SECOND SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW V CLAREMONT

WEST Perth has the chance to qualify for its first WAFL grand final since 2003 when the Falcons head to Claremont Oval to face Claremont in Sunday's second semi-final.

The Falcons had a tremendous home and away season in 2013 to finish in second position on the ladder with a 13-7 record to qualify for the second semi-final against Claremont.

The Tigers have now won four straight WAFL minor premierships and are looking to make a fourth straight grand final, and to win a third successive flag but the Falcons will be looking to have something to say about that on Sunday.

West Perth now heads to Claremont Oval with the chance to win its way through to the 2013 WAFL grand final, the Falcons' first since 2003, or a loss will see the Falcons host the preliminary final next week at Arena Joondalup against the winner of the Swan Districts-East Perth first semi-final.

Claremont and West Perth have been the two standout teams in the WAFL all season long occupying the top-two positions for most of the year, and it's deserving that it is the Tigers and Falcons fighting over being the first team into the grand final for 2013.

Claremont has played in six WAFL grand finals since West Perth won the 2003 premiership with the Tigers looking to qualify for a fourth straight premiership decider hosting the Falcons on Sunday.

The second semi-final takes place on Sunday afternoon at Claremont Oval, the fifth time the second semi has been at Tigerland in the last seven years, as the Tigers and Falcons do battle over a grand final berth in 2013.

Claremont has won its last five games over West Perth dating back to the Falcons' last win which came by a goal in Round 16, 2011.

Claremont bounced back to win the 2011 second semi-final by a massive 85 points and then the Tigers won the two meetings in 2012 by 45 and 119 points respectively, and by 19 and 21 in the two clashes of 2013.

However, the Falcons have answered most challenges during 2013, have a good blend of youth and experience, and will be confident of throwing everything at winning the club's first final since that 2003 premiership winning side.

Beating Claremont in a second semi-final at Claremont Oval, though, is something that West Perth will have to make history to do.

Claremont beat Subiaco in the 2007 second semi by 15 points and then in 2010, beat Swan Districts by 50 points, beat West Perth by 85 in 2011 and then also beat Swans by 32 last year.

So the Tigers have won all four of their previous second semis at home by an average of over 45 points. The other final played at Claremont Oval was the 2006 first semi-final and that was also against West Perth with Claremont winning by a thumping 86 points.

West Perth might have lost all six of its finals since 2003, but the Falcons team is a vastly different one and has also been playing to a different game plan this year which has proved successful through the home and away season.

While the Falcons still have experienced 100-plus game players Andrew Strijk, Dan Hunt, Ray Bartholomew, Matt Guadagnin, Chris Keunen and Jason Salecic in their side, the improvement this year has come with the youngsters.

Shane Nelson and Aaron Black have emerged as two of the best midfielders in the WAFL while Kody Manning and Marc Crisp have stepped up in the forward-line, Nick Rodda at both ends of the ground and recruits from the last two years Trent Manzone, Jordan Jones, Shaun Marusic, Matt Fowler and Rohan Kerr are now crucial players in the Falcons team as well.

West Perth's reserves did qualify for finals, though, and that could prove crucial with key defensive pair Michael Pettigrew and Luke Tedesco likely to try to play at least some minutes in the reserves first semi-final against East Perth on Sunday morning.

Important pair Laine Rasmussen (if not picked in the league side) and Matt Johnson might also get another crucial run under their belts in the reserves after injury layoffs.

The Falcons also have not named anyone out from the side that lost to Swan Districts last Saturday but Fremantle's Josh Mellington will be a natural inclusion with Joe Morrow, Rasmussen and Frank Stockley pushing for inclusion.

Claremont doesn’t have a team in the reserves this year after they've won the last three premierships meaning that there is nowhere for players to drop back if not selected in the league side, or for them to find form or fitness either.

The Tigers haven’t named anyone out at this stage from the team that lost to East Fremantle last Saturday, and will be without any AFL-listed players on Sunday but captain Andrew Browne looks set to be fit to play.

Hugo Breakey, Matthew Goyder and Keifer Yu are three young players at Claremont trying desperately to push their way into the final 22 as well.

BY CHRIS PIKE