Falcons Flying into Rogers Cup Finals Campaign Tuesday, June 20, 2023 - 10:36 AM

An unbeaten home and away season provides no guarantee of a Premiership but the numbers for West Perth’s Rogers Cup side in 2023 are irresistible. 

Through 14 matches, the Falcons are unbeaten, and four games clear on top of the table from Claremont, who have a game in hand. 

West Perth’s dominance has been reflected in their percentage of 280.6, nearly 100 percentage points higher than the next best side in that category, fourth placed East Perth. 

Coach Scott Kounis believes continuity has contributed to his side’s unbeaten run. 

“2023 has been a very consistent year and when the group has been challenged, they have responded well,” Kounis said. 

“They are playing a solid style of football and improving all the time. 

“I feel having basically the same squad as last year has been a real positive for us. 

“Being familiar with their teammates and how they play, along with?another season under their belts has helped the playing group gel.” 

West Perth has the bye heading into the finals, and despite their unbeaten status, the Falcons only have to look at last season’s WAFLW Grand Final where East Fremantle suffered a shock defeat after taking a perfect record into the decider. 

“We had quite a few members of the side that weren’t 100 per cent last weekend against Claremont, so it was very pleasing to come away with the win, Kounis said. 

“Finishing on top of the table is nice but we haven’t achieved anything yet, there is still work to be done if the group wants to play the footy, they are capable of and reach their potential. 

“The bye gives us the opportunity to rest up and have the squad fit and ready to go in a fortnight.” 

Kounis was a senior assistant coach in West Perth’s triumphant Rogers Cup side in 2021, which was the catalyst for the club earning a WAFLW license. 

It left the 2022 Rogers Cup squad fielding primarily 14-and 15-year-olds, but the girls remained highly competitive, missing the finals by half a game, and setting the foundations for their success this season. 

?Kounis speaks in glowing terms of the female talent pathway provided by West Perth. 

“The club started its inaugural talent academy in 2021 for girls 13 and over,” he said. 

“This was the brainchild of Dave Burton and run that year by Dave and me and we had 17 participants of which seven have gone on to play Rogers Cup. 

“The second season was again run by Dave alongside Ray Bartholomew and the academy grew to 30 participants of which only two were eligible for Rogers Cup this season and both made it through selection into the squad. 

“We also added a naming rights sponsor, Moora Citrus, through the efforts of Luke Richardson at the club. 

“This year there are 40 players in the Moora Citrus Academy which provides girls with a pathway to enter Rogers Cup in the West Perth zone.” 

Winning a Grand Final is top priority for the West Perth coach, but helping the growth of the game is never far from his mind. 

“I’m very positive about the future of the Rogers Cup format and how it sits here in WA,” he said. 

“This year we have seen the lifting of the minimum age and an allowance for squads to have 8 x 19-year-olds on a list and play 4 in any one game.  

“Since there is no longer a reserves competition this is a great initiative, and?I would be in favour of going one further to allow 4 x 20-year-olds on a list.  

“This would lessen the jump from RC to WAFLW and in the last 4 seasons I have seen the skill level improve dramatically. 

“I think if the competition stays on this trajectory we are going to be in a very good space, and I’m so glad to be at West Perth which embraces female football and is very progressive. 

“It’s a pleasure to be a part of this great club.”