PFNL 2018: Jetta’s big second half spurs Pinjarra to victory over South Mandurah | photos

Sporting blue armbands for their annual Melanoma Game, the two sides went neck-and-neck through the opening half before Jetta became the difference late in the game.

The boom recruit was yet to register a goal when the half time siren sounded, but his dominance late in the game saw him finish with five and take out the Steve Clarke medal buoying the Tigers to an 11.8 (74) to 15.10 (100) win.

Pinjarra looked to have put their ugly loss to Centrals the week before in the rear view when Brennan Gillam and Joel O’Driscoll nailed the day’s first goals, but South Mandurah fired back immediately with three of the next four to take a slim lead at quarter time.

A goal-for-goal second quarter kept the scores tight throughout, with Lloyd Padwick dominating in the forward half for the Tigers while Brad Holmes, who ended the day with his average six goals, was strong for Souths.

Pinjarra midfielder Rohan Kerr began to make an impact in the second quarter, with his efforts gifting Padwick his second of three goals to help the guests trim South Mandurah’s lead to just five points at the long break.

The game looked likely to come down to the wire with Christopher Swarts and Jaydon Cullen playing key roles for the Falcons early in the second half, but again it was Pinjarra getting the hot start through Padwick before Jetta fired off consecutive goals for his first two of the day.

The Tigers looked to be sitting pretty before prolific midfielder Andrew Haydon won a bunch of contested ball to help the home side back into the game.

Holmes booted his fourth on the day to cut the lead to a solitary point late in the third, but Rob Beswick had the reply at the ready before Jetta nailed his third for the term to give Pinjarra a 13-point buffer heading into the final quarter.

The Falcons dominated play in the opening five minutes of quarter number four, but Joel O’Driscoll put the first nail in their coffin when he jailed a goal from outside the 50m arch against the flow.

The hosts looked likely to cut the lead back when Tom Wood went to shepherd a Swarts’ attempt on goal through, but an errant bounce saw the Burley thud into the post.

O’Driscoll made them pay with his third goal on the ensuing possession, putting the game beyond reach before a flurry of late goals from both sides.

The victory keeps Pinjarra in second spot for another week with Rockingham hot on their heels.