FALCONS WIN SHOOT OUT

Falcons supporters witnessed a terrific game of football at Shark Park on Saturday.

All of the skills that make Aussie Rules such a great game were on display and it was highlighted by a total of forty five goals being kicked. Amazingly there were only eleven behinds kicked for the game. West Perth played a high standard of football all day and thoroughly deserved their twenty three point victory. Final scores were West Perth 24.8 (152) to East Fremantle 21.3 (129).

The Sharks were quickly out of the blocks and it looked ominous for the Falcons when they raced to a twenty point lead after ten minutes. East Fremantle only kicked one more behind for the game from this point in time. Brad Dick kicked two of his eight up to this point. The Falcons steadied and goals to Ray Bartholomew, Nick Rodda and Marc Crisp saw the margin reduced to just one within nine minutes. Marc Crisp went on to kick four for the game and was a dangerous forward along with the high flying and hard leading Anthony Tsalikis. A third to Brad Dick followed before Josh Mellington scored after reading the ball off hands from a throw in. The frenetic goal scoring continued with the Sharks extending their lead by scoring the next two including a fourth to the will of the wisp Brad Dick. Matt Johnson then passed the ball to Nic Rodda who kicked his second from thirty. At the end of a terrific first term of footy the Sharks led 6.2 (38) to 5.1 (31).

It could be expected that the tempo of the game would ease in the second quarter but this was not the case. Brad Dick continued on where he had left off and kicked his fifth before a precise pass from Jordan Jones set up Anthony Tsalikis for the first of his five. ”Jordie” has been in tremendous form off half back. At the eighteen minute mark Matt Johnson showed his class after taking the ball off hands to kick a major. He then combined with Nick Rodda shortly after to kick his second and give West Perth a seven point lead.

It was out to thirteen after some fine team work saw Mark Hutchings mark and goal from forty five. As you would expect the Sharks hit back with one from Aidan Tropiano before consecutive goals to the Falcons saw them take the lead out to nineteen at the twenty six minute mark. The first went to Anton Saylor who soccered from the square after a kick from Anthony Tsalikis when he took a strong pack mark and the next to Rohan Kerr after he received a left foot pass from Anton Saylor. Not to be outdone East Fremantle kicked the last three of the term in short time to make it a one point game at half time. The Falcons led 11.3 (69) to 11.2 (68).

The Sharks kicked two of the first three goals of the term to regain the lead. These were punctuated by a third to Matt Johnson who continues to impress. West Perth then kicked four behinds in a row to trail by one at the ten minute mark. Goals to Steven Browne and a second and third to “Slick” saw the Falcons jump to a seventeen point lead before Brad Dick once again popped up for his seventh.

Not to be outdone Rohan Kerr was involved as he set up Marc Crisp for his second. As per the trend all day the Sharks replied shortly after before West Perth piled on three goals in time on to take a twenty nine point lead into the last change. Rohan Kerr kicked his second, Marc Crisp his third and Anthony Tsalikis his fourth. The goals were all the result of precise use of the football and hard running. Scores were; 19.7 (121) to 15.2 (92).

By the twelve minute mark of the final term the Sharks had reduced the lead to just five as they kicked the first four in quick time. Falcons’ supporters were concerned at this stage but “Slick” eased the concern to a degree when he took his fourteenth mark for the game and scored from forty. East Fremantle hit back quickly though thanks to a second to Jayden Schofield. There wasn’t a score for the next five minutes and the game was in the balance.

It was at this point that Josh Mellington kicked his second after marking forty out, Andrew Strijk scored from the same distance after some good work from Shane Nelson and a Josh Mellington pass set up Marc Crisp for his fourth. The lead was now twenty three and the game appeared to be in the bag. This was confirmed when the hard working Jay Van Berlo snapped a major from thirty. The final margin of twenty three resulted after a strong pack mark to Andrew Strijk was disallowed and the resultant free kick saw East Fremantle kick the last goal of the game. Final scores were West Perth 24.8 (152) to East Fremantle 21.3 (129).

It was a wonderful result for the Falcons who now take a five-two record into the State game and Club bye over the next two weeks. The game was played in a different manner to the pervious games this year but West Perth showed their versatility by getting the four points. Players to receive awards included Mark Hutchings, Marc Crisp, Rohan Kerr, Jordan Jones and best was Anthony Tsalikis.

It was a great team effort but the aerial work and kicking of Andrew Strijk off half back is a delight to watch. The Reserves went down but their percentage of ninety two reflects how close they have been this year. Best players were Shaun Marusic, Jack Thrum, Jordan Mills and Brayden Antonio. There are a number of players ready to take the step up into the League team. Unfortunately the Colts were soundly beaten. The next game is against Perth at the Arena on May 25 and it should be a beauty when you consider how well the Demons are going.

BY DARRELL KENT

PHOTOS BY BELINDA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY