FALCONS COMEBACK OVER TIGERS JUST FALLS SHORT

WEST Perth finished all over the top of Claremont at Claremont Oval on Saturday and had five chances on goal after getting within six points late, but couldn’t convert with the Tigers holding on to win by two points.

Claremont appeared to have the game won at Claremont Oval leading by 25 points late in the third quarter and still by 18 at the 19-minute mark of the final term.

But West Perth found something from there with quick goals to Tyler Keitel and Tyson Moulton. The Falcons then had four shots on goal but managed just three behinds before Corey Chalmers earned a holding the ball free-kick as the siren sounded.

He was right up against the boundary and almost 50m from goal and as luck would have it he had to kick from the only patch at Claremont Oval that was muddy. His shot ended up going wide and Claremont won by two points.

Claremont won 14.6 (90) to 12.16 (88) for a third successive win at Claremont Oval since its redeveloped home ground reopened.

West Perth has now lost to straight to slip to a 7-5 and just clinging to its spot in the top five.

West Perth again had some big ball winners through the middle led by Shane Nelson who finished with 39 possessions, nine inside-50 entries and five tackles.

Aaron Black also had 27 possessions for the Falcons, Luke Meadows 23, Trent Manzone 23 and Corey Chalmers 23. Captain Jay van Berlo also ended the afternoon with 18 disposals and four tackles.

Tyler Keitel had another good day forward with four goals from 11 possessions and four marks. Kody Manning had a good duel with Ian Richardson most of the day and then with the game on the line went forward and spent time in the middle to great effect. He had 16 possessions, seven tackles and a goal. Nick Rodda also did well in his duel after quarter-time on Beau Maister.

West Perth was down a man from midway through the second quarter onwards with Joe Morrow suffering a broken hand.

Mark Hamilton started in the ruck for West Perth and made a terrific start when after just a minute plucked the ball from a boundary throw-in and kicked the game's first goal.

A couple of goals in succession for Claremont to Alex Manuel and Matt Guelfi put the home team in front before West Perth responded thanks to Kris Shannon with a tremendous running goal.

Maister put the Tigers back on top before again the Falcons responded, but it was Claremont who finished the first quarter strongly with goals to Manuel and Maister to take an 11-point advantage into the first change.

West Perth dominated the early stages of the second term with a goal to Chalmers and a string of behinds before Claremont steadied with a goal to Guelfi. The Falcons then booted successive goals for the first time in the game from Keitel and Andrew Strijk but Claremont again responded through Morgan Davies.

Two goals in a minute again to West Perth from Meadows and Keitel put the visitors nine points in front but that again wouldn’t last. Claremont kicked two goals after the 31-minute mark of the second term both to Zac Langdon to see them lead by four points at the main break.

West Perth actually started the third quarter well with the opening two goals from Manning and Keitel, but from there it was all Claremont. It started with a good goal on the run to Nick Winmar before Langdon booted his third.

By the time Richardson snapped his only goal of the day, Claremont was out to a seven-point lead and that soon became 13 when Jye Bolton kicked truly and let his tagger Dean Munns know all about it.

Claremont was then up by 19 points at three quarter-time following another goal to Maister shortly before the siren.

It took almost 20 minutes for a goal to be kicked in the last quarter and it went West Perth's way with Keitel nailing his fourth of the game. Three minutes later and Moulton snapped truly and suddenly the Falcons had the momentum and just a six-point deficit.

West Perth had all the run and the play then for the final five minutes. Strijk had a shot on goal to level scores but he hit the post. The margin was then five points when Keitel had a shot, but his floated effort went through for a point to make it a four-point deficit.

Black appeared to mark close to goal but it was called touched and his rushed left-foot snap sailed out on the full.

West Perth had Claremont clamped in, though, and a quick snap from Scott Simpson was another behind to make the margin three points. Claremont couldn’t get the ball out, though, and eventually West Perth earned a free-kick for holding the ball.

Chalmers was the man given the ball and the siren sounded. But he couldn’t nail the difficult shot and Claremont held on for the two-point win. 

West Perth's colts began the day at Claremont Oval with a 9.6 (60) to 8.8 (56) victory over Claremont on Saturday.

Tyrese Miller and Jack Burke kicked two goals each for the Falcons.

Baylee James picked up 28 possessions for West Perth, Bailey Chalmers 22, Fillimone Muavou 17, Miller 17 and ruckman Slade Hawkins 12 to go with 39 hit outs.

West Perth's reserves came away with a thumping 17.11 (113) to 4.5 (29) victory over Claremont at Claremont Oval on Saturday.

Mitch Antonio kicked four goals for the Falcons, Brayden Antonio three, Sam Rotham two and Conal Lynch two.

Conal Lynch also had 33 possessions, Aidan Lynch 29, Josh Romanelli 19, Brayden Antonio 19 and Mitch Antonio 18.

Chris Keunen was a dominant presence in the ruck finishing the game with 29 disposals, four marks, five tackles, 30 hit outs, six inside-50 entries and a goal to close in on his first league appearance of 2017.

West Perth is back at HBF Arena to take on runaway league-leaders Subiaco while celebrating the International Football Festival.

CLAREMONT        5.0    9.3    14.4    14.6    (90)
WEST PERTH        3.1    8.5    10.9    12.16    (88)

CLAREMONT – Goals: Maister, Langdon 3; Guelfi, Manuel 2; Richardson, Bolton, Winmar, Morgan Davies.
Best: Lim, Andrews, Matt Davies, Bolton, Busher, Yu, Langdon, Maister.
WEST PERTH – Goals: Keitel 4; Black, Strijk, Meadows, Chalmers, Shannon, Moulton, Hamilton, Manning.
Best: Shane Nelson, Chalmers, Keitel, Black, Manning, Manzone, Meadows.