FALCONS LOSE TO SWANS ON ANZAC DAY

WEST Perth has gone down on Anzac Day to Swan Districts with the black-and-whites prevailing by seven points at Steel Blue Oval with the Falcons now having a week off before playing in the Foxtel Cup.

The reigning WAFL premiers did appear to be building some momentum with back-to-back wins over Perth and East Perth, but now losses against South Fremantle and Swan Districts leave the Falcons with just a 2-4 record after the first six rounds.

West Perth will now have the bye next weekend before heading to Melbourne to take on the Box Hill Hawks at Etihad Stadium in the opening round of the Foxtel Cup for 2014.

West Perth did start Friday's Anzac Day clash with Swan Districts at Bassendean kicking the first two goals and led at half-time by 17 points, but went goalless in the third quarter and despite getting within three points during the last term, Swans ended up winning 11.9 (75) to 9.14 (68).

The game was also fascinating for the fact that it was Andrew Krakouer's first game for West Perth up against the team he inspired to the 2010 WAFL premiership in one of the most remarkable grand final, and whole season, individual performances of recent times.

He had just the two kicks in his debut for West Perth the week before and was more lively on his return to Bassendean on Friday finishing with 3.4 from his seven kicks.

His 2010 premiership teammate Matthew Spencer also made his West Perth debut on the day in his first WAFL game since that grand final. He battled hard in the back-line for the Falcons.

West Perth would have been disappointed again in its performance despite the lively three goals from Krakouer and two to Rohan Kerr to go with his 19 possessions.

Shane Nelson also racked up 33 disposals for the Falcons to go with six inside 50s, five marks, four tackles and a goal.

Aaron Black continued his strong ball-winning form picking up 27 possessions with Jay van Berlo collecting 22 disposals, Jordan Jones 20, Steven Browne 20 and ruckman Chris Keunen 15 to go with 38 hit outs and six marks.

West Perth kicked the first two goals of the game on Anzac Day through Kerr and Nelson, but by quarter-time Swans had booted the next three to lead by nine points.

Krakouer then kicked a goal early in the second quarter for the Falcons to get the margin back to just three points and then he added a second shortly after to put West Perth back in front.

West Perth's lead stretched to 16 points when Kerr added his second major of the day and the Falcons appeared in control of the game having kicked the only four goals of the second term to lead by 17 points at half-time.

However, West Perth then had a goalless third quarter with Swans leading by 11 points at three quarter-time and then they kicked the first major of the final quarter.

Quick goals to West Perth for Kody Manning and then Krakouer's third gave the Falcons a sniff again and they did get as close as three points during the fourth quarter, but that would be as close as they got.

Meanwhile, West Perth started Anzac Day impressively at Bassendean with the reserves scoring a thumping 15.11 (101) to 6.4 (40) victory.

Mitch McPhee kicked four goals for the Falcons, Drew Rohde three, Max Alexander three and Cameron Branch two.

Jack Thrum finished with 26 possessions, Aidan Lynch 24, Ben O'Regan 23, Joe Morrow 22, Kris Shannon 22, Shaun Marusic 22 and Stephen Healy 20.

The colts played on Saturday with Swan Districts running out 16.7 (103) to 11.9 (75) winners.

Daniel Robertson and Daniel Toohey kicked two goals each for West Perth with Troy Manners finishing with 21 possessions, William Michell 20 and Clinton Hinchcliffe 19.

WEST PERTH 2.2 6.6 6.10 9.14 (68)

SWAN DISTRCTS 3.5 3.7 8.9 11.9 (75)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Krakouer 3; Kerr 2; Manning, Adams, van Berlo, Nelson.

Best: Nelson, Browne, Hunt, Kerr, Jones, Keunen, van Berlo.

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Cary 3; Anderson 2; Casserly, Rogers, Boekhorst, Howard, Notte, Jukes.

Best: Simpson, Rogers, Ugle, Elari, Faulkner, Ames, Howard.

BY CHRIS PIKE