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WAFL 2022: East Perth kick nine unanswered goals to beat Perth Demons and stay in touch with top five

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Eliza ReillyThe West Australian
Angus Schumacher celebrates with Sam Van Diemen.
Camera IconAngus Schumacher celebrates with Sam Van Diemen. Credit: Gary Day/Gary Day

A run of nine unanswered goals in the second half helped East Perth stay in touch with the WAFL’s top five with a 38-point win over Perth.

The Demons have only won one of their past 16 games at Leederville Oval and East Perth ensured that pain would continue, prevailing 14.17 (101) to 9.9 (63) at home.

The win wasn’t without its moments though for the Royals who remain in touch with the top five, tasked with ending Perth’s sniffs of momentum throughout the see-sawing content.

East Perth not only snuffed out Perth’s challenge, but they found themselves a new option up forward.

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Perth Demons v East Perth Royals WAFL football game held at Leederville Oval. Round 13.
Camera IconNathan Eaton looks in-board for a handball. Credit: Gary Day/Gary Day

Former East Fremantle big man Nicholas Bonomelli kicked four goals in his first senior game for his new club after forming part of the deal to get Eddie Simpson to the Sharks.

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The 24-year-old combined beautifully with breakout contender Thomas Medhat, who kicked five, to prove the Royals have plenty of firepower even without Sebit Kuek on their side.

Perth threatened to make East Perth pay for their inaccuracy and mount an upset when they drew within one point midway through the third quarter.

But the superior Royals hit back with nine straight goals across the closing stages of the third quarter and well into the fourth to put the result to bed.

When Nick Robertson gave East Perth a game-high lead of 25 points early in the fourth quarter, it was officially party time, with the Royals slamming home six unanswered goals before the Demons added some late respectability to the scoreboard.

Perth Demons v East Perth Royals WAFL football game held at Leederville Oval. Round 13.
Camera IconVan Diemen celebrates a major. Credit: Gary Day/Gary Day

Royals midfielder Angus Schumacher (32 touches, five marks, seven inside-50s) was prolific, taking on a lot of heavy lifting in the absence of Jackson Ramsay and after the Demons decided to target Sandover contender Hamish Brayshaw.

Brayshaw was held to just five disposals in the first half, finishing with 25 touches and seven inside-50s after Perth’s Brodie Gray came from the ground injured.

Perth kicked the first two goals of the second quarter within the first 10 minutes, including a stunning end-to-end passage of play which ended with Kristian Cary converting on an angle.

But East Perth wrestled back momentum from there, back-to-back goals courtesy of Medhat surging the Royals back into the lead.

Bonomelli also kicked his first goal for the Royals to have the last say of the first half.

Perth Demons v East Perth Royals WAFL football game held at Leederville Oval. Round 13.
Camera IconDakota Baldwin-Wright celebrates for the Demons. Credit: Gary Day/Gary Day

Poor kicking plagued both teams in the first quarter, with just two goals kicked between the pair from 10 scoring shots.

East Perth were especially awry, kicking 1.6 for the quarter and failing to capitalise from a bevy of opportunities.

Sam Van Dieman finally kicked the first goal of the game at the 19-minute mark for the Royals, closely followed by Demons sharpshooter Stubbs to bring the margin to four points at the first break.

SCOREBOARD

EAST PERTH: 1.6, 5.9, 8.13, 14.17 (101)

PERTH: 1.2 3.5, 6.7, 9.9 (63)

Goals – EAST PERTH: T Medhat 5, N Bonomelli 4, N Robertson 2, S Van Diemen, C Ameduri, B Mcguire.

PERTH: S Stubbs 2, K Cary 2, H Quartermaine 2, D Baldwin-Wright, K Hug, C Bryne.

Best – EAST PERTH: A Schumacher, T Medhat, K Hamersley, B Fullgrabe, H Brayshaw, N Bonomelli

PERTH: R Clarke, K Hug, A Davis, C Byrne.

Injuries – PERTH: B Gray (ankle)

Umpires: C Dugan, R McCaw, J Antulov. Crowd: About 1200 at Leederville Oval.

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