Third term lapse again costs Demons

 A six goal to one third quarter proved the difference on Saturday afternoon as the Demons went down to East Perth by 20 points at Leederville Oval.

The third term lapse was remeniscent of last time Perth played at Leederville Oval, in round two this year, where Subiaco piled on six goals to Perth's two in the third and went on to win by 23 points.

Perth came out of the blocks strongly, with Spencer White kicking the first two goals of the match.

Debutant Mitchell Henderson added a third, slotting his first goal at league level before late goals to East Perth handed them a four point lead at the first break.

East Perth put through the first two majors of the second term and threatened to take control, however Perth responded with four consecutive goals in an eight minute purple patch.

Two late goals to the Royals saw them take a nine point lead into the main break.

East Perth came out firing in the third quarter, piling on six goals to lead by 35 points at the last change.

The young Demons didn't roll over, with small forward Cody Ninyette kicking four of Perth's six final quarter goals.

However East Perth did enough in the third term to hand them their first victory of season 2017, winning 17.13 (115) to 14.11 (95).

Perth captain Clint Jones led from the front, collecting a whopping 53 disposals including five marks, four tackles and a goal. 

Jones fell just one possession short of equaling Haydn Bunton Jnr's WAFL record of 54 disposals.

20-year-old midfielder Corey Byrne had the best game of his short WAFL career, amassing 35 disposals and using the ball well going forward.

Perth's eigth debutant so far this season Mitchell Henderson did not look out of place, kicking two goals from his 18 possessions.

Aidan Tropiano was back to his 2015 Sandover Medal best, applying a game high 13 tackles along with 39 disposals.

Michael Sinclair performed strongly on return from an achillies injury, collecting 31 possessions across half back.  

Perth (1-4) remain seventh on the WAFL ladder and this week face the fifth placed West Perth in Joondalup.

Still only two games out of the top five, this week's clash is shaping as a vital one for the Demons.

Read the WAFL Match Report here.

EAST PERTH        3.6    7.11    13.13    17.13    (115)
PERTH                  3.2    7.2        8.8      14.11     (95)

Goals: Ninyette 4; White 3; Henderson 2; Jones, Roe, Stack, Narrier, Giblett 1
Best: Jones, Byrne, Ninyette, Tropiano

Earlier, the Development side recorded their fourth win for the season defeating East Perth in a nail-biter.

Perth were in control all afternoon and had a 19 point advantage at the final break, however a late surge from East Perth got them to within a goal.

Down two men in the final quarter, Perth held on to win by three points and move to equal top of the ladder.

The win was dampened by injuries to Josh Siegert (broken jaw) and Kristian Cary (knee).

Julian Jacobs put his hand up for league selection, amassing 27 disposals and proving a vocal presence around the ground.

Taran Etto was again one of Perth's better players, laying eight tackles along with 24 disposals.

Callum Papertalk added three goals to his season tally of 15 and moves to the top of the Development leading goalkicker leaderboard.

EAST PERTH        1.6     3.8          6.11      10.13     (73)
PERTH                  3.5    6.11        9.12      10.16     (76)

Goals: Papertalk 3; Walley 2; Jacobs, Cary, Jones, Ansey, Piggott 1
Best: Burke, Etto, Piggott, Jones

The Colts recored a 68 point loss to East Perth on Saturday morning.

Tom Gooch returned to Colts level after playing the first four games of season 2017 in the league side and was Perth's best player.

Gooch had 29 disposals and 5 tackles in what was a disappointing morning for the Demons.

Caelen Bennell continued his strong start to 2017, collecting 30 disposals and eight marks.

Trent Simpson provided an option up forward and finished with three goals to his name.

To make matters worse for Perth, Jack McCauley re-injured his knee and awaits scan results to find out the severity.

EAST PERTH        5.2     8.4       12.6    17.11    (113)
PERTH                  0.0    4.3        6.8      6.9         (45)

Goals: Simpson 3; Hansen, Hamilton, Taylor 1
Best: Gooch, Bennell, Simpson, Baldwin-Wright

Photos: Brendan Merdzan Photography