LATE SURGE FALLS SHORT

A tricky wind and rusty skills ensured that the game at Shark Park didn’t rise to any great level but East Fremantle made the most of their opportunities to lead all day and run out three point winners. The Sharks appeared to have the game all sewn up at the ten minute mark of the last quarter when they led by thirty three but the Falcons piled on the pressure to just fall short.

As you would expect for the first game of the year the intensity was up but the skills were down, this in conjunction with a strong swirling breeze ensured that the match was a scrappy affair. Big man Robert Young kicked the first goal of the game at the six minute mark when he took a strong grab in the square. Seven minutes later West Perth big man Shaun Marusic marked and kicked a very good goal from fifty out on the boundary. The Sharks grabbed the momentum from here though and kicked the next two goals to lead by fourteen at the twenty minute mark. The highlight of the term for the Falcons was a wonderful mark by Trent Manzone who was running towards the square and marked looking over his shoulder. It saved a certain goal. The only other major for the quarter went to the Falcons and it was courtesy of a very good boundary kick from Matt Guadagnin. At the first change the Falcons trailed by seven; 3.2 (20) to 2.1 (13). It was a good result as the Sharks had the best of the play.

The skills of both sides continued to be below par going into the second quarter and it wasn’t until the thirteen minute mark before the first score occurred. Jack Perham hit the scoreboard for East Fremantle and when Michael Edwards did it again three minutes later the Sharks had extended the lead to nineteen. To the Falcons credit they steadied to claw their way back into the game. Their only goal for the quarter came at the twenty nine minute mark when a long kick forward by Marc Crisp enabled Jay van Berlo to run onto the ball and finish from the square. At the main break the Falcons trailed by only ten; 5.2 (32) to 3.4 (22).

At the six minute mark of the third quarter Steve Potente laid a great tackle in the middle of the ground. He was rewarded with a free kick and fifty metres. His accurate kick from forty narrowed the margin to just four but this was to be the Falcons only goal for the quarter. The Sharks applied the pressure and kicked three to just about put the game out of the Falcons reach. At the final change they were down by twenty two; 8.5 (53) to 4.7 (31).

East Fremantle surged in the early part of the final term to kick the first two majors and lead by thirty three after ten minutes. At this stage the Falcons had only kicked four goals for the game and victory seemed highly improbable. But from here West Perth surged on the back of some very good clearance work by Jay van Berlo. The co-captain really stood up to lead the revival. The Falcons started to run the ball and hit targets, something that had been missing previously. Jay van Berlo got the ball rolling by kicking his second from thirty, Ray Bartholomew finished on the run from well outside fifty and when Anthony Tsalikis marked and finished from forty the lead had been reduced to fourteen at the nineteen minute mark. Jay van Berlo had a hand in each of these goals. He was once again involved out of the middle when “Razor” kicked his second goal on the run from outside fifty. Both goals were a delight to see. At the twenty six minute mark the lead was reduced to just three when Matt Fowler snapped from the boundary twenty out after receiving a free for an out of bounds on the full. An unlikely victory loomed. The Falcons continued to attack but their efforts were thwarted by a wonderful mark by Matthew Jupp twenty out of his defensive goal as he ran with the ball. From here the Sharks rebounded and Brett Peake kicked his third from the square to extend the lead to nine. One could be excused for thinking that the game was done but this was not to be the case. The Falcons went forward out of the middle thanks to Shane Nelson and Jordan Jones, who had been moved forward after a strong game in defence, scrambled a goal from the square. The margin was back to three after twenty nine. West Perth continued to attack but didn’t take advantage of their control and when the siren went at the thirty three minute mark they were three short of victory. The final score was 11.7 (73) to 10.10 (70).

East Fremantle led all day and would have been unlucky to lose. The hit out would have done the Falcons the world of good and they will be much improved next week against Claremont. Best players for West Perth included Andrew Strijk (let’s hope that his shoulder injury is not too bad), Jordan Jones, Jay van Berlo, Anthony Tsalikis and Shane Nelson. The Reserves and Colts also suffered narrow defeats. Be at the Arena next week for the unfurling of the premiership flag before the game against Claremont.

BY DARRELL KENT

PHOTOS OF COURTESY BELINDA TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY