Falcons just run out of legs in Channel 9 WA Day Derby

A BIG crowd turned out to celebrate the Channel 9 WA Day Derby and West Perth's anniversary of moving to Arena Joondalup but in the end East Perth overran the Falcons to win by 16 points in a hotly-contested affair.

West Perth celebrated the 21st anniversary of its move from Leederville Oval as its home ground to Arena Joondalup and in that time the Falcons have won premierships in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2013 so there have been plenty of fond team memories and champions to play for the club in that time.

Then a crowd of over 6000 people turned out for the clash with East Perth in what was a grand final rematch with the Falcons looking to beat the Royals for a fourth straight time having won by 30 points in Round 19 last year, by 49 points in the grand final and then by 100 in Round 4 this year.

It was a tight affair all afternoon in front of the bumper crowd with West Perth leading by a point at quarter-time, that same advantage at half-time and then by just three points at three quarter-time, but East Perth kicked the first three goals of the last quarter to win 10.9 (69) to 7.11 (53).

The win sees West Perth drop out of the top-four with East Fremantle replacing the Falcons in fourth position with the Falcons now gearing up to take on Claremont at the Claremont Showgrounds this Saturday before a match-up the following week against the Sharks leading into the Foxtel Cup semi-final.

Shane Nelson again led the way in the midfield for West Perth racking up another 31 possessions while Aaron Black also picked up 27 to go with kicking two goals.

Steve Potente also stepped up well in the forward-line kicking three goals with Marcus Adams and Anthony Tsalikis unable to hit the scoreboard despite presenting hard and taking some strong marks to give themselves opportunities.

Andrew Strijk also collected 26 possessions for West Perth while Rohan Kerr finished with 25 touches, 10 marks, five inside 50s and three tackles.

Luke Tedesco was tremendous in the back-line for West Perth and ended up with 23 touches and seven marks as well while his co-captain Jay van Berlo also finished with 23 disposals, six marks and six inside-50 entries.

Jordan Jones worked hard as well for 20 touches with and Matt Guadagnin overcame a hamstring scare early in the game to play on and finish with 15 possessions and a goal.

Premiership and State ruckman Chris Keunen wasn’t so lucky, though, copping a poke in the eye during the second half and having to go off to hospital to ensure nothing too serious would be the result.

East Perth did kick the first goal of the game but West Perth soon got on the board thanks to Marc Crisp. The Falcons again responded to the Royals kicking the next when Potente booted the first of his three for the day.

That had West Perth in front by the narrowest of margins at the end of the first quarter and then Potente added his second to start the second quarter.

East Perth briefly regained the lead but then Guadagnin kicked truly to put the Falcons back in front heading towards half-time.

The Royals again kicked the opening goal of the third quarter but Potente's third for West Perth had the home team back in front, and still there by three points at the last change.

However, goals to Paul Johnson, Mark Hutchings and Scott Lycett to open the fourth quarter gave East Perth a match-winning lead and the Falcons went down by 16 points.

West Perth's reserves run of five straight victories came to an end thanks to an East Perth goal with the last kick of the game which got the Royals home 18.4 (112) to 16.12 (108).

Matt Johnson kicked five goals from 21 possessions for the Falcons with Matt Fowler and Drew Rohde booting three apiece, and Mitch McPhee two.

Trent Manzone racked up 33 possessions, Brayden Antonio 20, Ben McNamara 19, Aidan Lynch 19 and James Embley 18.

Meanwhile, West Perth's colts scored an impressive 12.13 (85) to 8.4 (52) victory over East Perth.

Tyson Moulton was the star for the Falcons booting six goals from 16 possessions and nine marks with Sam Rotham kicking two goals and Will Michell collecting 29 possessions, Clinton Hinchcliffe 28 and Dean Munns 25.

WEST PERTH 2.4 4.6 6.10 7.11 (53)

EAST PERTH 2.3 4.5 6.7 10.9 (69)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Potente 3; Black 2; Crisp, Guadagnin.

Best: Nelson, Black, Tedesco, Strijk, Kerr, Potente, Jones, van Berlo.

EAST PERTH – Goals: Lycett 3; McInnes, Magginness 2; McGinnity, Hutchings, Johnson.

Best: Hutchings, Anderson, Clutterbuck, Lycett, Payne, Sinclair, Sheed.