FALCONS PREVAIL OVER THUNDER IN EXCITING THRILLER

WEST Perth and Peel Thunder played one of the most attacking, high-scoring and entertaining contests of the WAFL season on Saturday, and the Falcons got the last goal of the contest to end up winning by four points at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

Both teams were coming off losses last weekend against East Perth and Claremont respectively, and needed a win to consolidate their spot in the top-five and both certainly put on quite a show for those in attendance in Mandurah.

The scene was set with six goals apiece in the opening quarter and it was always likely to come down to whichever team could kick the last major that would win, and that ended up being Corey Chalmers for West Perth and the Falcons ended up winning, 17.9 (111) to 17.5 (107).

The win sees West Perth improve to a 6-4 record to maintain second position on the ladder heading into the bye next week and ahead of a clash with the third-placed South Fremantle at HBF Arena on Saturday June 20.

Despite Michael Lourey being held goalless, West Perth had plenty of avenues to goal led by Matt Johnson who booted four to go with 18 possessions.

Tyler Keitel came in to make his league debut after five games in the reserves since being cleared to join West Perth from East Perth. The 19-year-old key position player kicked a goal with his first kick in the opening quarter and finished the day with three goals from nine disposals and three marks.

Luke Meadows also kicked three goals for the Falcons with Chalmers kicking two including what proved to be the match-winner just before time-on of the final quarter.

Shane Nelson continued his remarkable season in the midfield for West Perth with another 31 possessions while Andrew Strijk was at his damaging best off half-back with 28 disposals and Sandover Medallist Aaron Black had 28 touches, nine marks and a goal.

Kris Shannon put together what could have been the best game of his league career to date as well with the speedster finishing with 27 disposals, seven marks and six inside-50 entries.

Veteran on-baller Matt Guadagnin continued his good form with 21 touches as well with returning co-captain Jay van Berlo gathering 21 disposals to go with six tackles, five marks, four inside 50s and a goal.

Marcus Adams worked hard in defence for the Falcons and finished with 20 touches and 10 marks while ruckman Chris Keunen battled away against Jack Hannath and Craig Moller to end up with 10 disposals, 35 hit outs and a goal.

Both teams combined for five goals in less than the first 10 minutes of the contest and that set the tone for the attacking, and tight contest that was to come right throughout the afternoon.

The Thunder got the first goal through Max Duffy before the Falcons responded courtesy of Keitel who kicked truly with his first kick in league football in his debut.

West Perth again drew level when Chris Keunen kicked truly in response to a major from Leroy Jetta for Peel, but the Thunder then managed the next four goals in-a-row to open up a 24-point advantage heading into time-on of the first term.

The Falcons finished the quarter on fire, though, with goals to Johnson, Chalmers, Drew Rohde and van Berlo and that saw scores all tied up at 6.1 apiece at quarter-time.

Peel opened the scoring in the second quarter but then the Falcons got on a roll kicking the next three goals on the trot courtesy of Meadows, Steve Potente and then Meadows again.

That saw West Perth lead by 10 points heading into time-on of the second quarter, but Peel got the last major of the half thanks to Jetta and that cut the Falcons lead to four points at the main break.

It took less than two minutes for Peel to get the first goal of the second half through Tendai Mzungu but West Perth answered straightaway thanks to Black to regain a four-point advantage.

Both teams continued to trade goals with Johnson answering one from Duffy, and then after Mzungu kicked his second, Keitel booted his second and third goals on debut to help West Perth again lead by nine points.

The Thunder got a goal back through Dockers Irishman Sean Hurley, but again the Falcons responded when Meadows nailed his third goal of the day and West Perth was up by 10 points again.

Peel regained the advantage, though, with the next three goals before Johnson kicked his third for West Perth shortly before three quarter-time and scores were all tied up heading into the final quarter.

The Falcons again went in front early in the last term when Johnson nailed goal No. 4 for the day but the Thunder got the next two to lead by a goal. Following a couple of behinds for West Perth, the Falcons got the last goal of the game thanks to Chalmers and it proved the match-winner.

West Perth's reserves also scored a thumping 20.12 (132) to 5.5 (35) victory over Peel at Bendigo Bank Stadium with Brent Fotheringham booting five goals for the Falcons up against one of his two former teams.

Brayden Antonio also kicked four goals from 27 possessions for West Perth with Callum Papertalk booting three majors and James Batterham two.

Trent Manzone racked up 34 possessions for West Perth's reserves, Blake Wilhelm 29, Kaidyn Fullgrabe 27, Brayden Antonio 27, Joe Morrow 24 and Broderick Walton 19. Ruckman Tim Sutherland dominated with 50 hit outs as well.

Peel Thunder's colts opened the day at Bendigo Bank Stadium with a thrilling 9.10 (64) to 9.5 (59) win over West Perth.

Nathan Alexandre kicked two goals for the Falcons with Clint Hinchcliffe returning from a strong showing in WA's State 18s team with 25 possessions and a goal. Scott Nelson also picked up 22 disposals for West Perth, Troy Manners 18, Ben Mountford 17 and Conal Lynch 16.

WEST PERTH            6.1    9.1    15.4    17.9    (111)
PEEL THUNDER            6.1    8.3    15.4    17.5    (107)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Johnson 4; Meadows, Keitel 3; Chalmers 2; Black, Potente, van Berlo, Rohde, Keunen.
Best: Nelson, Strijk, Johnson, Black, Shannon, Meadows, Adams, van Berlo, Guadagnin.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Duffy, Jetta 4; Mzungu, Fahey 2; Bootsma, Hannath, Hurley, Moller, Langdon.
Best: Blakely, de Boer, Jetta, Jones, Ballard, Smith, Hannath, Duffy.