FALCONS SMASH BULLDOGS TO KEEP SEASON ALIVE

WEST Perth has now qualified for the Foxtel Cup grand final and won the Garlic Munchers Cup this week, but more importantly the Falcons beat South Fremantle by 62 points at Fremantle Oval on Sunday to keep their WAFL finals hopes alive.

West Perth dominated South Fremantle after quarter-time booting 13 goals to four to eventually win 19.19 (133) to 10.11 (71) to see the Falcons improve to a 6-6 record on the season to now be two games behind the fourth-placed East Fremantle but with a superior percentage.

It capped off a successful week for the Falcons winning both their matches by a combined 136 points while qualifying for the Foxtel Cup grand final and winning the Garlic Munchers Cup for the first time along the way.

Despite the game starting with a free-flowing and high-scoring opening quarter with scores level at 6.5 apiece at quarter-time, West Perth coach Bill Monaghan was understandably furious with his team's lack of defensive pressure and his team responded over the final three quarters.

It was a dominant showing from West Perth in the finish ending up with 39 more entries inside-50 than South Fremantle, 17 extra scoring shots and a 62-point advantage on the scoreboard by the finish.

Nick Rodda was the star for West Perth up forward kicking a career-best five goals from 10 kicks and eight marks. Matt Johnson was also outstanding across half-forward for the Falcons with three goals from 24 possessions and nine marks.

Marc Crisp had a good game for the Falcons with two goals from 19 disposals, six inside 50s and five marks.

West Perth's midfield worked its way on top led by Shane Nelson with 36 possessions and six inside-50 entries. Rohan Kerr racked up 26 possessions with eight marks, six inside 50s and a goal, and Aaron Black 25 disposals, nine marks, eight inside-50 entries and a goal.

Chris Keunen was the best ruckman on the ground finishing with 13 possessions and 29 hit outs.

The Falcons back-line might have had to only deal with 31 inside-50 entries from South Fremantle, but stood up well with Dan Hunt keeping Josh Pullman to the one kick while Jordan Jones and Andrew Strijk both provided rebound with 22 possessions apiece.

Both teams were down a man before half-time as well with West Perth losing Steve Potente to a lateral ligament injury to his knee that could sideline him for up to a month while South Fremantle youngster Mitch Banks suffered a nasty knee injury that saw him taken away to hospital.

South Fremantle got the first goal of the game, but then two quick West Perth goals to Rodda put the Falcons on top. The lead was then out to 14 points when Kody Manning kicked truly, but soon after West Perth found itself a couple of goals behind.

Potente roved the pack expertly and snapped truly, though, and then Crisp added two of his own before quarter-time to have the Falcons and Bulldogs level at the first break. 

West Perth again conceded the first goal of the second quarter but then responded with a terrific running goal from Strijk before Seva Martin then goaled with his first kick of the day to put the Falcons in front where they would stay.

Rodda then took a strong mark and goaled to extend West Perth's lead to 12 points and it was 19 by half-time after a goal to Anthony Tsalikis.

The Falcons opened the second half on fire with three quick goals to Kerr, van Berlo and Johnson and all of a sudden the lead over the Bulldogs was out to a match-winning 37 points.

By the time Rodda booted his fourth goal on the three quarter-time siren, West Perth was up by 45 points, then 51 when Rodda started the fourth term with his fifth and then 58 when Black slotted one after intercepting a poor South Fremantle kick-in.

Johnson added two more to give him three for the day before the final siren sounded with West Perth 62 points to the good.

West Perth's reserves also beat South Fremantle 15.13 (103) to 10.9 (69) with Corey Chalmers booting four goals, Mitch McPhee two, Max Alexander two and Brayden Antonio two to go with 32 possessions.

Trent Manzone also racked up 32 possessions, Jack Thrum 25, Ben McNamara 23, Kris Shannon 23, Aidan Lynch 22, Luke Meadows 20 and David Sorgiovanni 20 to go with 10 tackles and a goal.

The Falcons' colts also started the day at Fremantle Oval winners beating the Bulldogs 8.8 (56) to 8.6 (54).

Mitch Antonio and Nathan Alexandre kicked two goals each for West Perth with William Michell racking up 30 possessions, Dean Munns 21, Kaidyn Fullgrabe 21, Ashley Smith 20 and James Sheehan-Nel 20.

WEST PERTH 6.5 10.8 15.12 19.19 (133)

SOUTH FREMANTLE 6.5 7.7 8.9 10.11 (71)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Rodda 5; Johnson 3; Crisp 2; Black, Strijk, Kerr, Guadagnin, Tsalikis, van Berlo, Potente, Martin, Manning.

Best: Nelson, Johnson, Rodda, van Berlo, Guadagnin, Black, Kerr, Jones, Hunt.

SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: White 3; Higgins 2; Schloithe, Kelly, B Verrier, Carter, Cook.

Best: B Verrier, Hams, White, Borovac, Guglielmana, Cook, Higgins.