FALCONS TOO GOOD FOR DEMONS IN HOME OPENER

WEST Perth had to work hard to stick with Perth in the worst of the conditions at HBF Arena on Saturday but once it cleared up a little the Falcons proved too good for the Demons winning by 41 points.

Coming off a disappointing 35-point opening round loss to South Fremantle, West Perth struggled in the first quarter and-a-half of the home opener against Perth on Saturday.

With Perth recruit Clint Jones racking up 22 of his 45 possessions for the game in that time when heavy rain limited the effectiveness of both teams with ball in hand, the Demons led by nine points midway through the second quarter.

But the rain began to lesson and conditions dried up a little which allowed West Perth to settle and begin to run the ball better, and hit targets more and things began to come together.

The Falcons then kicked four of the last five goals of the first half, two to one in the third and then after being challenged early in the last, the final five goals of the contest to win 12.12 (84) to 6.7 (43).

That came despite Kody Manning being off injured and Chris Keunen, Rohan Kerr and Max Duffy battling complaints. However, the Falcons found something to beat Perth for a ninth straight time ahead of Saturday's grand final rematch with Subiaco back at HBF Arena.

With Shane Nelson still missing through injury, West Perth needed others to step up to win the hard ball especially with the way Jones was playing for Perth.

And it was 2014 Sandover Medallist and 2015 Breckler Medallist Aaron Black who did that in spades finishing with 33 possessions, six tackles and two goals.

He received plenty of help with Trent Manzone racking up 24 possessions to go with five inside-50 entries while Jay van Berlo had it 17 times and Aidan Lynch 16, but more importantly the pair laid 12 tackles apiece for the game.

Andrew Strijk also provided good drive again off half-back with 22 possessions to go with six tackles while Kerr finished with 19 touches, seven inside 50s, five tackles and a goal.

Before he hurt his knee when it was slid into in the third quarter, Chris Keunen was having a good battle in the ruck with Angus Graham. He did come back on in the last term to kick a second goal had 11 disposals, 22 hit outs and two majors.

Down back, Tyler Keitel was outstanding not only limiting the influence of Perth's resting ruckmen and having 14 possessions, but he was the most physically imposing he's been in a WAFL game and also helped out in the ruck to good effect. Max Alexander also did well in his battle with former St Kilda tall forward Spencer White.

The conditions were at their worst in the first quarter it was Perth who was looking the better side with Jones leading from the front. The Demons kicked the first goal of the game when Spencer White slipped out the back to run into the open goal.

West Perth did get one on the quarter-time siren through Duffy to only trail by a point.

The Demons then moved nine points in front early in the second term when 17-year-old debutant Zac Fisher kicked truly.

But the Falcons were beginning to settle and a free-kick and 50m penalty out of a scuffle on the half-forward flank was just the spark the home team needed.

Nick Rodda kicked a goal from that and then Keegan Knott and Luke Meadows kicked truly as well as West Perth booted three goals in as many minutes to suddenly lead by nine points, and 10 by half-time.

Steve Potente kicked a good goal on the run for the first major of the second half 12 minutes in to see the Falcons' lead stretch to 17 points before the Demons got an answer through Fisher.

But Keunen drilled his first from just inside-50 after a 50m penalty before here quarter-time to see West Perth remain in control by 18 points at the last change.

Despite battling for fit men on the bench, West Perth found something after Perth got the first two goals of the last term and goals to Joel Leeson, Lynch, Keunen and Black (two) saw the Falcons cruise to the 41-point victory.

The reserves began the day at HBF Arena with West Perth kicking the last two goals of the game in the heavy rain to win 7.9 (51) to 6.7 (43).

Goals late in the game to Ben Mountford and Michael Ashfield were enough for the Falcons to come out eight-point winners.

Ashfield kicked two goals for the Falcons with Corey Chalmers, Jordan Mills, Mark Hamilton, Zac Saunders and Mountford all adding one apiece.

Mitch Peirce worked hard in the midfield for West Perth with 27 possessions while Blake Wilhelm picked up 24 disposals, Laine Rasmussen 19 and Dean Munns 18.

The colts then played on Saturday evening at HBF Arena with Perth getting over the line beating West Perth 5.13 (43) to 1.9 (15).

West Perth's only goal of the game came in the third quarter courtesy of Scott Nelson who also racked up 35 possessions and nine tackles.

Joel Horgan also gathered 25 disposals for the Falcons, Josh Rotham 24, Liam Baker 23, Brody Zanon 22 and Angus Allen 20 to go with 10 tackles.

WEST PERTH        1.2    5.4    7.7    12.12    (84)
PERTH            1.3    3.6    4.7    6.7    (43)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Black, Keunen 2; Duffy, Rodda, Knott, Meadows, Kerr, Potente, Leeson, Lynch.
Best: Black, Keitel, Kerr, Strijk, Manzone, van Berlo, Lynch.
PERTH – Goals: Fisher, S White 2; Leggett, Cary.
Best: Jones, Fisher, Bell, Latch, Jacobs, McKenna.