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Royals roll Demons

East Perth has moved off the bottom of the WAFL ladder with a determined eight-point victory over second-placed Perth at Eftel Oval today.

In a match that was tight throughout, the Royals were never headed eventually running out winners, 12.11 (83) to 10.15 (75).

After Perth midfielder Ross Young dominated the first half with an astounding 27 possessions (40 for the match), it was East Perth’s experienced duo Craig Glancy (32 disposals) and Brent Cowell (26) that controlled the centre of the ground after half time.

With forwards Ben McKinley (three goals) and Andrew Merrington (two goals) looking dangerous in the air, and Michael Swan (three goals) adding bite at ground level, East Perth were able to convert their limited opportunties.

In contrast, the Demons failed to take their chances in the forward half with skill errors letting them down on many occasions.

Perth reguarly missed targets kicking into their attacking 50m arc and dropped straight forward marks allowing the Royals to rebound and score at the other end.

The Demons appeared to control general play for long periods throughout the first three quarters without applying scoreboard pressure, only for the visitors to goal on the counter attack.

Joel Reynolds was damaging off half back for the victors and Craig Wulff lifted after a quiet first half.

Rookie Ben Noakes played a tremendous first half in a negating role on the dangerous Jarrod Kayler-Thomson restricting him to just five possessions to the long break and was then moved on to the ball-magnet Young.

Dashing defender Frank Agostino made a successful return from a knee reconstruction collecting 19 possessions and overcoming a rusty first quarter to be an effective player.

Most of Perth’s better players were their high-profile midfielders with Young receiving great support from Troy Cook, Steven Armstrong and Brendan Jones while Scott Selwood was in fine form before being concussed and stretchered off the field early in the third quarter.

Seamus Young, playing as a mobile half forward, was a focal point in the Demons attack while experienced defender Kade Lang had a great duel with Tim Noakes.

The match ended in controversy when a scuffle broke out in the Perth forward line as the final siren sounded with umpires having to separate players from both sides.

An irate East Perth coach Glen Bewick charged from his coaches box to the top of the grandstand to question the umpires advisers as to whether they had seen the incident which involved one of his players being knocked to the ground.

EAST PERTH 12.11 (83) def PERTH 10.15 (75)

GOALS:
East Perth - Swan 3, McKinley 3, Byrne 2, Merrington 2, T Noakes 1, Lalich 1.
Perth - Armstrong 3, Ranstead 3, Sullivan 1, S Young 1, Siekierka 1, Jones 1.

BEST:
East Perth - Glancy, Cowell, Reynolds, Wulff, Swan, McKinley, T Noakes.
Perth - R Young, Armstrong, S Young, Cook, Jones, Lang.