A "SLICK WIN"

THE mark is taken 45 metres out, right on the boundary, on the right half forward flank. The time clock moves past 33 minutes and the team is down by five after trailing by 42 at the main break. As you would expect the goal square is crowded but the only movement the players have to make is to raise their head to watch the ball sail through the middle. The ball is taken back to the middle and the siren blows 10 seconds later. Now back to the beginning.

West Perth started the game in fine fashion kicking the first two goals. The first went to Steve Potente who scored on his non-preferred foot from 30. Andrew Strijk then burst through the middle of the ground shortly after to hit Nick Rodda on the chest 20 out. His straight kick gave the Falcons a 13-point lead after ten minutes. The Falcons controlled the play for the next seven minutes but were unable to hit the scoreboard. Matt Taberner then marked strongly to kick the first of his five. The West Perth reply was quick, however, and Kody Manning finished from the square after being on the end of a series of handballs. This occurred at the 19-minute mark but from here the quarter belonged to Peel as they started to run the ball and their tall forwards had an impact. They kicked the final three goals of the term to take a five point lead into the first change. Peel led 4.1 (25) to 3.2 (20).

The second quarter was all Peel and they piled on seven goals to one. Taberner kicked the first three after leading and marking strongly. His teammates lifted and they raced to a commanding lead. The only Falcon goal for the quarter was a clever dribbled major by Andrew Krakouer. The Falcons were in real trouble at the main break trailing by seven goals; 11.3 (69) to 4.3 (27).

Coach Bill Monaghan addressed the players behind closed doors at half-time and the players responded accordingly kicking the first four goals. Rohan Kerr kicked his first, Krakouer and Potente their second and Matt Guadagnin his first. At the 12-minute mark the margin had been reduced to just 16 but once again Peel steadied to kick the next two including a fifth to Dockers forward Taberner. A lot of the good early work was undone and at the final change the Peel lead was back out to 30. The margin had been eaten into but it was still a sizeable one. The visitors led 13.6 (84) to 8.6 (54).

The Falcons dominated the first 20 minutes of the final quarter, playing as though their season was on the line. Steven Browne got the ball rolling marking and finishing from 30, Krakouer kicked his third after receiving a 20 out and Strijk ran past Matthew Spencer who had marked on 50 and steered one through. The Falcons were now a live chance trailing by 10 at the 17-minute mark. Peel once again responded to have the next three scoring shots and take the lead out to eighteen going into time on. The West Perth prospects did not look great. A second to Manning at the 25-minute mark breathed life back into the contest and a second to Rodda two minutes later had Falcons fans hoping for the best once again. At the 31-minute mark Marcus Adams scored a point out of a congested pack to reduce the margin to just five but it did look as though time would beat West Perth. After getting back possession from the kick in the ball was passed to Anthony Tsalikis 45 out on the boundary. The rest is history; 'Slick' went back for his 27th possession and slotted a great goal to put the Falcons back in the top four. The ball went back to the centre, was bounced and 10 seconds later the siren sounded to give West Perth an unlikely victory. Final scores were 14.9 (94) to 14.8 (92).

West Perth now sits in fourth spot but three games behind the top three sides. One quarter of ordinary football was compensated for by three quarters of hard running and tackling that have become a West Perth trademark. There were a number of good players for West Perth including Andrew Strijk and Anthony Tsalikis but the players to receive awards were Kody Manning, Steve Potente, Aaron Black, Shane Nelson and best was Laine Rasmussen.

The reserves won their fourth straight and players to be acknowledged included Blake Wilhelm, Jack Thrum, Matt Fowler who kicked 8.6 and best was Mitch McPhee. It doesn’t get any easier next week with a game against the table topping Subiaco. Be there at Medibank Stadium to see if the Falcons can head into the state game with a 4-4 record.

BY DARRELL KENT

PHOTOS BY BELINDA TAYLOR