WEST Perth once again showed its ability to dig deep and run out matches at Fremantle Oval on Saturday. The Falcons were challenged all day by South Fremantle who snatched the lead early in the last quarter but to their credit the Falcons dug deep to kick the last four goals of the game to ensure the important victory.
The loss of the in-form Chris Keunen and Aidan Lynch before the game set up a new set of challenges for West Perth but it gave the opportunity for big man Tim Sutherland to play his first league game of football and to his credit he didn’t look out of place. He held his own at the first bounce down but it was Souths who were first on the board courtesy of skipper Ryan Cook.
The first Falcons major went to Michael Lourey who was on the end of a pass by Shane Nelson. His accurate kick was his 33rd major for the year. Both sides battled for dominance during the next 10 minutes but behinds were the order of the day until the 21-minute mark when a long kick forward by key playmaker, Andrew Strijk, enabled Steve Potente to snap from the edge of the square. This gave West Perth an eight-point lead. The lead was short lived as Josh Pullman pulled one back for the Bulldogs. The Falcons’ reply was very quick, however, as a tap out of the middle saw Tyler Keitel take possession and handball to Strijk who finished on the run from 40. Another behind to West Perth followed before Craig White marked just before the siren. His accurate kick after the siren saw West Perth take a three-point lead into the first change; 3.5 (23) to 3.2 (20).
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