FALCONS TOO GOOD IN CHANNEL 9 WA DAY DERBY

WEST Perth has overpowered East Perth to record a 31-point win in the Channel 9 WA Day Derby at HBF Arena to give the Falcons six wins on the trot.

The 11.9 (75) to 5.14 (44) victory is the sixth in succession for West Perth since a 60-point loss also to East Perth back in Round 5 at Medibank Stadium.

The Falcons have now beaten Swan Districts, Claremont, Peel Thunder, Subiaco, Perth and East Perth since that loss to have improved from a 1-4 record to be only percentage off bottom spot to now be 7-4 and only percentage from third, and one game and percentage from first.

It has been a significant leap from West Perth over the last six weeks and the Falcons were in control of Monday's derby against East Perth from the outset.

The Falcons kicked the opening three goals of the game and then the only three of the third term, and first of the last to set up the eventual 31-point win.

A strong crowd of 3901 turned out to HBF Arena for the Channel 9 WA Day Derby to brave the tough conditions and those in red and blue certainly went home happy.

Shane Nelson delivered another outstanding performance for West Perth. After missing the first five games of the season, his last six performances have been nothing short of remarkable.

Again on Monday he had 42 possessions, seven marks and seven tackles in a showing that should guarantee him a place in the WAFL state side against Tasmania on Saturday after being the last player cut last year against South Australia.

Aidan Lynch also had a strong day for West Perth with three goals to go with 23 possessions and nine tackles while Michael Lourey kicked four goals, including the Falcons' only three in the last quarter.

Aaron Black kicked the first goal of the game and went on to finish with 27 possessions, seven marks, five tackles and four inside-50 entries.

Trent Manzone also racked up 32 disposals for the Falcons, Rohan Kerr 22, Drew Rohde 22 and Andrew Strijk 18.

West Perth's back-line was outstanding once again led by Tyler Keitel who finished with 29 possessions and 14 marks. Nick Rodda also had 15 disposals and eight marks while Blake Wilhelm finished with 23 touches, Luke Meadows 19 and Steven Browne 17.

The conditions were especially tough early on in the Channel 9 WA Day Derby following a downpour of rain but it took five minutes only for West Perth to kick the opening goal courtesy of Black.

It only took another four minutes for the Falcons to have the first two of the game when Kerr kicked truly and then it became three when Lynch found the major opening.

That saw the Falcons open up a 19-point advantage before the Royals steadied with several behinds and then their first goal through Fraser McInnes to cut the home side's lead to 10 points by quarter-time.

The Royals got back to within four points when Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls goaled to open the second quarter before Lynch responded with his second of the day.

The Falcons' lead was back out to 14 points when Lourey got his first of the afternoon but that was back to seven by half-time following a second to Oakley-Nicholls prior to the main break.

It was all West Perth in the third quarter starting with a goal to the returning Shannon as he made the most of his return to the league side for the first time since Round 5.

Two minutes later Steve Potente kicked truly as well and West Perth's lead was out to 19 points. It then became 27 when Lynch booted his third of the game and that's where it stayed at three quarter-time.

The game was then all over two minutes into the final term when Lourey stepped up to kick truly to stretch West Perth's lead to 33 points.

East Perth brought it back to 21 with two quick goals to Tom Barrass and Malcolm Karpany, but West Perth was never in jeopardy and two more goals to Lourey before the final siren secured the 31-point victory.

East Perth's reserves recorded a 14.14 (98) to 5.5 (35) victory over West Perth at HBF Arena on WA Day.

Keegan Knott kicked two goals for West Perth to go with 16 possessions and five tackles. Max Alexander, Tyson Moulton and Nathan Alexandre's kicked the Falcons' other three goals.

Mitch Peirce gathered 25 possessions for West Perth while Shane Bonney had 18 disposals, Kael Coleman 16, Matt Johnson 15 and Mitch Antonio 15. Chris Keunen had 42 hit outs in the ruck in his third game back from injury.

East Perth's colts opened the WA Day Derby at HBF Arena with a 15.8 (98) to 7.5 (47) victory over West Perth.

Alec Johnson and Kurt Hindmarsh kicked two goals each for West Perth with Joel Horgan racking up 26 possessions to go with eight tackles, five marks and four inside-50 entries.

Zac Guadagnin also finished with 19 disposals for the Falcons, Nick Marinovich 18, Brayden Thompson 17 and ruckman Oscar Allen 13 to go with 45 hit outs and seven entries inside the forward 50.

WEST PERTH        3.2    5.3    8.7    11.9    (75)
EAST PERTH        1.4    3.8    3.10    5.14    (44)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Lourey 4; Lynch 3; Potente, Shannon, Kerr, Black.
Best: Nelson, Keitel, Lynch, Manzone, Lourey, Munns, Rohde, Rodda, Black.
EAST PERTH – Goals: Oakley-Nicholls 2; Karpany, Barrass, McInnes.
Best: McGinnity, Nelson, Fraser, Barrass, Gorter.