FALCONS FALL SHORT IN GARLIC MUNCHERS CUP

WEST Perth's run of four straight WAFL victories came to an end on Saturday with South Fremantle coming to Arena Joondalup and winning by 39 points to claim the inaugural Garlic Munchers Cup.

The Falcons had won four straight matches against East Fremantle, Subiaco, Swan Districts and Peel Thunder prior to the Round 17 bye to improve to a 10-4 record on the season in second position, but couldn’t quite keep that going on Saturday.

In the end, South Fremantle took out the first of what will be the annual Garlic Munchers Cup with a 15.16 (106) to 9.13 (67) victory at Arena Joondalup.

The result means that West Perth remains in second position on the ladder with a 10-5 record, but is now just one game and percentage ahead of the third-placed Perth and fourth-placed East Perth ahead of next Saturday's derby against the Royals also at Arena Joondalup.

The Falcons' defence worked hard with Michael Pettigrew doing well on South Fremantle's returning Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Saunders. Even though Saunders kicked three goals, two of those were from handballs over to him in the goal square and he had just four kicks for the afternoon.

Dan Hunt also did well restricting Alistair Gillespie to the one goal while Jordan Jones did well also keeping Paul Mugambwa to just 10 touches and a goal. Jones also racked up 27 possessions, seven marks and eight rebounds from the defensive 50.

Also out of the back-line, Trent Manzone racked up 29 possessions, Steven Browne 26 and Andrew Strijk 24.

Through the middle, Rohan Kerr was prominent largely on the wing picking up 31 possessions to go with eight marks and a goal. Shane Nelson also picked up 30 possessions to go with five clearances and five inside-50 entries.

Josh Mellington picked up 25 possessions and kicked 2.4 for the afternoon with Aaron Black collecting 22 disposals, Steve Potente 21 and Jay van Berlo 21.

Chris Keunen also had 14 possessions and 22 hit outs in the ruck before being struck down with the early effects of one of his serious migraines that lead to vomiting attacks.

Even though West Perth got the game's opening goal through Anthony Tsalikis, South Fremantle was in front by quarter-time thanks to a goal on the siren to Haiden Schloithe and maintained an eight-point lead by half-time even though some inaccurate kicking robbed them of a bigger advantage.

The Bulldogs turned on an inspired third term, though, with Mitch Banner booting three goals in the space of five minutes. Kris Miller added another before three quarter-time to stretch the lead to 35 points by the last change.

West Perth tried hard to get back into the contest in the last term but couldn’t get closer than 27 points before Banner's fifth goal and Miller's third sealed South Fremantle's 39-point win.

Meanwhile, the Falcons' reserves played well to beat South Fremantle 15.8 (98) to 9.10 (64).

Usual defender Joe Morrow went forward for West Perth and kicked four goals with Drew Rohde, Ben McNamara, Mitch McPhee and Frank Stockley all kicking two goals. Stockley also had 21 possessions, five marks and 36 hit outs to go with his two goals.

Kris Shannon racked up 24 disposals for the Falcons, James Embley 19, Corey Chalmers 18, Brayden Antonio 18 and Ray Bartholomew 13 on return from his calf injury.

The Falcons' colts went down by 85 points against the Bulldogs as part of the Colts Super Round in their match at Lathlain's Brownes Stadium.

Joel Brown collected 24 possessions for West Perth with William Michell picking up 20 touches and Daniel Acres 20.

WEST PERTH 2.5 5.6 6.8 9.13 (67)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 3.5 6.8 11.13 15.16 (106)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Crisp, Mellington 2; Kerr, van Berlo, Tsalikis, Marusic, Fowler.

Best: Kerr, Hunt, Jones, Pettigrew, Nelson, Manzone.

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Banner 5; Miller, Saunders 3; Mugambwa, Gillespie, Schloithe, Cook.

Best: Banner, Cook, Hams, Borovac, Kelly, Miller, Guglielmana, Schloithe.

BY CHRIS PIKE