FALCONS SHOCK TIGERS TO ENTER 2013 GRAND FINAL

WEST Perth pulled off a stunning effort to upset Claremont in Sunday's second semi-final at Claremont Oval to see the Falcons win through to their first WAFL grand final since 2003.

Few might have given West Perth much of a chance of heading to Claremont Oval and there were plenty of reasons behind that.

First of all Claremont had finished on top of the ladder to claim a fourth straight minor premiership ending the 2013 home and away season with a 17-3 record to be four games clear of the 13-7 West Perth.

Claremont has won the last two WAFL premierships having played in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 grand finals while also having won its last five matches against West Perth.

On top of that, West Perth had lost its last two games entering the finals and had lost all six of its finals played since the winning grand final of 2003 against Subiaco.

However, every single one of those reasons why people tipped against West Perth were forgotten by Sunday night with the Falcons winning 11.21 (87) to 12.11 (83) to win their way straight through to the 2013 WAFL grand final.

The four-point margin was somewhat flattering to Claremont as well after West Perth controlled the contest from the outset virtually in all areas aside from kicking on goal.

West Perth's pressure and intensity was enormous for all four quarters with the two-time reigning premiers succumbing to that pressure and coughing up countless uncharacteristic turnovers, and also unable to get any of their usual fluent game style going.

The only downside in West Perth's effort was kicking at goal. The Falcons had 10 shots on goal in the first 20 minutes but managed one goal with six behinds and several more shots which ended up on the full.

Again, the Falcons dominated play in the last quarter and had opportunity after opportunity to put the game out of Claremont's reach but couldn’t quite kick straight.

However, West Perth's sheer dominance around the ground paid off with the Falcons finishing with more possessions, marks, tackles, inside-50 entries and obviously scoring shots.

Mark Hutchings was playing what will likely be his second last game for some time with West Perth due to him being forced to play with East Perth in 2014 as long as he remains listed by the West Coast Eagles.

He was outstanding on Sunday in a best on ground performance despite being run-with by Claremont's dual premiership 175-game veteran Trinity Handley.

Hutchings finished the game with 32 possessions, seven marks, four clearances, five inside-50 entries and two goals.

Marc Crisp had managed just 29 games the last five years after being unable to secure a regular spot in the West Perth team, but he has certainly cemented his spot in 2013 and showed exactly why with an outstanding performance across half-forward on Sunday.

The 26-year-old finished with 21 possessions and four goals as the leading goalkicker on the ground.

Fremantle-listed Josh Mellington booted two goals for the Falcons from a whole host of opportunities.

Veteran on-baller Matt Guadagnin might not have been on song in front of goals kicking 1.4 but he worked tirelessly all day as he played in the first winning final of his 161-game WAFL career. He picked up 28 possessions to go with five clearances and four inside-50 entries.

Jay van Berlo was playing just his second game back from a medial ligament injury in his knee and was superb in the midfield with 23 disposals, six marks, seven tackles and six clearances.

Young West Perth midfielders Shane Nelson and Aaron Black have been outstanding all season, and were again strong contributors on Sunday with Nelson finishing with 21 touches and eight inside 50s with Black contributing 19 disposals, four clearances and three inside 50s.

Rohan Kerr has been superb in his first year with West Perth coming from Carlton and had another 18 possessions in the second semi-final while Chris Keunen broke even in the ruck against former West Perth pair Mark Seaby and Mitch Andrews in a superb effort.

The West Perth back-line was also rock solid with Dan Hunt celebrating his 150th WAFL game by playing in his first winning final, and keeping Claremont full-forward Chad Jones quiet.

Trent Manzone had an enthralling battle with Ian Richardson while Jordan Jones, Steven Browne and Shaun Marusic all combined to make sure that Paul Medhurst, Anton Hamp and Claremont's resting ruckman had no influence on the game.

West Perth now has the weekend off awaiting the winner of the Claremont-East Perth preliminary final on Sunday at Claremont Oval to find out who it faces in the WAFL grand final of 2013 on Sunday September 22 at Subiaco's Patersons Stadium.

WEST PERTH 1.6 5.9 9.15 11.21 (87)

CLAREMONT 3.3 8.9 10.10 12.11 (83)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Crisp 4; Mellington, Hutchings 2; Jones, Guadagnin, Fowler.

Best: Hutchings, Crisp, Hunt, Guadagnin, van Berlo, Nelson, Kerr.

CLAREMONT – Goals: Richardson, Davies 2; Bradshaw, Foster, Winmar, Handley, Jones, Neates, Hamp, Seaby.

Best: Blackwell, Bradshaw, Anderson, Taylor, Thomson, Davies.

BY CHRIS PIKE