ROYALS TOO GOOD FOR FALCONS

EAST Perth had the better of West Perth in the WA Day Derby at Medibank Stadium on Monday. After an even first term the Royals had the better of the contest and they drew away to record a 48-point victory. The home side consistently took advantage of any West Perth errors to hurt them on the scoreboard and this was the difference between the two sides.

West Perth won the toss and kicked to the Perth end of the ground with the advantage of the breeze but it was East Perth who hit the scoreboard first with two majors. The Falcons steadied but were only able to kick three behinds before East Perth once again kicked accurately to open up a 15-point lead at the 12-minute mark. The first Falcons goal came shortly after when Matt Johnson and Steve Potente combined to get the ball into the hands of Nick Rodda who marked and goaled from 50. Shortly after Luke Meadows took a strong mark 40 metres out to kick accurately and reduce the margin once again but at the 19-minute mark Shayne Hill scored to give the Royals a nine-point advantage. Not to be outdone West Perth replied in quick time with two majors from Steve Potente and Johnson to give them the lead for the first time of the game. At the first change the Falcons led 4.3 (27) to 4.0 (24). 

East Perth took full advantage of the breeze in the second quarter kicking seven goals to three. The Royals took the lead at the four-minute mark but Matt Guadagnin restored the advantage after some hard work and a straight kick. His work around the stoppages was excellent all day and no-one tried harder for West Perth. The next eight minutes were a real arm wrestle but goals to Scott Lycett and Freddie Clutterbuck took the lead out to 10 points for East Perth. Chris Keunen received a free at a throw up to finish from 45 to reduce the margin but from here the game opened up with East Perth having the better of it. A second to Lycett took the lead out to 16 points before a great individual effort by Michael Lourey reduced the lead to 10; it was great to see the way that West Perth was hanging tough. Unfortunately a few turnovers late in the quarter were costly and East Perth took advantage of them to kick two goals and take a 23-point lead into the main break. The Royals led 11.4 (70) to 7.5 (47).

It was crucial that West Perth take advantage of kicking to the scoring end but as was the case in the first quarter the Royals did best and quickly extended the lead to 31 points. As has been the case all year the Falcons dug deep and they controlled the play to reduce the margin to 16 courtesy of goals to Aidan Lynch and Shane Nelson. A goal to Paul Johnson halted the run though, and on the back of that, at the three quarter-time siren, West Perth had only eaten into the half-time deficit by three points and trailed 13.6 (84) to 9.10 (64).

On a number of occasions this year the Falcon heroics have gotten them over the line when seemingly beaten but this was not to be the case this time. East Perth dominated the term piling on five goals to one to wrap up their victory. The only Falcons goal was a scrambled kick close to goal by Rohan Kerr at the nine-minute mark. The final scores were 18.11 (109) to 10.11 (71).

It was a disappointing result as a victory would have seen West Perth a game clear in second spot due to East Fremantle losing to the Bulldogs. It was a day that nothing went right and East Perth took full advantage of any turnovers. Guadagnin was amongst West Perth’s best with his tough work around the clearances, Marcus Adams was a welcome addition back into the side after injury and pressured hard at both ends of the ground, Kody Manning attacked the football all day, Luke Tedesco worked hard and Aaron Black and Nelson racked up over 30 touches each. The game against Peel in Mandurah on Saturday becomes a vital game for the season with eight teams being in the hunt to play finals footy. The reserves had a narrow but hard fought victory and the colts just went down.

BY DARRELL KENT
PHOTOS BY BELINDA TAYLOR