WEST Perth ensured East Fremantle's miseries continued at Joondalup Arena on Saturday with Andrew Strijk delivering a career-best performance as the Falcons hammered the hapless Sharks by 88 points.

 

The WAFL resumed on Saturday following the State game break which saw Western Australia beat South Australia in Adelaide for the first time in 24 years.

 

The Falcons had been in good form prior to the break winning two consecutive matches and then putting in the most competitive showing anyone has managed against Subiaco to date so they had every reason to be confident ahead of hosting the Sharks.

 

East Fremantle had suffered three disappointing losses to South Fremantle, Swan Districts and East Perth prior to the break, but would have been hoping the week off helped them find a way to be competitive.

 

It wasn’t the case, though, with West Perth kicking four goals in the opening seven minutes. The Falcons went on to kick four goals in five minutes just before half-time, the only two majors of the third quarter and then another nine goals to five in the last term.

 

That all set up the emphatic and comprehensive 24.14 (158) to 10.10 (70) victory for West Perth that improves the Falcons to a 4-3 record on the season in third position.

 

East Fremantle has now lost five straight matches but the last four against the Bulldogs, Swans, Royals and Falcons have come at an average of 76.3 points.

 

West Perth was playing its first game at Joondalup Arena in five weeks and put in a dominant performance finishing with 81 more possessions than East Fremantle, 13 more marks, 26 more inside-50 entries and 38 scoring shots to 20.

 

Bafflingly despite the fact that clearly the game plan isn’t working, East Fremantle persists with trying to play with an AFL-style approach of kicking short, maintaining possession across half-back and through the middle before attempting to go forward.

 

That saw the Sharks take 100 marks from their 203 kicks in the game, but they only went inside-50 on 35 occasions for the entire game and never gave themselves a chance to be competitive.

 

Andrew Strijk's performance for West Perth was remarkable. In the 215th appearance with the Falcons in his glittering career, he kicked more than five goals for the first time and delivered eight majors to go with 23 possessions and 10 marks.

There were plenty of other impressive performers in the Falcons' forward-line with Michael Lourey kicking three goals, Steve Potente three, Tyler Keitel three and captain Aaron Black two to go with 37 possessions, 11 marks, four tackles and four inside-50 entries.

Shane Nelson racked up another 39 possessions for West Perth to go with seven inside 50s and five marks. Luke Meadows also finished the afternoon with 33 disposals too to go with nine inside 50s, eight marks and a goal.

Trent Manzone also compiled 28 disposals, Mitch Peirce 22, Blake Wilhelm 21, Corey Chalmers 19, Jay van Berlo 18, Keitel 17, Connor West 17 and veteran ruckman Chris Keunen 17 to go with six marks, 17 hit outs, four inside 50s and a goal.

Sean Fletcher kicked two goals for East Fremantle from 18 possessions with Jesse Wynne also booting two majors. Cameron Loersch was a good target in attack kicking 2.4 from 10 kicks and eight marks.

George Hampson collected 26 possessions for the Sharks, Jarrad Jansen 25, Cameron Eardley 21, Dylan Winton 21 (10 marks) and Jonathon Marsh 17 (11 marks). 

Captain Jonathon Griffin was solid in the ruck with 14 touches, six marks and 30 hit outs.

West Perth's reserves also put in an impressive performance beating East Fremantle 17.6 (108) to 9.12 (66) at Joondalup Arena.

The Falcons reserves kicked six goals to one in the first quarter and another three to one in the second to set up the eventual 42-point victory.

Tyson Moulton kicked six goals for West Perth from 10 kicks and nine marks with Mitch Antonio and Dylan Yem kicking two goals apiece as well.

Yem also racked up 27 possessions and 13 marks with Scott Nelson finishing with 26 disposals, Brayden Antonio 24 (11 marks), Mitch Antonio 24 (13 marks), Kael Coleman 23, Kurt Monaghan 21 and Conal Lynch 20.

Former captain Jamie McNamara kicked three goals for East Fremantle to go with 26 possessions with Zac McCarrey also kicking three majors.

Dion Anthony amassed 28 possessions for the Sharks, Tom Marshall 24, Joel Kalajzic 23, Russell Wynne 23, Zac Jackson 21 and Jamie Meade 19.

West Perth will now have the bye in Round 8 following the big win over East Fremantle before taking on East Perth in the WA Day Derby at Joondalup Arena.

 

East Fremantle is back to East Fremantle Oval on Saturday attempting to put in a competitive showing against the two-time reigning premiers Peel Thunder.

 

 

WEST PERTH – Goals: Strijk 8; Lourey, Potente, Keitel 3; Black 2; Meadows, Manzone, Keunen, Knott, King.

Best: Strijk, Black, Meadows, Nelson, Manzone, Wilhelm, Keitel, Peirce.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Fletcher, J Wynne, Loersch 2; Perham, Hampson, Lester-Smith, Jansen.

Best: Jansen, Hampson, Winton, Fletcher, Eardley.