FALCONS BEAT SHARKS AGAIN TO MOVE CLEAR IN SECOND

WEST Perth returned to East Fremantle Oval for the second time in six weeks and came away with the four points once again with Sunday's 14-point win to move clear in second position.

The 12.11 (83) to 10.9 (69) victory sees West Perth improve to a 7-4 record on the season to now sit a game and percentage clear of East Perth in third spot, and two games and percentage ahead of Perth, Swan Districts, East Fremantle and Subiaco who all have five wins.

The Falcons controlled the contest virtually all day at East Fremantle Oval having gone on a run of three straight goals either side of quarter-time to open up a 24-point advantage.

Their lead then extended to 38 points early in the third quarter after early second half goals to Nick Rodda and Matt Fowler.

East Fremantle did show signs of fighting back with the last two goals of the third term, but the Falcons steadied to start the last with Andrew Strijk goaling inside 30 seconds.

East Fremantle kept coming, though, with the game's next four goals to all of a sudden close to within eight points with only a couple of minutes remaining.

That was the closest the Sharks had been since early in the last quarter, but West Perth steadied with Trent Manzone running into an open goal to secure the 14-point win for the Falcons.

West Perth's forward-line was without Anthony Tsalikis and Fremantle's Josh Mellington didn’t kick a goal, but the Falcons still had plenty of options in attack.

Shaun Marusic made a bright start with two goals in the game's opening five minutes. Fowler also kicked two goals having booted five in each of the last three games in the reserves.

Nick Rodda, Matt Johnson and Marc Crisp all kicked two goals apiece as well with the only downside a hamstring injury to Johnson.

The Falcons back-line was once again outstanding led by Michael Pettigrew's dominant display on East Fremantle big man Rob Young with Pettigrew holding him to just two kicks and no score for the day.

Fellow key defender Dan Hunt was also rock solid while the Falcons got plenty of run and drive out of Andrew Strijk (27 possessions and a goal), Luke Tedesco (21, nine marks) and Steven Browne (19 touches, nine marks).

The West Perth midfield also got on top of East Fremantle led by ruckman Chris Keunen who got the better of both Cameron Symonds and Fraser MacDougall finishing with an impressive 19 possessions, six marks, 36 hit outs and five clearances.

Jay van Berlo worked tirelessly all afternoon racking up 36 possessions and winning eight clearances. Matt Guadagnin also had 31 disposals, seven clearances and five entries inside-50.

Shane Nelson picked up another 23 disposals and Mark Hutchings had 22 after being held to just six in the first half.

The West Perth reserves went down to East Fremantle by 28 points but there were plenty of encouraging signs for the Falcons.

Mitch McPhee continued his impressive form kicking four goals while Kody Manning returned from a knee injury and had 13 possessions. Cameron Branch and Aidan Lynch both gathered 22 disposals, James Embley 18, Jack Thrum 17 and Joel Latham 17.

The Falcons' colts put in a good showing after a scoreless first quarter but still went down to the Sharks by 21 points.

Blake Acres was outstanding for West Perth with 31 possessions and two goals with Jesse Kirwen collecting 24 disposals, Tom Shadbolt 21 and Joel Brown 18. Kyle Egan also kicked two majors.

WEST PERTH 5.3 8.5 10.8 12.11 (83)

EAST FREMANTLE 2.3 4.4 6.6 10.9 (69)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Fowler, Rodda, Johnson, Marusic, Crisp 2; Strijk, Manzone.

Best: Van Berlo, Pettigrew, Keunen, Guadagnin, Strijk, Tedesco, Hutchings.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Dalziell 3; Duffy, Lester-Smith 2; Peake, Henson, Hancock.

Best: Dalziell, Howlett, Stephen, Hancock, O'Brien.

BY CHRIS PIKE