FALCONS AT CENTRE OF FLUCTUATING WAFL FORTUNES

THE fluctuating nature of the WAFL competition in 2014 is being felt by West Perth so far having suffered a loss to South Fremantle who just happened to be thumped two weeks ago by the same team the Falcons beat by 100 points.

After a 100-point victory over East Perth last week West Perth trailed nearly all day to lose by 23 points to the previously winless Bulldogs. The victory continued South Fremantle’s great run at the Arena where they have now won 15 of their 23 encounters.

Former Falcon Shaun Bewick kicked the first major of the day at the 10-minute mark. It was a tight but scrappy start to the game. Scores were tied shortly after when the Falcons No. 6, Marc Crisp, took the ball off the back of the pack to tie the scores. The Falcons then kicked two behinds to lead for the only time in the game. When Ben Saunders kicked the first of his seven for the game the Bulldogs led by four, a lead that they didn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. Their lead was out to 17 after a second to Saunders and the first of four to the dangerous Craig White before a left foot pass by Falcon debutant, Andrew Krakouer, saw Anthony Tsalikis mark 30 out. His first for the day saw West Perth trail by 12 at the first change, 4.2 (26) to 2.2 (14).

It would be fair to say that senior coach, Bill Monaghan, was unhappy with the playing group as they received a real serve at quarter-time. Unfortunately the players failed to respond as they were outscored four goals to one to have the Bulldogs firmly in charge at the main break. A second and third to White and a third to Saunders confirmed the dominance of the Bulldogs midfield as they took all before them. The only Falcon goal for the quarter was courtesy of a Matt Fowler snap at the 26-minute mark. At half-time West Perth was in real trouble trailing by 27 points, 8.3 (51) to 3.6 (24).

It would be fair to say that the Falcons' endeavour in the third quarter was much improved but at the end of the day they only held their own. Saunders kicked his fourth to extend the lead before Jordan Jones replied after pouncing on a South Fremantle defensive error. His move into the midfield certainly contributed to the improvement. From the four-minute mark until the midpoint of the term the sides traded behinds before Jay van Berlo kicked forward to Andrew Strijk who finished from the square. This reduced the margin to twenty two but the Saunders show continued with him kicking his fifth and sixth. His two goals were punctuated by the first in Falcon colours to Krakouer. He roved off the pack to finish from close in. When van Berlo scored from forty at the end of the term the margin had been slightly reduced to twenty two at the final change. South Fremantle led 11.7 (73) to 7.9 (51).

Falcons’ supporters still believed that they were a chance at the commencement of the last quarter but the remarkable accuracy of Saunders severely dented this belief when he kicked his seventh. West Perth responded by attacking strongly but only scored three behinds before a wonderful finish by Steven Browne from 50 saw the margin reduced to 18 at the 15-minute mark. But as they had done all day the Bulldogs responded by kicking the next two and putting the game out of reach. One of these was a fourth to White. A goal to Marcus Adams and a second to Tsalikis rounded out the day for West Perth but at the final siren they had still suffered a 23-point loss, 15.8 (98) to 10.15 (75).

There is no doubt that South Fremantle earned their victory but the loss has put West Perth back in the pack rather than sitting comfortably in the four. Best for the Falcons were Kody Manning, Dan Hunt, Jordan Jones and Jay van Berlo.

The reserves scored a courageous eight-point victory to score their second win for the year. Players to receive awards included Cameron Branch, Joe Morrow, Jack Thrum and best was Aidan Lynch.

The Bulldogs were too good for the Falcons colts.

A real battle looms at Steel Blue Oval on ANZAC Day against a Swan Districts side that is playing with a lot of self-belief. It is an important game for the Falcons to avoid losing two in-a-row.