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Royals rebound too strong for Demons

Ashley Smith and Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls. Pic: Sharon Smith

East Perth bounced back from consecutive losses against West Perth and Subiaco to beat a plucky Perth by 22 points at Medibank Stadium today.

Spearheaded by West Coast squad members and ex-Demons Sam Butler and Brant Colledge, the Royals held on in slippery conditions to win 14.14 (98) to 11.10 (76).

Butler and Colledge were busy through the midfield, providing plenty of opportunities for teammates up the ground.

A number of West Coast players had an impact on the match, with ruckman Callum Sinclair, utility player Ash Smith and defender Blayne Wilson also wielding an influence.

Ex-Eagle and Melbourne midfielder Cale Morton was among the Demons best players along with forward Matt Moody, Clem Smith, Jarrryd Morton and Dene White.

The Royals were quick out of the blocks with five of the first seven goals of the match, two to Smith.

Perth were lucky to have Moody in attack, the former Brisbane forward kicking each of their four goals in the first quarter.

Moody was the focal point, with Wilson keeping Paul Bevan quiet.

The Royals led by 12 points at the first change with Butler, Colledge, Sinclair and Wilson leading the way.

Perth improved in the second stanza, with consecutive goals to diminutive forward Matt Boyle reducing the margin to eight points at the 10-minute mark.

A straight kick by another West Coast squad member, Simon Tunbridge, stretched the home team’s lead to 16 points 10 minutes later.

Bevan hit the scoreboard soon after, leaving East Perth with a nine-point advantage at half time.

The Demons hit the front briefly in the third quarter after consecutive goals to Bevan, wingman Michael Florio and Gerald Ugle.

East Perth responded with three of their own to Craig Wulff, Sinclair and Josh Hill to lead by 15 points at three-quarter time.

Perth’s loss was made harder to swallow with five ex-Demons (Butler, Colledge, Ash Smith, Fraser McInnes and Simon Tunbridge) lining up for the Royals under the club’s partnership with West Coast.

East Perth full forward Josh Smith was a late withdrawl before the match due to an ankle injury, replaced in the 22 by Butler.

The Royals won both minor grades, taking out the reserves by 33 points and the colts by eight points.

Mitch Howlett fared well in the reserves for the Royals with 32 possessions, six inside 50s and two goals while Cameron Manuel staked his claim for a return to Perth’s league team with 29 possessions, five marks, three inside 50s and a goal.

EAST PERTH

6.2

8.7

11.11

14.14

98

PERTH

4.2

7.4

9.8

11.10

76

GOALS – EAST PERTH: A Smith 3; Oakley-Nicholls, Sinclair, McInnes 2; S Payne, Wulff, Tunbridge, Hill, Maginess. PERTH: Moody 4; Boyle 3; M Morton, Bevan, Ugle, Florio.
BEST – EAST PERTH: Butler, Colledge, Sinclair, A Smith, Wilson, Clutterbuck, Hart. PERTH: C Morton, Moody, Smith, J Morton, White.
REPORTS: White (P) for rough conduct against McInnes (P) in the third quarter.
UMPIRES: S Parry, P McCaw, R Shelton.
CROWD: 1500 (approx) at Medibank Stadium.