Round 5 Wrap

PERTH 12.11 (83) lost to WEST PERTH 13.12 (90)

The build-up suggested it had the makings of being a cracking contest with one loss between Perth and West Perth over the opening four rounds, and they didn’t disappoint on Saturday before the Falcons maintained their dominance over the Demons.

Perth came into the game at Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park undefeated from three matches so far in 2020 while West Perth had won three of its four matches with their lone loss coming in a tight affair against the undefeated South Fremantle.

With the fact being that the winner of the game would take a giant step towards locking in a finals spot as well and the stage was set, and what resulted was an outstanding contest.

Milestone man Tyler Keitel started his 100th game for West Perth with the first goal of the contest after less than 20 seconds. Two minutes later and fellow key forward Michael Lourey kicked truly as well to give the Falcons the flying start.

Perth steadied, though, and young gun Logan McDonald and Jack Richardson kicked goals to level scores up, and the Demons went on with it with three more for the first term to Richardson, Marshall Jones and Kieran Delahunty to be up by 19 points at the first break.

If Perth had the momentum going into the break, West Perth soon regained it with five goals in less than 10 minutes with Keitel adding three of them with Kris Shannon and Mitch Peirce booting the other.

Then a few minutes later and Keitel kicked his fifth goal already of the first half to see West Perth turn that 19-point quarter-time deficit into their own 18-point lead in just 12 minutes.

Keegan Knott then kicked another for West Perth shortly before half-time to give the Falcons a 17-point edge at the main break.

The game took another turn to open the third term with two quick goals to Perth from McDonald and Fraser McInnes and before long it was a three-point ball game once again.

The Demons remained within touch still trailing by only seven points at three quarter-time setting up the last term.

A big finish was then truly set up after Brant College kicked a goal for Perth to tie scores up at the five-minute mark.

Keitel then kicked his sixth of the day before Dylan Yem added another to put West Perth 13 points up. Despite Perth getting one back through McDonald, West Perth had done enough to win 13.12 (90) to 12.11 (83).

Remarkably it means that West Perth has now won its last 18 matches against Perth with the Demons still yet to beat the Falcons since 2011, and not on their home ground still since 2004.

Tyler Keitel had a day out in his 100th game for West Perth kicking six goals from 13 possessions while Michael Lourey and Mitch Peirce kicked two goals apiece for the Falcons.

West Perth captain Aaron Black racked up another 29 possessions, Luke Meadows 27, Trent Manzone 24, Blake Wilhelm 20, Dylan Yem 18 and Laine Rasmussen 17. Perth did well to limit Shane Nelson to 15 touches but he still worked hard to lay 11 tackles for the Falcons.

Perth's two main goal kicking options kicked three goals apiece in the form of Jack Richardson and Logan McDonald while Brant Colledge also kicked a pair as he approaches his 100th WAFL appearance.

Andrew Fisher was tremendous for the Demons off half-back providing great run and drive with 22 possessions and 12 inside-50 entries.

Chris Masten also had 22 disposals, Matthew Taylor 22, Austin Davis 20, Brady Grey 18 (eight tackles), Kasey Nicholas 17 and Brent Edmonds 16.