East Perth put its rivals on notice with a 58-point demolition of arch rivals West Perth at Leederville Oval on Saturday.
The Royals looked nothing like the team that was humiliated by Subiaco last Friday as they led the Falcons from start to finish to register their first win of the 2018 WAFL season.
Looking to atone for the club’s worst round one performance since its inception, East Perth jumped out of the blocks and kicked the game’s first two goals on the back of some intense pressure around the ball.
West Perth appeared to arrest the home team’s momentum midway through the first quarter, but the errant Falcons failed to hit the scoreboard during their period of dominance, due in large part to the Royals' desperate defence.
Fraser McInnes, one of East Perth’s shining lights during last week’s good Friday annihilation, stamped his authority on the game early in the second quarter when he reeled in a contested mark and slotted his first goal of the day from 25m.
He would prove to be a thorn in West Perth’s side for the remainder of the afternoon.
Inspired by McInnes’ major, the Royals seized control of the clash and kicked four more goals to the Falcons’ one to establish a healthy 27-point advantage at the main break.
First-year Eagle Jarrod Brander set the tone for the second half with an inspiring goal from the boundary shortly after the resumption of play and midfielder Luke Partington rubbed salt in the Falcons’ wounds with a running goal from outside the 50m arc shortly after.
Brander and Partington found the major opening again early in the final quarter to all but put the game to bed before, fittingly, McInnes claimed the game’s final goal to seal the 17.10 (112) to 7.12 (54) result.
McInnes finished the contest with 31 hitouts, 23 disposals, eight marks and two goals, while Partington amassed a team-high 30 disposals and Brander registered 18 disposals, nine marks and three goals.
Malcolm Karpany (24 disposals, six marks, two tackles) was one of East Perth’s best through the middle, Kurt Mutimer pressured the game with five effective tackles and Tarir Bayok – playing just his second league game – used the ball well with his 18 touches.
Defenders Francis Watson (21 disposals, seven marks, three tackles), Will Schofield (18 disposals, eight marks, three tackles), Tom Cole (15 disposals, three tackles) and Josh Rotham (13 disposals, five marks) all played a crucial role in the victory.
EAST PERTH 3.1 8.3 12.7 17.10 (112)
WEST PERTH 1.4 3.6 5.8 7.12 (54)
GOALS – EAST PERTH: Brander 3; Blee, McInnes, Maginness, Wellingham, Partington 2; Hille, Wright, Eaton, Allen.
WEST PERTH: Manzone, Knott 2; Strijk, Keitel, King.
