LAST QUARTER SURGE ENSURES VICTORY

IT WAS a very even contest all day at HBF Arena on Saturday but a four goal to nil last quarter saw West Perth run out 21-point victors against Swan Districts. The game was played in perfect conditions, the complete opposite to those experienced against East Fremantle last week, and as a result spectators witnessed a very good game of football. There were a number of lead changes during the game but a dominant last quarter saw  the Falcons emerge victorious and hang onto second spot on the ladder.

West Perth got off to the ideal start when Kody Manning received a free-kick 30 metres out at the four-minute mark. His accurate kick gave the Falcons a six-point lead. Both sides kicked behinds before Shane Nelson showed his class by intercepting a handball and goaling on the run from 40. Swans didn’t kick their first major until the 20-minute mark when dangerous forward Matthew Jukes marked 15 metres out and kicked the first of his three for the game. The Falcons hit back shortly after thanks to Manning’s second after a strong mark 20 out. It was then the turn of Swans' promising youngster Dylan Nelson to step up and he kicked the first of his three when he was on the end of a good passage of play. The lead was now only six but Corey Chalmers once again showed his class when he slotted one from 45 after the siren. The Falcons led by 12 points at the first change; 4.3 (27) to 2.3 (15).

Swans had the better of the second quarter kicking six goals to three. They had squared the game up after two minutes of the term with consecutive goals. In both instances they took the ball straight out of the middle to finish accurately. Steve Potente bounced one through from 30 shortly after but three goals to the hard running Black Ducks saw them out to an 11-point lead at the 21-mark. The Falcons ability to get themselves back into the game has been one of their hallmarks this year and this was once again on display when they responded by kicking the next two and snatching back the lead. The first went to Michael Lourey who finished after marking 50 metres out and the second was another to Chalmers who snapped after taking possession at a throw up close to goal. The time clock then ticked down to the 35-minute mark and right on the siren, or slightly after, Tony Notte marked just inside 50 for Swans. He went back and slotted it to give Swans a four-point half-time lead; 8.4 (52) to 7.6 (48).

The third quarter continued in the vein of the previous two with very little separating the two teams. Both sides kicked three goals apiece in an enthralling contest. Swans took the lead out to 11 points after an early goal to Matthew Rogers but the next 10 minutes belonged to the Falcons as they kicked two majors to get back the lead. Chalmers kicked his third after some good work by ruckman Chris Keunen, and Aaron Black hit the scoreboard after marking 10 metres out on a very sharp angle. Keunen had a very good day in the ruck and continues his really good form. Another goal to Swans saw them regain the lead and the momentum continued to swing when Andrew Strijk and Luke Meadows combined to get the ball into the hands of Keunen who scored from 30. But the quarter was not done because Jukes scored his third from the square and this gave Swans a three point lead going into the final change; 11.6 (72) to 10.9 (69).

The 10th and final lead change occurred at the six-minute mark when Lourey finished on the run from 50. His second major gave West Perth a two-point lead and it was to be one that they built on as the game reached its conclusion. The hard run of the Falcons saw them kick three more goals while holding Swans to just three points. The next 10 minutes were very even with only points being scored and it wasn’t until the 16-minute mark that the next major was scored. It was the result of a great run and carry by Matt Johnson who ran from deep in defence taking three bounces, passing to Strijk who passed to Potente 30 metres out. His second goal took the lead out to eight. Shortly after Nelson kicked his second from an angle close in and when Black ran onto a terrific defensive punch by Keunen to kick his second the lead was 21 points. A great final quarter saw West Perth run out victors by that amount and the final scores were; 14.12 (96) to 11.9 (75).

The win completed a great day for the club with all three grades registering a victory, the opposite of the last time they met a few weeks ago. Youngster Broderick Walton presented the awards for the reserves and did a really good job. Players to receive awards included Mark Hamilton, James Batterham, Dean Munns, Marc Crisp and Brayden Antonio. Senior coach Bill Monaghan had a hard act to follow when it came to presenting the senior awards but he managed it with his usual aplomb. Players to be recognised included Corey Chalmers, Aaron Black, Trent Manzone, Drew Rohde and best was Joe Morrow. All three grades have to keep winning to maintain their place in the top five so be at Fremantle Oval next week to cheer the boys on.

ARTICLE BY DARRELL KENT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BELINDA TAYLOR