FALCONS OVERWHELM DEMONS

WEST Perth celebrated Andrew Strijk’s 150th game in style by recording a 79-point victory against Perth at HBF Arena on Saturday.

Aidan Lynch played his first WAFL match and improved as the game went on having a very good second half. The Falcons controlled the play all day, had 13 individual goal scorers and thoroughly deserved their big win. It is a confidence builder for some tough games that lay ahead.

Perth kicked the first goal of the match courtesy of a clever snap by Callum Collard. It was the first of three for the day . The first West Perth goal of the day came as the result of a precision pass by Matthew Johnson. He hit Drew Rohde on the chest 15 metres out. Rohde continued his good early season form by converting. Chris Keunen was then on the end of some good work by Luke Meadows and Jay van Berlo. He finished from the top of the square.

It was the start of a really good day for the big man. At the 16-minute mark Shane Nelson kicked accurately after winning a free at a boundary throw in. This took the West Perth lead to 13 points but  Perth hit back hard to kick the next three and take a six-point advantage. The Falcons then rallied as Michael Lourey kicked the first of six after marking 30 out and when Steve Potente goaled from a free at the top of the square West Perth had regained the lead just before the siren. After a bright first quarter West Perth led 5.1 (31) to 4.1 (25).

West Perth took advantage of kicking with the aid of a slight breeze in the second term. They dominated to kick four goals to one. Kody Manning got the ball rolling by snapping a clever goal; Lourey then dominated the next five minutes by having four shots on goal. He kicked a major after some strong body work at a boundary throw in. He snapped a ripper on his left. His other goal in this run was when he was on the end of a top pass by Meadows. His third gave the Falcons a 26-point lead after ten. Five minutes later Meadows intercepted a Demons defensive pass to score from 30 metres out. West Perth continued to control play but couldn’t find the big opening. The only Perth goal came in the dying seconds of the first half when Daniel Arangio scored from 40. This gave West Perth a 27-point half time lead; their dominance was not completely shown on the scoreboard. The scores were 9.6 (60) to 5.3 (33).

The third quarter also belonged to West Perth as they once again extended their lead. The first goal was kicked by Perth’s Brent Latch. A typical tenacious Kody Manning tackle saw the ball spill free and the ball ended up in the arms of Johnson, 50 out on the boundary. The kick that saw him score his first was a beauty. Matt Guadagnin then followed up with a great snap 45 out and when Kris Shannon swooped on a loose ball to score the lead was out to 38 points at the 21-minute mark. Perth got a goal with a third major to Collard before some strong work by Matt Fowler assisted Lourey to kick his fourth. This saw West Perth take a 37-point lead into the final change. They led 13.7 (85) to 7.6 (48).

The Falcons dominated the last quarter to score nine goals to two. At no stage did they take the pressure off and they attacked the ball until the final siren. The goals went to Johnson who scored his second after taking the ball off hands from a boundary throw in, the next was a well-earned major to Fowler and he received more value for his efforts when he kicked his second at the nine-minute mark. This took the lead out to 56 points but the run had just begun. Manning laid a tackle that saw Strijk kick a major in his 150th. It was a typical long, accurate Andrew Strijk finish. At the 15-minute mark the Demons scrambled a goal through Kieran Hug but a second to Manning and a fifth to Lourey had the lead out to 68 shortly after. At the 26-minute mark Laine Rasmussen became the Falcons’ 13th goal scorer after finishing accurately from 30 out. A second to Strijk, that bounced through from deep in the pocket saw West Perth reach a game high lead of 80. In a fourth term goal spree Jacob Payne kicked one for Perth before in a fitting finale Lourey finished the goal scoring with his sixth. It was also appropriate that he was on the end of an Strijk pass to set it up. The final result was a seventy nine point victory to West Perth; 22.9 (141) to 9.8 (62).

The percentage boosting victory sees West Perth in second spot at the end of the third round. Congratulations to the colts who scored a hard earned victory on the back of seven goals from Mitchell Antonio. Unfortunately the reserves went down but congratulations to Corey Chalmers, Sam Rotham, Kaidyn Fullgrabe and Tyson Moulton who were the award winners. Any number of players could have received an award in the league. Chris Keunen and Marcus Adams had big games but missed out. Well done to Nick Rodda, Aaron Black, Luke Tedesco, Luke Meadows, Rohan Kerr and best, Michael Lourey. A big test against the reigning premiers, Subiaco, next week. Be there to help get the three sides over the line.

Article by Darrell Kent
Photography by Belinda Taylor