Season Review 2022 – West PerthFriday, November 25, 2022 - 9:45 AM - by Chris Pike

WEST Perth is back on top of the WAFL world winning a first premiership in nine years after eight straight finals appearances overcoming as they capped off the 2022 season with the stunning grand final win at Leederville Oval.

West Perth's colts and reserves had lost grand finals earlier in the day to Peel Thunder and Subiaco respectively, but their league team weren’t deterred on the back of winning a first minor premiership this year since 1993 – ironically also the last season they called Leederville Oval home.

It is West Perth's 20th WAFL premiership and first since 2013 with co-captain Aaron Black and five-time fairest and best winner Shane Nelson the only two players to be there for both triumphs.

It's a remarkable addition to the legacy of West Perth coach Darren Harris as well. Having been a premiership captain and Simpson Medal winner at the Falcons in 1995, he then coached West Perth to the flag in 2003 and now is a dual premiership winning coach in his first season back at the helm of the Falcons since 2005.

Luke Meadows played in the 2015 and 2018 losing Grand Finals for West Perth, but now is not only a premiership player but also a Simpson Medallist 118 games into his WAFL career.

West Perth had an outstanding home and away season going on to win 13 matches, lose four and draw one to finish on top of the ladder and claim their first minor premiership since 1993 – ironically their last season at Leederville Oval before moving to Arena Joondalup.

The Falcons locked in their first minor premiership in 29 years by winning four of the last six games of the home and away season to end up at 13-4 with a draw against South Fremantle thrown in there.

That earned West Perth the week off to open the finals series before taking on East Fremantle at Pentanet Stadium in Joondalup in a second semi-final. The Falcons prevailed to earn another week off ahead of the grand final against Claremont at Leederville Oval.

It turned out to be a remarkable day for everyone involved at West Perth. Back at their spiritual home in front of more than 16,000 fans crammed in, the Falcons celebrated premiership glory in remarkable fashion.

It had been a standout performance from Harris and his West Perth team to confirm themselves as the best team in the WAFL in 2022. 

They had a tremendous defence conceding just 57.2 points a game while also having the second best attack led by Tyler Keitel and Keegan Knott. 

All-round it was the best balanced team in the competition with a perfect blend of experienced players, those entering their prime and then a blend of youth.

Despite all having now played well over 100 games in the WAFL, Black, Nelson, Meadows, Keitel, Aidan Lynch, Blake Wilhelm, Anton Hamp, Knott, Mark Hamilton and Dean Munns all were crucial in the team winning that premiership.

There was also that next crop coming through led by Mitch Peirce, Conal Lynch, Tristan Hobley, Mitch Dobson, Ben Johnson, Zac Guadagnin, Tyson Moulton, Noah Pegoraro, Nathan Alexandre, Sam Rotham and Troy Yukich topped off with youngsters Joe Hinder and Corey Rundle.

FINISHING POSITION: First, 13-1-4, 138.0%, Won premiership

WHAT WENT WELL: There were the stalwarts Aaron Black and Shane Nelson leading the way, but no longer were they relied upon to carry an enormous workload. They received tremendous support through the middle from Meadows, Mitch Peirce, Tristan Hobley and Aidan Lynch. The West Perth back-line stood firm too conceding just 57.9 points a game anchored by Mark Hamilton, Noah Pegoraro, Zac Guadagnin, Ben Johnson and Blake Wilhelm. Then up front, Tyler Keitel and Keegan Knott led the forward-line also featuring Mitch Dobson and Anton Hamp. The Falcons just had that perfect balance of talent spread across the field, experienced mixed with youth and it all came together for a premiership triumph nobody associated with West Perth will ever forget.

BEST PLAYER: The evenness of West Perth was its greatest strength and it's mighty hard to single out one player. Shane Nelson and Mitch Peirce ended up sharing the Breckler Medal while Tyler Keitel, Keegan Knott, Luke Meadows and Nelson were in the WAFL Team of the Year. But in terms of sheer impact, we will go with Meadows. He started his career with West Perth as a tough, uncompromising and long-kicking half-back but the longer his career has gone on the more he has turned himself into one of the standout on-ballers in the competition, even more so since returning from his stint playing in the VFL. His ability to win contested possession and clearances, and to also work well out in space to use his lethal right boot make him quite the weapon for West Perth. Is now 118 games into his WAFL career and has a Simpson Medal along with that premiership after having played in the 2015 and 2018 losing grand finals.

DEBUTANTS
Luke Reilly – Round 2
Alec Johnson – Round 3
Lochlan Paton – Round 10
Joe Hinder – Round 14
Corey Rundle – Round 20

MOST IMPROVED: Mitch Peirce took the leap from handy emerging midfielder to genuine on-ball star for West Perth in 2022. That was highlighted by him receiving just about the highest accolade a club can bestow on a player by winning the fairest and best award in a premiership season. Peirce shared the Breckler Medal with five-time winner Shane Nelson as a mark respect for how highly the Falcons rated what he did throughout the season. He averaged 20.9 possessions a game throughout 2022 including a best of 30 in Round 18, but his consistency was a highlight never having fewer than 16 disposals in a match. He is now 89 games into his WAFL career on top of being a premiership player and fairest and best winner. 

OUTLOOK FOR 2023: There is no reason to expect anything but West Perth putting themselves right in the hunt for back-to-back premierships in 2023. The Falcons haven't won consecutive flags since 1941-42 but they should give it a real crack next year. While Anton Hamp has retired, the rest of the West Perth premiership team looks set to return and Darren Harris will remain at the helm for at least one more season. Given the colts and reserves also reached the grand finals in 2022, there's no shortage of talent emerging and banging down the door already at West Perth, so depth is a great strength and you have to think they head into 2023 as the premiership favourites and deservedly so.