SLOW START, FINISH COSTLY FOR FALCONS AGAINST SHARKS

WEST Perth and East Fremantle's clash at ATOM Stadium on Saturday got off to a familiar start with a team kicking the first six goals. Only this time it was the Sharks doing the scoring and despite the Falcons fighting back the next two terms, East Fremantle won by 50 points.

In Round 20 last year, then East Fremantle captain Rory O'Brien won the toss but handed the advantage to the Falcons and West Perth went on to kick the first six goals on the way to a 73-point victory.

On Saturday, it was East Fremantle kicking with the advantage of the wind in the first quarter and the Sharks took advantage with six goals to nil.

West Perth did well to fight back over the next two quarters to get as close as 18 points when Jay van Berlo goaled at the 26-minute mark of the third term.

But that would be the Falcons' last major of the game with East Fremantle kicking the game's final five goals to win 14.17 (101) to 7.9 (51).

The result sees West Perth slip to a 1-3 record after four rounds of the 2016 season heading into the first derby of the year on Saturday against the also 1-3 East Perth at Medibank Stadium.

West Perth continues to sorely miss premiership stars Chris Keunen, Shane Nelson, Laine Rasmussen and Matt Guadagnin.

Once again the Falcons didn’t win enough of the ball and were 67 short on the disposal count and they are now minus 267 in that area for the season. That helped East Fremantle to 13 more inside 50s and 15 more scoring shots, and a 50-point win.

Aaron Black continued his strong start to the season for West Perth with another 28 possessions, seven marks, five tackles and a goal. He's kicked six goals in four games now in 2016.

Steven Browne gave some good drive for the Falcons with a season-best 29 disposals and nine marks as well while Rohan Kerr finished with 26 touches and 11 marks.

Trent Manzone gathered 23 possessions to go with six tackles for West Perth and Tyler Keitel 18 disposals. Seva Mozhaev racked up 39 hit outs in the ruck.

East Fremantle had the breeze to start the game and took full advantage. It started with a goal after two minutes to Brett Peak and by the time he added a second before quarter-time the Sharks led by 38 points.

West Perth finally got its first major of the day early in the second quarter thanks to Max Duffy and then another soon after to Michael Lourey.

Following Peake's third, and last, of the day, the Falcons got two more courtesy of Joel Leeson and Mark Hamilton and the game was alive with the margin back to just 21 points.

West Perth again did well in the third term and after goals to Luke Meadows and van Berlo in time-on, the margin was just 18 points.

East Fremantle got a steadier just before the siren from George Hampson and then dominated the last quarter with the only four goals to win by 50 points.

Meanwhile in the reserves, East Fremantle beat West Perth 13.11 (89) to 8.11 (59) at ATOM Stadium.

Ben Mountford kicked three goals for West Perth while Mitch Peirce gathered 23 possessions, Conal Lynch 18 and William Clemett 17. Matt Johnson played his first game of the season and the left-footed half-forward kicked a goal from nine kicks and five marks.

And in the RediMed Colts, East Fremantle had a romping 19.11 (125) to 5.5 (35) win over West Perth at ATOM Stadium on the back of 10 goals to one in the first half.

Jack Stevens, Kurt Hindmarsh, Joel Horgan, Brody Zanon and Liam Baker were the goal scorers for West Perth.

Baker amassed 28 possessions, Zanon 22, Horgan 16 and Joel Bennett 15.

WEST PERTH            0.2    4.5    7.5    7.9    (51)
EAST FREMANTLE        6.4    8.7    10.12    14.17    (101)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Duffy, Hamilton, van Berlo, Leeson, Meadows, Lourey, Black.
Best: Browne, Black, Keitel, Kerr, Manzone.
EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Peake 3; J Bristow, Watson, T Bristow 2; Eardley, Hampson, Boyle, Simpson, Stokes.
Best: L Anthony, Henson, Perham, T Bristow, Lester-Smith, Eardley, D Anthony.