WEST PERTH MAKES IT FIFTH STRAIGHT TO CELEBRATE HERITAGE

WEST Perth has continued its momentum winning a fifth straight match and celebrating the 120-year anniversary of its first premiership in style with a 32-point win over Claremont at HBF Arena.

West Perth was coming off the bye and four impressive victories against Peel Thunder, Swan Districts, Perth and East Fremantle, and started strongly against Claremont with six goals to one in the opening quarter.

The Falcons were never threatened from there going on to record the 13.14 (92) to 7.18 (60) victory.

The win means that West Perth improves to third position on the ladder with a 6-2 record to be only percentage behind the second placed South Fremantle with a game in hand.

The Falcons were wearing specially designed commemorative jumpers for the occasion too featuring a photo of the 1897 premiership team. The 32-point win over the Tigers was the ideal way to celebrate the club's first ever premiership.

Claremont has now lost six matches in-a-row after starting the season with three victories under new coach Darren Harris.

West Perth had no problem continuing its momentum from prior to the bye and it was a return forward for Andrew Strijk that proved the move of the day. He has split his time between forward and back all season, but showed how dangerous he is in attack on Saturday with five goals from 20 possessions and five marks.

Michael Lourey also booted three majors for the Falcons and Corey Chalmers two to go with his 18 possessions and five tackles.

Shane Nelson continued his stellar season with another 34 possessions, seven inside-50 entries and five tackles for West Perth while Aaron Black racked up 29 disposals, Luke Meadows 24, Aidan Lynch 21 and the returning Steve Potente 20 to go with five tackles.

West Perth's back-line was also outstanding led by Mark Hamilton and Nick Rodda while Kody Manning's ferocity at the contest and the opposition continued to be a standout. He also had 14 possessions for the day.

It took just five minutes for West Perth to make its statement of intent with early goals to Strijk and Chalmers. Claremont did respond through Jack Bradshaw but it was Strijk and Chalmers again who hit the scoreboard for the Falcons in response.

By the time Lourey and Strijk again helped give West Perth six first quarter goals, the Falcons were in a dominant position up by 25 points at the first change.

It took 13 minutes for the opening goal of the second quarter and that went to Claremont thanks to Matt Guelfi. West Perth answered through Meadows but the Tigers got another through Jye Bolton and were just 19 points down.

That would be the closest they would get the rest of the afternoon though.

West Perth kicked the last goal of the first half through Lourey to lead by four goals at the main break.

It was then all the Falcons with the opening four goals of the third quarter from Strijk, Lourey, Scott Simpson and Tyler Keitel as the lead grew to 49 points.

Eddie Simpson did reply finally for Claremont but that only made the three quarter-time margin 45.

Claremont did kick three goals to one in the last quarter but West Perth cruised to the eventual 32-point victory.

It was a tough start to the day at HBF Arena for West Perth in the colts, with Claremont winning 10.9 (69) to 3.7 (25).

Lachlan Johns, Tyrese Miller and Jack Burke were the goal scorers for West Perth.

Bailey Chalmers compiled 22 possessions for West Perth, Baylee James 20 and Thomas Boyes 17.

Then in the reserves contest, Claremont took away an 11.14 (80) to 4.7 (31) victory over West Perth.

Michael Ashfield kicked two of the Falcons' four goals for the game.

Mitch Peirce racked up 33 possessions for West Perth, James Batterham 22, Conal Lynch 22, Alexander Coe 21 and Brayden Antonio 18.

There is the general bye for the state game this week before West Perth gears up for a cracking WA Day derby against East Perth at Leederville Oval with the Royals having also won four straight.

Claremont has the bye following the state game before the reopening of Claremont Oval against the winless East Fremantle in Round 12.

WEST PERTH            6.3    8.5    12.10    13.14    (92)
CLAREMONT            1.8    3.11    4.13    7.18    (60)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Strijk 5; Lourey 3; Chalmers 2; Keitel, Simpson, Meadows.
Best: Strijk, Nelson, Black, Manning, Meadows, Chalmers, Potente.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Simpson 2; McCracken, Guelfi, Bolton, Bradshaw, I Richardson.
Best: Andrews, Banfield, Guelfi, Bolton, I Richardson, R Murphy.

Photos by Belinda Taylor