FALCONS EARN GRAND FINAL APPEARANCE

THE Falcons booked their first Grand Final appearance for ten years with a determined four point victory against Claremont on Sunday.

The game was in the balance until the final siren as West Perth played a relentless final quarter in which they dominated play but were unable to convert the pressure into majors. The win reinforced that the Falcons best is good enough and the week off should ensure that they are ready to go for the big game. It was great to see Dan Hunt’s 150^th game recognised with the important victory and the Reserves are to be congratulated for their hard fought nine point win against East Perth. It was a satisfying weekend of football for Falcons supporters but the big one still has to be won.

As you would expect the pressure was on from the start and this was highlighted by the fact that the first six scores were behinds. At the sixteen minute mark the Falcons led by two. A minute later Marc Crisp split the middle after taking the ball from a boundary throw in. It was the first of four for the game and “Chippa”, who played his fiftieth game last week, has been one of the success stories this year. The Tigers didn’t kick their first until the twenty five minute mark when Ian Richardson ran into an open goal. This was the beginning of a golden five minute period for Claremont who kicked two more quick ones to take a nine point lead into the first change. They led 3.3 (21) to 1.6 (12).

The second quarter followed a similar pattern to the first with West Perth fighting their way back into the game and Claremont having the best of it in red time. The Claremont lead was out to sixteen after a Jack Bradshaw major. The Falcons steadied to kick the next three and lead by two after twelve minutes. Marc Crisp kicked his second after a long kick forward by Aaron Black. Matt Fowler was on the end of a series of handballs when he ran into goal to open his account and Mark Hutchings capitalised on some great forward line pressure to kick the first of his two. A free to the Tigers Ryan Neates saw him restore the Claremont lead when he kicked accurately from fifty. The hard running Mark Hutchings then bobbed up for his second for the Falcons when he marked and scored from forty. This was at the twenty five minute mark but all of the hard work was undone when Claremont had the last five scoring shots of the half and as a result they took an eighteen point lead into the main break. Scores were 8.9 (57) to 5.9 (39). The job was now in front of West Perth as the half time lead to Claremont did not seem to reflect the closeness of the game.

West Perth were up and about early in the third quarter. At the two minute mark Josh Mellington snapped one from thirty and three minutes later Matt Guadagnin finished on his left after being on the end of a series of handballs. Matthew Davies stopped the run when he kicked his second but then Josh Mellington did the same for the Falcons and midway through the term the deficit was just four. West Perth continued to pile on the pressure and at the twenty three minute mark Marc Crisp’s third gave the Falcons the lead. The intensity of the game went up even further at this stage as West Perth endeavoured to buck the trend of the last two quarters. Ian Richardson kicked his third to give the Tigers a three point lead but the Falcons scored the final two behinds of the term to see Claremont go into the final quarter with the barest of margins. They led 10.10 (70) to 9.15 (69).

The last quarter lived up to all expectations. The tenacity of the West Perth players was a feature and most of the quarter was spent in their forward half as the Tigers struggled to get a clear possession. Jay Van Berlo tied up the scores with a behind early before a Josh Mellington pass saw Marc Crisp mark thirty out. His accurate kick gave him his fourth and the Falcons a six point lead. Claremont replied with a behind and an Anton Hamp miracle snap from deep in the pocket. This saw Claremont lead by one after fourteen minutes. Shortly after a Matt Fowler snap tied up scores once again. Early into time on West Perth attacked ferociously but only scored four behinds in a two minute period. As a result they led by this margin at the twenty four minute mark. Then a minute later cometh the moment cometh the man. Jordan Jones ran hard from defence to be on the end of a pass forty metres out on the boundary. He calmly went back and slotted it to give West Perth a ten point lead. Once again the Falcons went forward from the bounce down to hold the ball in their forward line but at the thirty minute mark Claremont found some space for one of the rare occasions in the last quarter. The quick movement forward saw Andrew Foster mark in the square and reduce the margin to four once again. Shortly after the centre bounce the siren went to give West Perth as four point victory and a Grand Final appearance. Final scores were 11.21 (87) to 12.11 (83).

It was a stirring victory but the players are well aware that this is just one step along the way and that the big one still looms large. It was a terrific effort by the players and coaching staff and the players will certainly benefit from the week off as there were a number of sore bodies. Paul Sanzone and his Reserves team are still in the hunt and take on Perth next Sunday at Claremont Oval in an endeavour to earn a Grand Final berth. The fact that the Club is in this position is a credit to the players, coaching staff and administration. Be there to support the Reserves next week and organise those Grand Final seats to witness the climax of the 2013 season and a possible nineteenth West Perth flag.

BY DARRELL KENT

PHOTOS BY BELINDA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY