Round 6 – East Perth v Perth Match ReportMonday, April 24, 2017 - 8:30 AM - by Chris Pike

A DOMINANT third quarter was enough for East Perth to set up its first victory of the 2017 WAFL season, with the Royals beating Perth by 20 points at Leederville on Saturday.

It has been a tough start to the season for East Perth losing its opening five games to Peel Thunder, West Perth, Swan Districts, Claremont and Subiaco.

Meanwhile, Perth had won its first game of the season defeating East Fremantle prior to the bye last week so the Demons came in hopeful and confident of making it consecutive victories.

Things remained tight through the first half but East Perth then fired up with six goals to one in the third quarter and that was enough to set up the eventual 17.13 (115) to 14.11 (95) victory.

East Perth has now won its last eight matches over Perth with Saturday's result continuing the Royals recent dominance over the Demons.

Fraser McInnes delivered a best on ground performance for East Perth with the big man playing likely the best game of his 89-game WAFL career. He finished the afternoon with 24 possessions, 13 marks, eight hit outs and three goals.

Will Maginness kicked three goals for the Royals from 19 disposals with Nathan Blee adding two majors both coming early in the third quarter.

Mark Hutchings was terrific through the midfield to end up with 28 touches, six marks and two goals.

Luke Partington finished with 31 possessions for East Perth, Kurt Mutimer 28, Julian Ameduri 20 and Lewis Jetta 19.

Eric Mackenzie continued his good form down back for the Royals with another 19 possessions and eight marks while Scott Jones battled hard in the ruck for 15 disposals and 40 hit outs.

Perth captain Clint Jones delivered a remarkable individual performance to try and lift his team to a second win of 2017. He finished with 53 possessions made up of 24 kicks and 25 handpasses to go along with five marks, six inside-50 entries, four tackles and a goal.

Sandover Medallist Aidan Tropiano also had a huge game in the midfield for the Demons with 39 disposals and 13 tackles while youngster Corey Byrne delivered his best career performance with 35 touches, 11 marks and six inside-50 entries.

Reigning fairest and best winner Michael Sinclair made a strong return for Perth with 31 possessions and 10 marks.

Spencer White kicked three goals from six kicks and four marks while emerging small forward Cody Ninyette delivered an exciting performance with four goals. Mitch Henderson also booted two majors to go with 18 possessions.

Perth was coming off a bye and its first win of the season against East Fremantle to kick two of the first three goals, but East Perth was getting more chances in attack and eventually kicked a couple of late first quarter goals to lead by four points at quarter-time.

The Royals again had the more opportunities in the second quarter but Perth was more efficient and after four goals apiece the game was right up for grabs with East Perth leading by nine points at the main break.

With the game on the line, it was East Perth who came out fired up after half-time and it took just 45 seconds for the first goal to come courtesy of McInnes to put them up by 15 points.

Blee then also kicked two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the third term before Partington and Maginness joined in. That gave the Royals five goals in 14 minutes to start the second half and suddenly they led by a commanding 39 points.

Perth did get a goal back before three quarter-time courtesy of Henderson, but Tom Lamb answered for East Perth who led by 35 points at the last change.

The Demons did respond in the last term to their credit and kicked six goals to four from East Perth, but the Royals still won by 20 points for their first victory of 2017.

Perth remains on the road to take on West Perth at HBF Arena next Saturday while East Perth plays Peel Thunder for the second time already this season at Bendigo Bank Stadium.

EAST PERTH        3.6    7.11    13.13    17.13    (115)
PERTH            3.2    7.2    8.8    14.11    (95)

EAST PERTH – Goals: McInnes, Maginness 3; Hutchings, Blee 2; Jetta, Bolton, Lamb, Mutimer, Partington, Hille, Payne.
Best: Hutchings, McInnes, Maginness, Partington, Mackenzie, Mutimer, Jones.
PERTH – Goals: Ninyette 4; White 3; Henderson 2; Giblett, Narrier, Stack, Jones, Roe.
Best: Jones, Tropiano, Byrne, Ninyette, Henderson, Sinclair.