EMERGING FALCONS HELP GET THE POINTS OVER THUNDER

THE game might have never reached any great heights but West Perth did enough to beat Peel Thunder by nine points in Mandurah on Saturday on the back of strong performances from emerging players grabbing their opportunities.

West Perth's hopes of making finals for 2014 were over heading into the clash at Bendigo Bank Stadium with a Peel team in second last spot on the ladder meaning that neither side had much to play for in the third last round of the season and with no finals prospects.

The result was a contest between two teams that played as though they didn’t deserve to be playing finals as well, but in the end West Perth went on a four-goal run in the third quarter to set up the eventual 9.14 (68) to 8.11 (59) victory.

The victory is West Perth's eighth win of the season heading into the final two matches of the campaign against Claremont at the Showground and Perth at Lathlain Park.

Luke Meadows and Max Alexander are two players who have bided their time in the reserves waiting for an opportunity in the West Perth league side, and both showed some terrific signs on Saturday.

Alexander showed some encouraging signs as well as a key forward with two goals from 13 disposals, five marks and six entries inside the forward 50.

While Meadows and Alexander were impressive, some of the usual suspects were outstanding for West Perth as well with Rohan Kerr racking up 33 possessions, Aaron Black 32, Shane Nelson 26 (seven clearances), Matt Guadagnin 24 (seven clearances), Steven Browne 23, Brayden Antonio 20, Ray Bartholomew 19, Dan Hunt 19, Jay van Berlo 19 and Anthony Tsalikis 18 (eight marks).

Laine Rasmussen again spent the majority of the game on the wing and on the ball and put in another strong showing not only with 17 possessions, 10 tackles, nine marks and a goal, but also keeping Clancee Pearce to just the nine possessions.

Peel managed to kick the next two goals in the first quarter before Bartholomew got a lucky bounce from a shot from outside 50 to help level the scores at quarter-time.

Meadows made the most of his move up forward by then kicking the opening goal of the second quarter. Rasmussen then also added a major to help the Falcons work their way on top, but the Thunder again hit back to level scores up at half-time.

Following Peel kicking the first goal of the second half, Guadagnin got on the back of a clever kick from Alexander to kick it out of mid-air to get the goal and tie scores up again.

West Perth then opened up a seven-point advantage when Meadows added his second goal with a terrific kick. The Falcons were then 13 points to the good when Alexander kicked a strong long goal and then the lead was out to 18 points once Meadows added a third major.

That proved to be enough for West Perth, though, with the Falcons holding on for a nine-point victory.

West Perth's reserves scored a thumping 16.9 (105) to 4.6 (30) win over Peel Thunder in Mandurah with Matt Fowler making a successful return for the Falcons with six goals from seven kicks and six marks.

Shaun Marusic also booted three goals for West Perth as did Mitch McPhee with Jesse Kirwen kicking two.

Trent Manzone gathered 27 possessions, Jack Thrum 23, James Embley 23, Blake Wilhelm 22, Stephen Healy 20, David Sorgiovanni 19 and Aidan Lynch 18.

The Falcons colts got the day off to the perfect start at Bendigo Bank Stadium with a 25-point victory with Tyson Moulton booting five goals.

Dean Munns racked up another 27 possessions, Clinton Hinchcliffe 22, William Michell 22 and Mitchell Peirce 19.

WEST PERTH            2.1    4.5    8.8    9.14    (68)
PEEL THUNDER            2.1    4.5    6.10    8.11    (59)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Meadows 3; Alexander 2; Bartholomew, Rasmussen, Guadagnin, Browne.
Best: Kerr, Black, Guadagnin, Rasmussen, Browne, Nelson, Alexander.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Apeness 2; Morabito, Brown, Dann, Hannath, Bradley, Wood.
Best: Morabito, Apeness, Ballard, Jones, Vandeleur, Menegola.