FALCONS HELP WA DELIVER RECORD WIN OVER TASMANIA

WEST Perth entered Saturday's state game as the form WAFL team and as a result had the highest representation with all six Falcons players delivering standout performances in the record win over Tasmania at Steel Blue Oval.

West Perth has won its last six WAFL matches and that form was acknowledged by the state selected led by Falcons legend, and premiership captain and coach Darren Harris who was coach for a second year running.

Shane Nelson, Luke Meadows, Jay van Berlo, Andrew Strijk, Aaron Black and Nick Rodda all got the nod to play for WA and didn’t disappoint in the record-breaking 134-point victory.

The final margin eclipsed the 122-point win WA recorded over Tasmania at North Hobart in 1964.

It also gives the WAFL a fourth successive state game victory following wins over the VFL, NEAFL and SANFL the previous three years. WA is set to play Victoria in Melbourne in 2017 for the first time since 2007.

Nelson has been in remarkable form with West Perth the past six weeks after missing the opening five games through injury and he carried that on to his second appearance for WA on Saturday finishing with 32 possessions, six marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and three clearances.

Meadows was making his debut for WA in recognition of his outstanding 2016 to date at the Falcons and he was one of the best afield against Tasmania as well. Meadows ended up with 25 possessions, seven marks, three inside-50 entries and three rebounds from defensive 50.

West Perth captain van Berlo played his third state game for WA and was also right among the best on the field for his hard work inside the midfield. He finished the day with 23 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles.

Black represented the WAFL for a third time as well and worked into the game nicely with 13 of his 19 possessions for the day coming into the second half to go with four marks.

Strijk's kicking skills coming off half-back was another highlight in what was his fifth game for WA. He ended the afternoon with 19 disposals, four inside-50 entries and three rebounds from the defensive 50.

Rodda didn’t have a lot to do at full-back with Tasmania only going inside its forward 50 on 30 occasions for the day but what he did do when called upon was strong in his second state appearance. Rodda ended the day with 11 disposals and three marks but more importantly kept former Hawthorn forward Mitch Thorp scoreless and to just six kicks.

Claremont's Jye Bolton was awarded the Simpson Medal for his 46 possessions, 12 marks, seven clearances and two goals for WA.

South Fremantle's Ashton Hams racked up 29 possessions, Subiaco's Leigh Kitchin 26, Claremont's Ryan Neates 25, Swan Districts' Matt Riggio 22 and Perth's Clint Jones 20. Captain Paul Johnson dominated the ruck with 17 disposals, 29 hit outs, four clearances and two goals.

East Fremantle's Brett Peake kicked seven goals, South Fremantle's Ben Saunders six and Claremont's Darcy Cameron three.

It wasn’t a day to remember for Tasmania but the visitors did have some players who worked tirelessly against the odds.

Jake Cox was awarded the Lefroy Medal as his state's best player following 33 possessions and four clearances.

Jobi Harper also had 34 possessions, 13 marks, six tackles and five clearances for Tasmania, Harry Walters 26 disposals and 15 marks, Taylor Whitford 26 touches and seven marks, and Rhys Mott 23 possessions.

Veteran Ian Callinan came to Perth for a second straight year for a state game having played with South Australia last year. He worked hard in the midfield and at half-forward for two goals, 29 possessions, seven marks, five clearances and four tackles.

Cameron missed an early shot on goal for the first scoring shot of the game and then Tasmania immediately went down the other end to score the opening goal courtesy of Callinan.

It was another veteran who got WA's first goal when Peake kicked truly at the nine-minute mark.

It took six more minutes for the next goal to Saunders following a 50m penalty. Johnson then proved too big for Tasmania's defence and kicked WA's third of the day before debutant Tim Kelly marked just before the siren and goaled after it to see the Black Swans lead by 20 points at quarter-time.

WA took further control in the second quarter with Peake kicking a good crumbing goal at the six-minute mark.

Cameron then booted the next two for WA as the young big man settled into his state debut and when prolific ball winners Bolton and Hams got in on the goal scoring, WA's lead was out to 55 points.

Tasmania stopped the flow for almost 10 minutes and had a couple of shots on goal that missed before WA finished the half with Saunders kicking his second with the home side leading by 60 points at the break.

WA started the second half ominously with an early goal to Saunders but to Tasmania's credit the visitors managed two quick goals to Trent Standen and Whitford to bring the margin back to 54 points.

But the WAFL side responded with the a fourth to Saunders before Callinan managed a second for Tasmania.

WA took over the rest of the third term, though, with Peake adding his third, fourth and fifth goals, Saunders his fifth, and Cameron his third as the lead blew out to 85 points at the last change.

Tasmania managed just the two behinds for the last quarter with WA's fitness level coming to the fore as the home got to enjoy themselves.

Ryan Cook got the opening goal of the last quarter before Johnson added his second of the day and Tony Notte got on the board on his home field.

Peake then added a sixth, Saunders his sixth and Peake his seventh to match his father Brian's performance for WA. He couldn’t quite get his eighth despite being isolated in the forward 50 late in the game, but goals to Claremont pair Neates and Bolton capped WA's record 134-point win.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA            4.3    10.10    17.11    25.14    (164)
TASMANIA                1.1    1.4    4.4    4.6    (30)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – Goals: Peake 7; Saunders 6; Cameron 3; Bolton, Johnson 2; Kelly, Hams, Cook, Notte, Neates.
Best: Bolton, Nelson, Johnson, Meadows, Peake, van Berlo, Hams, Saunders, Strijk.
TASMANIA – Goals: Callinan 2; Whitford, Standen.
Best: Cox, Harper, Callinan, H Walters, Riley, Cleary.

SIMPSON MEDAL (WA): Jye Bolton (Claremont).
LEFROY MEDAL (TAS): Jake Cox (Clarence).