SECOND HALF FADE OUT COSTLY

AN UNIMPRESSIVE second half against Swan Districts has all but ended the West Perth's finals aspirations this year. It is still mathematically possible for the Falcons to make the four this year but a number of results will need to fall their way and the team will need to regain the self-belief that was such a key ingredient last year.

The Falcons were on the board quickly courtesy of a Nick Rodda major from 45 out. He was on the end of a Matt Johnson pass. Two dangerous Swans forwards then stepped up to hit the scoreboard. Matthew Jukes and Ryan Davis were both multiple goal scorers on the day and they kicked consecutive goals to give the black ducks the lead. The lead was seven after eight minutes. Aaron Black narrowed the margin after he intercepted a Swans kick out of defence. It was a fine finish from 40 on the boundary. But for the next 20 minutes it was all Swans as they kicked three goals. The Falcons had their chances but only registered behinds. The lead was out to 19 points before great forward defensive pressure by Kody Manning saw the ball spill free to Johnson who finished from the square. At the first change West Perth trailed by 13 points; 3.3 (21) to 5.4 (34).

The second quarter began in ominous fashion when Ricky Cary kicked a major in the first two minutes. The Falcons responded though and played their best football of the match up until half-time. They kicked three behinds before the opportunistic Johnson kicked his second after taking the ball off hands. Jay van Berlo then took advantage of some strong work by Marcus Adams to score and by the 11-minute mark the lead had been reduced to three. Davis halted the run with his third goal. At the 15-minute mark Chris Keunen palmed the ball to Matt Guadagnin who passed to Seva Martin 50 out. It was classic ruck work and Martin finished it off with a goal. The next 10 minutes saw very little scoreboard action but when Anthony Tsalikis ran onto the ball to score the Falcons had regained the lead to be in front at half-time. They led 7.8 (50) to 7.4 (46).

After the great fight back in the second quarter it was disappointing to see West Perth outscored five goals to one in the third. The only Falcons goal came at the 15-minute mark when 'Slick' passed to Manning 20 out. His straight kick reduced the margin to four points but Swans finished the term best kicking three more goals to take a 23-point lead into the final change. They led 12.8 (80) to 8.9 (57).

A difficult task was made even harder at the start of the final quarter when Swans kicked the first two to take the lead out to 36 points. The first West Perth goal came at the 15-minute mark when Shane Nelson kicked a clever dribbled goal. Rodda then marked strongly to kick his second from 20 metres out but 22 points was to be as close as the Falcons got. Swans kicked two goals to one to close out the match. The Falcons goal went to Rohan Kerr who finished from 50. At the final siren West Perth had lost by 29 points; 11.10 (76) to 16. 9 (105).

It completed a miserable day for West Perth with both the colts and reserves losing narrowly. Best players for the league team were Luke Tedesco, Matt Johnson, Aaron Black, Jay van Berlo and Dan Hunt, who continues to play in fine form. Players to be recognised in the reserves were Jordan Mills, James Embley, Luke Meadows and best was Brayden Antonio. The Falcons take on Subiaco during the International Round at HBF Arena on Saturday. The team response to this week’s game will be interesting to see.