a fast start and professional approach steered the Falcons back to third place on the WAFL ladder.
Replicating the powerful first quarter that stunned East Fremantle a week earlier, West Perth burst from the blocks on Saturday to extinguish any prospect of an upset as Perth celebrated milestones for two of their most loyal servants.
West Perth’s five-goal first term, and ability to restrict the Demons to just one goal in the first half, were critical elements in the 49-point win, 17.12 (114) to 9.11 (65).
It was the Falcons’ 14th consecutive win at the ground while a draw in 2008 was the only time since 2004 that West Perth failed to leave Lathlain without the four points.
West Perth were wary of an ambush given that Michael Sinclair (150 games) and Matthew Taylor (100) were to be lauded for their contribution to Perth but instead it was several of that duo’s most experienced opponents who were instrumental in the visiting team’s success.
The main contributor was evergreen midfielder Shane Nelson who continues to find the football numerous times every game and has proved an ideal mentor to a range of players from the dominant Luke Meadows (30 disposals and a goal) to emerging youngsters like Nathan Murray (27 and one) and Koopah Todd (16 and two).
No player matched Nelson’s game-high returns of 20 kicks, 34 disposals and six inside 50 entries but his greatest impact came late in the second term when he produced superbly-weighted passes for leading forwards Aaron Black and Tom O’Donnell to mark and convert.
The last one gave West Perth a 50-point lead at half-time while coach Darren Harris had the luxury of keeping Black as a permanent forward on his return from a hamstring complaint.
Playing his 245th match to equal the return of his former team-mate and current assistant coach Andrew Strijk, Black took advantage of his team’s 60 inside 50s to land three goals for just the fourth time in his career. Three of those bags have come at Lathlain.
Injuries have opened the door for West Perth to blood several new players this season with Kalannie product Ryan Hudson joining imposing ruckman Riley Sprigg and the impressive Rohan Scurria as newcomers.
Todd also made the most of his late call-up as a replacement for Zac Langdon (quad) with sharp crumbing in heavy traffic in the opening minutes to kick West Perth’s third major.
O’Donnell was recalled last week for the first time since 2021 and he underlined his value to the team as a foil to key forward Tyler Keitel whose job will become easier with a strong physical presence alongside him.
O’Donnell threw his weight around in the forward 50, led hard to set-up his two strikes before half-time and provided Sprigg with some relief at stoppages.
The game was over at half-time, and even more certain a minute into the last quarter when Ben Johnson drifted forward and used his right cannon to fire accurately from the centre square.
Keitel, Todd and Black added further majors to extend the lead to 68 points only for Perth to finally find a way to recognise their captain Sinclair’s life membership.
Sinclair kicked three goals, Perth produced a streak of five unanswered and West Perth had to find answers to question they had not been asked all game.
It did not last – Sprigg kicked truly after being given a 50m penalty from a strong tackle in the middle – and Meadows landed long-shots either side of the final siren.
The first counted, the second didn’t but Meadows and his team-mates had done enough by then to secure West Perth’s fourth win this season and indicate their premiership defence was in good shape.
WEST PERTH 5.4 9.7 10.10 17.12 114
PERTH 1.2 1.5 3.9 9.11 65
GOALS – WEST PERTH: Black 3; O’Donnell, Todd, Keitel 2; Meadows, Johnson, Murray, Dobson, Hobley, Scurria, Sprigg, Hinder.
PERTH: Sinclair 3; Hunter 2; Thompson, Bird, Stubbs, Browne.
BEST – WEST PERTH: Nelson, Meadows, Johnson, O’Donnell, Murray, Sprigg.
PERTH: Byrne, Avery, Sinclair, Clarke, Coniglio.
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