FALCONS KEEP WINNING TO CLOSE IN ON TOP TWO SPOT

WEST Perth kicked the last eight goals of the game in torrential conditions against Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday with the Falcons now just percentage out of a top two position.

Peel kicked the opening goal of the game but then didn’t manage another the rest of the afternoon with West Perth finding a way to handle the terrible conditions much better to end up winning 8.7 (55) to 1.5 (11).

The 44-point win means the Falcons have now won nine of their last 10 matches to have improved to a 10-5 record to only be percentage behind the second placed South Fremantle.

A win now on Saturday against East Perth and West Perth will be in second position and only a game behind the league-leading Subiaco with the Falcons still to play the Lions for a third time this season in Round 20.

Max Duffy was the only multiple goal scorer on the ground kicking two goals against the team he played with the last couple of years while with Fremantle.

Aaron Black, Andrew Strijk, Michael Lourey, Jay van Berlo, Steve Potente and James Batterham were the others to kick a goal in the horrible conditions for West Perth.

West Perth captain Jay van Berlo was terrific all day with his hardness and poise in the weather a standout as he finished with 25 possessions, seven tackles, six inside-50 entries and a goal.

Shane Nelson continued his terrific form for the Falcons with another 33 possessions with Black working tirelessly for 32 disposals, six marks, five tackles and a goal.

Rohan Kerr also finished with 25 disposals, eight inside 50s and seven marks while Joel Leeson had 22 touches, Kris Shannon 19 and Potente 19. Dean Munns worked hard for 15 possessions and 14 tackles with Chris Keunen finishing with 17 disposals and 17 hit outs.

West Perth's back-line was outstanding led by Blake Wilhelm who had 29 possessions and nine marks. Tyler Keitel also finished with 26 disposals, Steven Browne 19, Drew Rohde 19 and Joe Morrow 14.

The conditions were perhaps at their worst in the opening quarter and as a result there was no goal scored until the 26-minute mark when Peel debutant Brett Milward kicked truly following a free-kick.

West Perth actually had the breeze in the opening term, but the heavy rain and terribly wet conditions made that virtually meaningless with the Thunder leading by five points at the first change.

The Falcons took over in the second term, though, and that would remain the way for the rest of the game.

West Perth kicked its first goal courtesy of Lourey at the six-minute mark of the first quarter and then Strijk booted the goal of the day when he drilled one from 40 while heading towards the boundary.

That saw the Falcons open up a nine-point lead by half-time and that was out to 15 when Potente kicked truly just two minutes into the third quarter.

West Perth then put together the most dominant patch of football in the game between the 10 and 17-minute marks with goals to Black, Duffy and van Berlo that saw the Falcons open up a 32-point advantage which remained by three quarter-time.

Duffy kicked his second to open the scoring in the final quarter and then James Batterham celebrated his first game of the year with the last goal of the game as West Perth ran out 44-point winners.

The colts contest began the day at Bendigo Bank Stadium with Peel Thunder beating West Perth 11.17 (83) to 8.12 (60).

Brody Zanon impressed for the Falcons finishing with four goals from 10 kicks with Nick Marinovich, Kurt Monaghan, Slade Hawkins and Bailey Chalmers the other goal scorers.

Baylee James collected 25 possessions for West Perth, Connor West 21, Zac Guadagnin 20, Joel Horgan 19 and Brayden Thompson 19. Eamon Gilbert finished with 15 touches and 20 hit outs.

Then in the reserves contest at Bendigo Bank Stadium, West Perth beat Peel Thunder 8.14 (62) to 4.7 (31).

Keegan Knott kicked four goals for the Falcons from 16 possessions while Liam Baker finished with 19 disposals and two goals in his first opportunity to play senior football.

Matt Johnson racked up 34 disposals for West Perth, Mitch Peirce 27, Mitch Antonio 27, Scott Nelson 25 and Shane Bonney 20.

WEST PERTH        0.2    2.5    6.5    8.7    (55)
PEEL THUNDER        1.1    1.2    1.3    1.5    (11)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Duffy 2; Batterham, Potente, van Berlo, Lourey, Strijk, Black.
Best: Van Berlo, Wilhelm, Black, Nelson, Leeson, Keitel, Potente, Shannon.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Milward.
Best: O'Brien, De Boer, Deluca, Haydon, Hughes, Clarke.

PHOTOS BY BELINDA TAYLOR