Falcons storms home to sink Swans
West Perth have come from nowhere to pip Swan Districts by just seven points at HBF Arena today.
Matthew Fowler was the hero, taking a huge mark and booting the winning goal in the final minutes after the Falcons fought back from being 26 points down late in the final term.
The home side booted the final five goals of the match to record the remarkable 12.12 (84) to 12.5 (77) victory.
Both teams went into the match 2-2 from their opening four games and it is the Falcons who move into positive territory after today’s thriller.
Ryan Davis showed his class in the opening minutes of the match, slotting a brilliant goal on the run to open the scoring.
The Falcons traded heavily on Swans’ errors coming out of defence early in the match, with Matthew Johnson making the most of his opportunities to slot two majors within the first 10 minutes.
But the visitors continued to take risks through the middle of the ground and finally got some rewards late in the term with Rudy Riddoch and Tom Smirk both goalling to give Swans the lead.
Davis again drew first blood in the second quarter to give Swans an 11-point buffer.
But it was all West Perth for the next 10 minutes as they slammed on three consecutive goals to steal back the lead.
It became a scrappy contest after that as both teams struggled to hit targets or find an effective way forward.
The contest continued to lack flow early in the third, it wasn’t until 10 minutes in that Falcons spearhead Michael Lourey got his first courtesy of a free kick inside 50m.
But young Swans ruckman Jake Nuich was then swung forward to great effect, booting three consecutive goals to give the black and whites the lead again.
When Tony Notte soccered one through from the goal square minutes later, and Davis slotted his third, the visitors had West Perth on the ropes, 17 points down at the final change.
Luke Meadows gave the home crowd hope when he put his first through to reduce the margin to nine points seven minutes into the final term.
But it was all the black and whites from there as they booted the next three majors, including two to Matt Rogers.
The game looked over but the Falcons came to life, booting the next four goals in five minutes and then adding a point to level the scores.
Then Fowler took a huge mark and booted the pressure goal to give his side the unlikely victory.
