FALCONS STORM INTO FOXTEL CUP GRAND FINAL

WEST Perth thumped the Western Storm on Tuesday night by 74 points to advance to the Foxtel Cup grand final and to give the Falcons a chance to win a second premiership within the past 10 months.

West Perth controlled its Foxtel Cup semi-final from the outset on Tuesday night at Patersons Stadium and ended up winning 15.7 (97) to 3.5 (23) against the upstart Storm led by Seva Martin's three goals up forward and Aidan Lynch's 24 possessions and nine clearances in the middle.

The Falcons now qualify for the Tuesday July 22 Foxtel Cup grand final against the winner of next Tuesday's other semi-final between East Perth and Williamstown.

By qualifying for the grand final, West Perth is guaranteed of $40,000 in prize money for losing and $100,000 with a victory giving the Falcons a chance of backing up last year's WAFL premiership by claiming the Foxtel Cup trophy for 2014.

The Falcons dominated from the outset and it started with a goal to big man Seva Martin who spent the night at full forward in the absence of regular key forward targets Nick Rodda and Marcus Adams.

Martin has rarely had the chance to show what he can do outside of the ruck in his career, but displayed encouraging signs as a key forward on Tuesday night finishing with 11 possessions, five marks, 11 hit outs, two clearances and three goals.

West Perth's team included seven premiership players from last year but had plenty of fresh faces including Aidan Lynch, Mitch McPhee, Corey Chalmers and Ben King making their senior football debuts.

Lynch led the way in the middle all night for the Falcons with 24 possessions and nine clearances – both game highs.

McPhee was also impressive up forward kicking three goals from 11 touches and five marks while Chalmers ended up with nine possessions and King three to go with three tackles and two marks.

Jack Thrum also did well in the midfield for West Perth gathering 18 possessions while Brayden Antonio finished with 15 disposals, Trent Manzone 13, Luke Meadows 12, Shaun Marusic 12, Steven Browne 11, Joe Morrow 11 and captain-for-the-night Matt Guadagnin 10.

Matt Johnson also booted two goals for West Perth from nine possessions and six marks.

Chris Keunen did well in the ruck before resting in the final quarter ending up with eight possessions, 19 hit outs and three marks in his first game since suffering an eye injury in the WA Day derby loss to East Perth.

West Perth made the perfect start to the Foxtel Cup semi-final with a goal to big man Martin after just over a minute. Guadagnin then got in on the act as well shortly after for a flying start.

Kris Shannon then delivered a clever snap and the lead was out to 21-0 before the Storm eventually managed to score two behinds in the opening quarter, but the Falcons were in control by 19 points at the first change.

McPhee then opened up the goal account in the second quarter with his first of the night to open up a run of four quick goals for the Falcons before half-time.

Marc Crisp, Antonio and Ray Bartholomew all got in on the act that in the second quarter as West Perth's lead extended to 44 points by the main break with the Tasmanian visitors managing just the three behinds for the entire first half.

It then only took 40 seconds for West Perth to kick the opening goal of the third quarter through Johnson and then Martin added his third with the lead extending to 56 points.

The Storm finally kicked their first goal of the night at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter but Marusic and McPhee then added majors again before three quarter-time as West Perth's lead built to 61 points.

McPhee then added his third early in the last term with West Perth leading by 68 points and then 74 by the final siren when Manzone goaled from long range as time expired.

WEST PERTH 3.3 7.5 11.6 15.7 (97)

WESTERN STORM 0.2 0.3 1.5 3.5 (23)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Martin, McPhee 3; Johnson 2; Guadagnin, Shannon, Crisp, Antonio, Bartholomew, Marusic, Manzone.

Best: Lynch, Martin, Manzone, McPhee, Thrum, Antonio, Meadows.

WESTERN STORM – Goals: Russell, W Hanson, Barker.

Best: M Hanson, Blackberry, B Thorp, Bardenhagen, C Thorp.