A poor fourth quarter showing has cost East Perth a shot at winning the inaugural Polly Farmer Shield against West Perth this afternoon.
The Royals were within arm’s reach of the Falcons following the penultimate quarter, but a five-goals-to-three final term helped the home side record a comfortable 14.15 (99) to 12.6 (78) win at HBF Arena.
East Perth was slow out of the blocks and gave up two early goals to their arch rivals, but three straight majors from Kurt Mutimer, Will Maginness and Tom Lamb gifted the visitors a four-point buffer as the first quarter siren sounded.
The Royals gave up its lead less than two minutes into the second period following a cheap goal to West Perth’s Tyson Moulton, but a big right-to-left set shot from Lamb edged the black and blue ahead in the fifth minute.
West Perth dominated the majority of the quarter from that point, but a speculative snap from Luke Partington in the 21st minute ensured East Perth trailed by just three points by the half-time break.
Lamb booted two more goals in the third quarter to give Luke Webster’s men a brief lead, but West Perth clawed their way back into the contest and slotted three goals to hold their cross-town rivals at bay by four points with 20 minutes to play.
Just when it looked like East Perth might finally break the Falcons’ resolve, Tyler Keitel, Corey Chalmers and Trent Manzone each slotted goals within seven minutes to give West Perth the ascendency.
Jarred Oakley-Nicholls gave the Royals some hope of a fight back with a goal in the ninth minute, but the fourth quarter damage had been done and West Perth held on to win by 21 points.
Lamb, who finished the game with five goals and 23 disposals, said it was a frustrating game of football.
He reckoned the Royals’ overuse of the ball and inability to hit free targets inside the forward 50 cost them dearly.
“We had almost 120 more disposals and the same inside 50s and we just didn’t capitalise at all,” Lamb said.
“It was just that lack of connection between the midfield and forwards. When they are handballing and creating shape and we’re running back to goals, we need to find that balance of hitting up or getting out the back,
“I felt like we were really dangerous up forward today, but it is just a matter of getting it in there nice and quick so our forward can go to work and kick goals.”
Luke Partington topped East Perth's disposal count with 35 touches, Kurt Mutimer got his hands on the ball 30 times, while Francis Watson and Malcolm Karpany each amassed 26 possessions.
Midfielders Jordan Snadden and Liam Duggan collected the Burley 25 and 24 times respectively, Dom Sheed had 21 disposals in 80 minutes of football and defenders Sam Butler and Tom Barrass accumulated 21 and 19 touches correspondingly.
