RESERVES FIRST SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW V EAST PERTH

WEST Perth's reserves did a tremendous job to get back from a slow start to the 2013 season to qualify for the finals now take on East Perth in a derby first semi-final on Sunday morning.

The Falcons take on the Royals in the reserves first semi-final at Claremont Oval with the earlier start time of 9.05am.

The winner of the derby final will stay alive for at least one more week to book in a preliminary final clash with the loser of the second semi-final that will be played between Perth and South Fremantle at the same time at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.

The West Perth's reserves team, coached by Paul Sanzone, lost the first three games of the 2013 season and six of the first seven games to be 1-7 after eight rounds with finals appearing a long way off.

However, the Falcons then bounced back with good wins over Perth, East Perth and Claremont between Rounds 10 and 12 before a hiccup against East Fremantle in Round 13.

West Perth's reserves then also suffered a Round 15 loss to Swan Districts, but that was to be the last loss of the home and away season with the Falcons finishing with wins over Peel, South Fremantle, East Perth, Peel, Perth, East Fremantle and Swan Districts to secure a finals place.

West Perth and East Perth's reserves have met three times during the season with the Royals winning by two points at Arena Joondalup in Round 1, the Falcons winning by nine points at Leederville's Medibank Stadium on Foundation Day and then West Perth scoring a thumping 44-poitn win in Round 19 at Arena Joondalup.

The West Perth reserves team looks likely to also be boosted by key senior veteran defenders Michael Pettigrew and Luke Tedesco.

Pettigrew badly tore his hamstring in Round 19 but has recovered well and is likely to try playing in the reserves on Sunday morning. Tedesco injured his calf in Round 21 and is also likely to give playing ago again in the reserves semi-final as well.

The team is also likely to still have Matt Johnson and Laine Rasmussen, who both have played strong league football in 2013 after the pair both returned from injury layoffs last week against Swan Districts.

The Falcons' reserves side also includes Max Alexander, James Batterham, Johnson, Ben McNamara, Luke Meadows, Pettigrew and Tedesco who have played league football in 2013 while Cameron Branch, James Embley, Michael Mascoulis and Drew Rohde have previously.

Jack Thrum, Aidan Lynch, Embley, Joel Latham and McNamara have all been outstanding ball winners in the reserves this season while Frank Stockley has dominated the ruck averaging 16 possessions and 34 hit outs to go with his 15 goals in 15 matches.

Mitchell McPhee is the leading reserves goalkicker with 30 from 19 games with Rohde adding 28 from 20.

WEST PERTH TEAM:

Max Alexander, James Batterham, Cameron Branch, Corey Chalmers, James Embley, Martin Geraghty, Stephen Healy, Matt Johnson, Joel Latham, Aidan Lynch, Michael Mascoulis, Ben McNamara, Mitchell McPhee, Luke Meadows, Jordan Mills, Samuel Money, Ben O'Regan, Michael Pettigrew, Drew Rohde, Thomas Shadbolt, Tim Sutherland, Luke Tedesco, Jack Thrum, Mitchell Van Berlo, Broderick Walton, Blake Wilhelm.

EAST PERTH TEAM: 

Daniel Allsop, Julian Ameduri, Blake Borrett, Ashley Boyes, Trent Bradshaw, Rowan Brookes, Danny Chartres, Beau Chatley, Agid Gardoud, Matt Gordon, Jack Hogan, Brandon Hughes, Jake Keeffe, Matthew Kelly, Mitchell Lague, Julian Locantro, Shaquille McKenzie, Michael Morgan, Thomas Omodei, Matthew Pearce, Jackson Peos, Daniel Perkins, Michael Rimbas, Tyson Rudd, Marcus Ruggiero, Thomas Shanahan, Jackson Slater, Chris Warrell, Lewis Wilson, Steven Wityk.

BY CHRIS PIKE