DIRTY DAY FOR FALCONS

IT was a day that didn’t go to plan for West Perth on Sunday. The league team was defeated after a strong first quarter, the reserves were eliminated after establishing a handy early lead and the colts were also knocked out after a slow start to their game in Mandurah.

At least the senior side will have another chance in the preliminary final at HBF Arena on Sunday. Even though the results were disappointing it does not take away from the terrific achievement of West Perth being the only club to have three teams play finals and go into the second week.

The Falcons played a very good first quarter against minor premiers Subiaco at Medibank Stadium on Sunday. Dangerous Lions forward, Shane Yarran, kicked the first goal of the match at the one-minute mark but the Falcons then took control to kick the next three. Key forward Michael Lourey scored the first two. The first was from outside 50 after taking a strong mark. The next was at the nine-minute mark when he was on the end of a Jay van Berlo pass. Lourey was involved in the third as well when he passed to Matt Johnson after Andrew Strijk used the ball precisely from half back.

At this point the lead was 13 points but Subiaco hit back to tie up the scores by the 21-minute mark. It was high quality and entertaining football. Shortly after a high quality banana kick from 50 by Aaron Black gave the Falcons back the lead and when Rohan Kerr finished from 50 at the 28-minute mark the lead was out to 11 points. West Perth fought hard to maintain the lead but right on the siren Kyle Halligan marked 50 out and nailed the goal to reduce the margin to five at the first change. It ended a lively quarter of football. The Falcons led 5.1 (31) to 4.2 (26).

The second quarter was dominated by Subiaco despite West Perth kicking the first.  Black passed to Lourey 20 metres out and he kicked his third. Lourey had returned to the field after his ankle injury but after this goal was unable to contribute to the same degree and he didn’t see out the game. The lead was back out to 11 points but from here it was all Subiaco. Their midfield took control and used it effectively. They kicked 3.7 for the rest of the quarter and led by 12 points at the main break. Inaccurate kicking made the lead smaller than what it could have been. The scores were 7.9 (51) to 6.3 (39).

The Subiaco dominance continued in the third quarter despite the best efforts of the Falcons. They kicked another five goals to West Perth’s one to have the game under control by three quarter time. Nick Rodda was moved up forward in an effort to provide more of a target and it was he who kicked the only Falcons goal for the quarter. This was after marking 20 metres out on an angle but it didn’t occur until the 27-minute mark of the term. At the final change the Lions led 12.12 (84) to 7.3 (45); a lead of 39 points.

A rushed behind started the scoring for the Falcons before Matt Boland extended the lead once again. West Perth replied shortly after but Subiaco continued to press and extended the lead to 63 points at the 25-minute mark. The Subiaco use of the football was impressive and the Falcons back half was under constant pressure. The last three scores of the game went to the Falcons; one was a major to Aidan Lynch who marked 30 out. The final margin was 55 points; 17.13 (115) to 9.6 (60).

The league side now faces the old enemy, East Perth, at HBF Arena on Sunday. The winner will take on Subiaco in the Grand Final. There is no doubt that it will be a tough match to win and with injuries to key players Chris Keunen and Lourey the challenge could become even more daunting but if there is one thing that supporters have learned this year it is that this side cannot be underestimated and that no stone will be left unturned to play in a second Grand Final in three years. Best players were a little hard to find but Aaron Black worked really hard, Laine Rasmussen battled manfully all day, Andrew Strijk ran hard and Rohan Kerr showed his class on occasions. The reserves and colts bow out after playing some very good football and the players, as a whole, have shown that the West Perth Football Club has a lot to look forward to. The biggest game of the year on Sunday; be there to help get the boys over the line.

BY DARRELL KENT
PHOTOS BY BELINDA TAYLOR