Stayin' alive

East Perth’s season is still alive after a scrappy, but effective 20-point win over the Perth Demons at Medibank Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Despite several costly mistakes there were also bouts of positives for the Royals who found their feet late in the game to secure four crucial competition points. Half-back, Garry Moss was sound as always and led the disposals with 30 touches. Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls put in an audacious performance and generated a much-needed boost of confidence for East Perth by taking eleven marks and scoring three goals. The Royals are one win shy of the top five and will be looking to substitute South Fremantle in fifth position with a victory in their round 18 clash this weekend.

Both the Demons and the Royals had a slow start to the match until teenager, Marshall Jones found the centre sticks for Perth in the eleventh minute with the opening goal of the game. This was soon backed up by teammate Dene White in the eighteenth minute to give the Demons an early edge. The Royals appeared to be off their game in the opening quarter and it didn’t help that Liam Duggan suffered an injury that had him sidelined for the remainder of the match. A less than impressive display had East Perth trailing by three points at quarter time.

Stern words in the huddle seemed to resonate with the Royals who took control in the second quarter kicking four goals to Perth’s one. Fraser McInnes was rock solid around the ruck and kicked two goals to help put East Perth in front by 14 points at the main break. Again it wasn’t a classy exhibition of footy, but the Royals held it together to own the lead at half time.

It took less than 60 seconds for East Perth to draw first blood in the second half, but the Demons responded with three goals of their own to close the gap to a single point. Frustration and miscommunication attributed to East Perth’s implosion, which the Demon’s capitalised on with a flurry of inside-50’s. The Royals were their own worst enemy in the third quarter and allowed Perth to creep back into the game.

For the third game in a row, it came down to a single figure margin at three quarter time, which once again set the stage for another thrilling finish. The Royals trailed the Swans by one goal in round 15 and Subiaco by one point in round 16, but three’s a charm and it was third time lucky for East Perth who ran away with victory by 20 points. Once East Perth found their free-flowing rhythm they became unstoppable kicking five goals to two, keeping their finals dream alive.

South Fremantle won their derby against East Fremantle in a classic final quarter comeback. The win cements the Bulldogs in the top five with eight wins and seven losses. The Royals will go into the round 18 clash as the under dogs, which should ease the pressure for the squad. East Perth have their head just above water and will need to secure back-to-back wins if they’re to stay afloat and in contention for a finals appearance.