FALCONS KEEP SEASON ALIVE WITH THUMPING OF SWANS

WEST Perth kept Swan Districts goalless until more than halfway through the third quarter on Saturday to record a thumping 56-point win at HBF Arena to keep its slim finals hopes still alive.

Despite coming off disappointing losses to Swan Districts, Subiaco, East Perth and Williamstown in the Foxtel Cup grand final over the past month, the Falcons came out with a dominant showing in all aspects on Saturday to end up winning 14.9 (93) to 5.7 (37).

Not only did West Perth keep Swan Districts goalless until the 17-minute mark of the third quarter when defender Jarrad Blight kicked truly, the Falcons didn’t allow Swans to score anything themselves whatsoever the entire first half.

Swan Districts had no score at quarter-time and then only had one behind to half-time but that came courtesy of a rushed behind by West Perth.

Up the other end, West Perth kicked the only seven goals of the first half and then the first nine majors of the match before ending up winning emphatically by 56 points against the third-placed team on the ladder who is guaranteed of playing finals in 2014.

It was a completely dominant performance by West Perth with the Falcons finishing up with 438 disposals to Swan Districts' 315, 172 marks to 59 and 23 scoring shots to 12 in the finish.

The win, combined with East Fremantle's loss to South Fremantle, means that West Perth revived some life back into its 2014 season.

Simply put, if the Falcons now beat East Fremantle, Claremont and Peel, and the Sharks lose to West Perth, Swan Districts and Subiaco, then West Perth will still end up in fourth position of the ladder to play finals in 2014 and remain a chance of defending last year's premiership.

With 438 possessions to share around, West Perth had some big ball winners on the day led by Shane Nelson and Aaron Black who had 44 disposals each with Nelson taking 10 marks, and Black 14. Both kicked a goal as well.

Rohan Kerr was also outstanding finishing with 39 possessions, 16 marks and a goal while Laine Rasmussen moved into the midfield and kicked two first quarter goals, his only two of the season, and finished with 21 disposals.

Meanwhile, down back co-captain Luke Tedesco racked up 29 possessions and took 16 marks.

West Perth's other co-captain Jay van Berlo also had 24 possessions, Ray Bartholomew 18 and Brayden Antonio 18.

The Falcons' defence was also terrific with Luke Meadows, Dan Hunt and Marcus Adams all keeping Ryan Davis, Tim Geappen and Ricky Cary quiet respectively.

Up forward, Kris Shannon booted three goals and Anthony Tsalikis two.

It was a remarkable start to the game on Saturday at HBF Arena with Antonio, Tsalikis, Rasmussen and then Rasmussen again all kicking goals as the Falcons led 27-0 at quarter-time.

Shannon then got on the board to open the second quarter before Matt Guadagnin got in on the act with a terrific goal in the run from just inside 50.

When Seva Martin received a free-kick and got the advantage call to run into an open goal, West Perth then led 46-0 with the Falcons ending up leading 7.7 (49) to 0.1 (1) at the long break.

Nelson ran into an open goal to kick the first goal of the third quarter before Bartholomew then added a terrific long-running major to stretch West Perth's advantage out to 60 points before finally Swan Districts kicked a goal.

However, Kerr then kicked another major for the Falcons before three quarter-time when the lead was 59 points.

West Perth and Swan Districts both kicked four goals apiece in the final quarter as the Falcons ran out 56-point winners.

West Perth's reserves also recorded a terrific 15.11 (101) to 9.9 (63) win over Swan Districts.

Corey Chalmers kicked three goals to go with 25 possessions for the Falcons with Drew Rohde and Jesse Kirwen kicking two goals each.

Aidan Lynch racked up 30 possessions, Jack Thrum 24, Sam Money 21 and the returning Steve Potente 16.

West Perth's colts, meanwhile, narrowly went down to Swan Districts by five points to begin the day at HBF Arena.

Mitch Antonio, Tyson Moulton, Ashley Smith and Nathan Alexandre all kicked two goals each for the Falcons with Smith adding 27 possessions, Clinton Hinchcliffe 26, William Michell 25, Dean Munns 24 and Troy Manners 18.

WEST PERTH        4.3    7.7    10.9    14.9    (93)
SWAN DISTRICTS    0.0    0.1    1.4    5.7    (37)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Shannon 3; Rasmussen, Tsalikis 2; Black, Antonio, Kerr, Guadagnin, Nelson, Bartholomew, Martin.
Best: Kerr, Black, Nelson, Meadows, Tedesco, Adams, Rasmussen, van Berlo.
SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Rogers 2; Blight, Jetta, Cary.
Best: Rogers, Howard, Blight, Notte, Elari