Dan Hunt and Anthony Tsalikis.
Camera IconDan Hunt and Anthony Tsalikis. Credit: Supplied/Belinda Taylor

Hunt’s goal famine turns to feast

Staff ReporterWanneroo Times

But in an unlikely send-off to his 169-game career, in which he’d only kicked two majors before Saturday, the retiring defender kicked four in the Falcons’ 21.18 (144) to 9.8 (62) thrashing of wooden spooners Perth at Lathlain Park.

Not to be outdone, fellow retiree Anthony Tsalikis added four to take his West Perth goal tally to 336 majors from 191 appearances, putting him among the top three scorers in club history.

With finals out of the question, the side’s last match of the year became a tribute to the two retiring stalwarts.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

It was meant to have served as a joint celebration with ruckman Chris Keunen’s 150th appearance, but the premiership player was cruelled by a migraine and sidelined for the match.

The visitors held a four-goal lead at half time, but kicked a mammoth 13 goals in the second half to finish 2014 with an 82-point win.

To put that effort into context, the Falcons kicked a bigger score in that half – 13.9 (87) – than they could muster in 13 full matches this season, more than half of their games.

It was their biggest half of the year by one point, having previously kicked 13.8 (86) in the final two quarters of their 100-point demolition of East Perth.

Midfielder Shane Nelson produced an astounding career-high 52 possessions, along with 12 marks and a match-high eight inside 50s.

While West Perth finished on a high, it was ultimately a disappointing season that left them in sixth; the club’s lowest standing since they finished seventh in 2004.

The Falcons’ Reserves team remain West Perth’s only finals hope, with the Colts edged out of the top four on percentage.