Falcons thrash Eagles at YanchepSaturday, April 10, 2021 - 9:09 PM - by Chris Pike

WEST Perth took its show to Splendid Park in Yanchep on Saturday and the Falcons delivered quite the emphatic performance to beat the West Coast Eagles by 78 points.

West Perth started its 2021 season with a competitive showing despite a 21-point loss to South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, but it all came together for the Falcons in Yanchep on Saturday.

But having regularly been part of finals action, West Perth wouldn’t have wanted to be playing catch up this season and they sure ensured that wasn’t the case with a dominant performance from the start against the Eagles.

West Perth kicked four goals to one in the opening quarter and then pulled further away with five to two in the second to head into the half-time break leading by 36 points.

It was another four goals to two for the Falcons in the third quarter, and then they really rammed home their advantage to close out the game with six goals to one in the last term to end up winning 19.6 (120) to 6.6 (42).

It was a dominant performance from West Perth in all areas with the Falcons amassing 99 more disposals for the Eagles, ending up converting those to 25 scoring shots to 12 and then the eventual 78-point victory.

West Perth's forward-line was tremendously impressive and potent, and it wasn’t just the usual suspects Tyler Keitel and Keegan Knott. Now that doesn’t mean those two weren’t big contributors with Keitel kicking six goals from 17 possessions and nine marks, and Knott still adding three goals.

But they did receive plenty of help and it was the introduction of Mitch Antonio as that third target that made the world of difference. He kicked four goals to go with 25 possessions and 15 marks.

Tyson Moulton and Rudy Riddoch also chipped in with two goals apiece for West Perth as well.

Those forwards got outstanding supply from those further up the field from West Perth too and there was no one better on the field than inspirational captain Aaron Black. He has started the season in as good a form as he's ever been in despite now being 204 games into his career.

He delivered another 43 possessions, nine marks and six inside-50 entries in Saturday's win.

Trent Manzone continued his superb form too amassing another 40 possessions and seven marks for West Perth with Shane Nelson racking up another 31 disposals, Connor West 30, Mitch Peirce 27, Steve Potente 26, Blake Wilhelm 25, Conal Lynch 25 and Noah Pegoraro 20.

It was a decidedly challenging afternoon for the Eagles but there were still some impressive individual performances.

Brayden Ainsworth battled hard all afternoon in the midfield for 36 possessions and 10 marks while Alex Witherden compiled 26 disposals, six marks and four tackles.

Perth recruit Lennon Marlin finished with 26 touches and seven marks while Luke Edwards had 21 possessions, Harry Sinclair 21, Zac Langdon 19, Luke Foley 19 and Hamish Brayshaw 19.

West Perth now hosts Subiaco next Saturday at Joondalup's Provident Financial Oval while the Eagles play Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 2

WEST PERTH            4.1    9.2    13.4    19.6 (120)
WEST COAST EAGLES        1.1    3.2    5.4    6.6 (42)

WEST PERTH: Goals – Keitel 6; Antonio 4; Knott 3; Moulton, Riddoch 2; Rotham, Lynch.
Best – Black, Manzone, Antonio, Keitel, West, Nelson, Peirce, Potente, Wilhelm.
WEST COAST EAGLES: Goals – Langdon, Trew, Feeney, Nitschke, Robilliard, Hansen.
Best – Ainsworth, Marlin, Witherden, Sinclair, Edwards.