DEMONS OUTRUN BY FALCONS

By Mark Thornber

Round 10, Perth v West Perth

At Arena Joondalup, Saturday 25 May 2013

Perth                           4.2       4.5       8.5       12.7      79

West Perth                  4.3       7.8       13.11    17.13    115

West Perth appeared to have too much pace for Perth who paid for a poor second quarter where they failed to score a goal with the Falcons running out winners by 6 goals.

Perth Captain Paul Bevan won the toss and kicked to the Southern end of the ground. It was the home side though that scored the first goal through Anthony Saylor at the 2 minute mark. The Demons soon responded with Bevan running into an open goal to level the match.

The first term was very even with both side’s picking up plenty of the ball in the midfield. Bigman Fraser McInnes goaled and then Ashley Smith kicked a great running goal half way through the quarter running off half back. West Perth responded again as the slippery Anthony Tsalikis was proving a real danger for a hardworking Perth defence.

After an even first quarter the Falcons led by 1 point after kicking 4 goals 3 to 4 goals 2.  The second term saw the Falcons really gain ascendancy of the midfield as Captain Jason Salecic and Aaron Black pilled on the pressure.

Perth had real trouble setting up any system within their forward 50 metres with a pacy West Perth side well in control. The Falcons kicked the next 3 goals of the match while Perth could only manage just 3 points in a disappointing term. At half time West Perth had opened up a 21 point lead.

The second half saw the Falcons make all the running and within 15 minutes had opened up a match winning lead with 5 quick goals. Perth was trying hard especially through the likes of Julian Jacobs and Brett Hodge but lacked a real spark up forward.

Bevan ran into an open goal to boot his side’s 5^th goal and this really seemed to lift Perth. Brennan Stack, who was rarely sighted in the first half suddenly presented and with some accurate kicking hit a real purple patch by booting the last 3 goals of the term.

At three quarter time Perth still trailed the Falcons by 36 points. The first goal of the last term unfortunately for Perth fans went to the home side as they continued with their scoreboard pressure.

The last quarter was proving an even term with both team’s trading goals. Stack bobbed up to kick his 4^th but again the Falcons responded this time through Fremantle’s Josh Mellington. Perth did manage to run the game out as both Stack and Bevan kicked late majors, however at the final siren the winning margin to West Perth was still 36 points.

Better players for Perth were difficult to find with Jacobs (26 touches) and Ashley Smith (29 touches) solid throughout the match.

Stack finished the day well after a slow start to boot 5 goals and was well supported by Bevan with 3.

Perth had two players making their league debuts with Kieran Hug a 19 year old from Toodyay (league player number 1542) and David Johnston a former Peel and Swan Districts defender (league player number 1543) both showing some encouraging form.

Next week Perth returns home to Brownes Stadium on Saturday to play the Black and Whites.

Goals: Stack 5, Bevan 3, Florio 2, McInnes, Ashley Smith 1.

Best: Jacobs, Ashley Smith, Bevan, Stack, Hodge, Risol.