FALCONS DOMINATE EAGLES

FALCONS DOMINATE EAGLES

By Darrell Kent

West Perth had a percentage boosting victory against the Eagles at Provident Financial Oval on Sunday. They had the first twelve scoring shots of the game, spread over two quarters, and dominated the visitors to the extent that they did not score their first goal until the seventeen-minute mark of the second quarter. Koopah Todd was impressive in his debut having fifteen possessions and kicking a major. Sasha Kernutt was a late in for Tom Medhat and he had an impact finishing with sixteen touches. Tyler Keitel was dominant, once again, and kicked seven.

The Falcons started the game in fine form and dominated the first quarter. Their tackling pressure and use of the footy was outstanding. Noah Pegoraro kicked the first after marking and receiving fifty. He is a seriously good footballer. Koopah Todd was busy early and handballed to Tyler Keitel who scored the first of his bag. He was involved again in the next when he combined with Rudy Riddoch to get the ball to Sasha Kernutt who scored from forty. He is a player with a lot of upside. West Perth controlled the play with the Eagles only having two inside fifties for the quarter. Rudy Riddoch finished a productive first quarter with his first after marking outside fifty, dodging the opposition, and finishing from forty. At the first change a sharp West Perth led the Eagles by twenty-eight: 4.4 (28) to 0.0 (0).

The second term was more of the same with the Falcons having the first four scoring shots and extending their lead to forty-two. Tyler Keitel and Tom O’Donnell combined to get the footy to Keegan Knott who scored with a clever left foot snap. He makes the difficult look easy. Tristan Hobley finished some great work from deep in defence when he passed to Tyler Keitel in the square. He kicked his second. The Eagles then hit the scoreboard for the first time but the West Perth reply was almost instantaneous. The ball came out of the middle and Rudy Riddoch marked on fifty. He went back and slotted his second. At the main break West Perth had established a more than handy forty-four-point lead: 7.8 (50) to 1.0 (6). It was just reward for a dominant half of football.

It seems hard to imagine but the third quarter was probably the Falcons best. They had winners all over the ground and outscored West Coast by five goals to none. It was a top display of hard running footy. Keegan Knott passed to Tyler Keitel who kicked his third. Mitch Peirce then scored his first after playing on when Tyler Keitel received a free. Midway through the term the lead was out to sixty after a fourth to Tyler Keitel. He was on the end of a pass from Aaron Black who continues to set a terrific example as leader. He and Shane Nelson dominated around the ground. Nathan Murray then scored the first of his brace. He was on the end of some very good team footy that started deep in defence. A very clever soccer by Sasha Kernutt then set up the key forward for his fifth. He angled it to Tyson Moulton who hit Keitel on the chest in the square. At the final change the Falcons were home leading by seventy-one: 12.8 (80) to 1.3 (9).

The heat went out of the game in the last quarter and both teams scored four goals each. It made the score board look better for the visitors. Tyler Keitel kicked his sixth and seventh. The last one coming after some hard running and a good pass by Steve Potente. A second to Nathan Murray had the lead out to eighty-four. He was on the end of a clever pass from Tom O’Donnell. The Eagles then controlled play to reduce the margin to seventy. The final Falcon goal of the game went to first gamer, Koopah Todd. The ball was centred by Conal Lynch and Koopah finished with a clever snap. It was his first League goal and all of the players celebrated with him. It was just reward for all of his hard work to get back on the field after a serious injury. At the final siren the margin was the same as three quarter time, seventy-one: 16.10 (106) to 5.5 (35).

It was pleasing to see vice-captain, Blake Wilhelm, get through his first senior game since round six. He will be more than handy in the Falcon defence that has played solid football all year. Best players were Aaron Black, Shane Nelson, Tyler Keitel, Zac Guadagnin and Tom Boyes.

The contribution of the younger players coming through is a credit to all of the coaches as West Perth has developed into a team that really plays for each other and they complement the senior players. A much bigger challenge against South Fremantle at Provident Financial Oval on Sunday. It is our last home game for the year and the result will have a big say in relation to what position West Perth finish in the five. Be there to get the teams over the line. They all sit in the top five.