FALCONS' LAST QUARTER COMEBACK JUST FALLS SHORT

WEST Perth put together a remarkable 12 minutes of football to recover from a 33-point deficit to get within three points of East Fremantle in the dying minutes in Saturday's WAFL season-opener but the Sharks just held on for the victory at East Fremantle Oval.

Things didn’t come together for the first three and-a-half quarters for West Perth on Saturday in the opening match of the 2014 season and to start the Falcons' premiership defence, but there was too much self belief, quality and experience in the team not to fight back.

West Perth did find itself 33 points behind at the 10-minute mark of the fourth quarter, but the Falcons then put together a 12-minute period of inspired football to boot five goals and suddenly get within three points, but the Sharks just held on to win by those three points in the finish.

Shane Nelson's last official game for the Falcons was last year's grand final where he racked up 36 possessions and 13 clearances, and he started 2014 where he left off with another 37 disposals and 10 clearances against the Sharks on Saturday.

Fellow young midfielder Aaron Black also started off the new season impressively with 28 possessions.

Co-captain Jay van Berlo racked up 27 touches, had nine clearances and kicked two goals while veteran wingman Ray Bartholomew finished with 23 touches and two goals.

Rohan Kerr, who booted five goals in the grand final, worked hard for 26 possessions as well while veteran on-baller Matt Guadagnin contributed 23 touches.

Andrew Strijk had 26 possessions off half-back before hurting his shoulder late in the game while Jordan Jones had 22 touches in defence with Luke Tedesco gathering 19 touches, Steven Browne 18 and Trent Manzone 17.

Marc Crisp worked hard across half-forward for 18 possessions, seven marks and 10 inside-50 entries while Anthony Tsalikis finished with 16 disposals, 10 marks and a goal.

Two goals in a minute in the opening quarter to East Perth recruit Boston Williamson got East Fremantle on top early and despite closing to within four points at the start of the third quarter with a goal to Potente, the Falcons trailed the entire day.

For three and-a-half quarters, West Perth missed countless targets around the ground with disappointing kicking sills and East Fremantle took full advantage with many of the Sharks goals coming on the turnover.

The Falcons then continually went inside their forward 50 heading towards the pocket the wind was blowing the ball to and the usual result was out on the full, out of bounds or being in a position impossible to score from.

For three and-a-half quarters, West Perth struggled to find targets around the ground and attacked inside its forward 50, but when the Falcons fell 33 points down in the fourth quarter they started to turn it on.

Suddenly desperate, the Falcons ran harder, hit their targets and found some space to kick five straight goals and get within three points, but Brett Peake's third goal and a remarkably courageous defensive mark from Matthew Jupp saw East Fremantle hold on to win 11.7 (73) to 10.10 (70).

Meanwhile in the reserves, West Perth fought back hard after trailing by 31 points at half-time to kick four goals to one in the third quarter, and then three goals to two in the last but ended up coming up short by 10 points.

Brayden Antonio was outstanding for the Falcons' reserves finishing with 32 possessions while Drew Rohde kicked four goals in an impressive performance.

Jack Thrum also gathered 25 disposals with James Batterham finishing the game with 23 touches, Aidan Lynch 22, Corey Chalmers 19, Max Alexander 17 and Seva Martin 41 hit outs in the ruck in his first official appearance for West Perth.

And in the colts to start the day at East Fremantle Oval, the Falcons lost to the Sharks by 21 points but Liam Pardini kicked two goals, and Mitchell Peirce racked up 19 possessions, Dean Munns 18 and William Michell 17.

WEST PERTH 2.1 3.4 4.7 10.10 (70)

EAST FREMANTLE 3.2 5.2 8.5 11.7 (73)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Bartholomew, van Berlo 2; Marusic, Guadagnin, Potente, Tsalikis, Fowler, Jones.

Best: Nelson, Bartholomew, van Berlo, Kerr, Guadagnin, Black, Potente, Jones.

EAST FREMANTLE – Goals: Peake 3; Lester-Smith, Williamson 2; Young, Perham, Edwards, Dalziell.

Best: B O'Brien, Dalziell, Howlett, Stephen, R O'Brien, McNamara, Dodd.

BY CHRIS PIKE