RESERVES SECOND SEMI-FINAL PREVIEW V SUBIACO

WEST Perth can qualify for a second straight reserves grand final with a win over Subiaco in this Sunday's second semi-final at Medibank Stadium and enters the clash with plenty of firepower led by Shayne Zanetti and Matt Fowler in attack.

West Perth's reserves made last year's grand final before going down to South Fremantle unable quite to replicate the success of the league side in 2013, but the Falcons' reserves have remained strong in 2014 to enter the finals from second position on the ladder.

Now a win over Subiaco on Sunday at Leederville and West Perth will be into a second straight grand final then with the aim of going one step better in 2014 than they managed in 2013.

Subiaco was the dominant reserves team in the competition throughout 2014 losing just two games along the way to the minor premiership while finishing with a stunning percentage of almost 226.

West Perth then finished in second position to be just ahead of the third-placed Claremont, fourth-placed East Fremantle and the fifth-placed East Perth who narrowly missed out on giving the Royals a team in the finals across all three grades.

However, the Falcons' dominant percentage of 147 saw them secure second position on the ladder with a 13-7 win-loss record and to guarantee the finals double chance.

West Perth and Subiaco met twice during the home and away season in the reserves with the Falcons winning by 20 points at Medibank Stadium in Round 9 and then the Lions claiming a thriller by three points in Round 16 at HBF Arena.

So while Subiaco has dominated the rest of the reserves competition in 2014, the Lions have not got a hold of West Perth at any stage suffering one of its two losses at the hands of the Falcons and then barely beating them in their most recent meeting.

That sets up a tantalising second semi-final match-up on Sunday with a grand final berth at stake with both teams possessing plenty of league-quality talent.

West Perth's line-up will include league premiership players from 2013 in full-forward Matt Fowler and versatile big man Shaun Marusic.

Then there is key position player Max Alexander, emerging half-forward Brayden Antonio, prolific half-back Trent Manzone, ruckman Seva Martin, the versatile Luke Meadows, the lightning quick Kris Shannon, midfielder Jack Thrum and defender Mitch van Berlo.

All of those players have proven themselves to be good league footballers and each of them without question have every reason to expect to be regular senior players in 2014 so not only do they strengthen West Perth's reserves for the finals, but give the Falcons a tremendous shot at a premiership.

Then there is the great X-factor in the West Perth's reserves team in the form of big man Shayne Zanetti.

The 199cm big man burst onto the scene with West Perth in 2010 playing seven league games and then in 2011 he showed plenty to suggest he could be a dominant force in the WAFL highlighted by five goals in the season-opener against Subiaco on his way to 12 goals in the opening four games.

He did go on to play 14 matches for 20 goals in 2011 and then another 10 games in 2012, but then injury struck and he missed the rest of 2012, all of 2013 and the entire 2014 season as well up until last weekend.

From nowhere, the 23-year-old lined up for West Perth in the reserves against Perth at Lathlain Park and was outstanding with seven goals from 13 possessions and seven marks to now be a real potential finals match-winner for the Falcons.

West Perth's reserves will again be well led by 150-game player Cameron Branch as well.

While all those are strong signs pointing to a good performance by West Perth, Subiaco's team is full of talent as well and with a host of players still fighting to be part of the league side during the finals.

That includes Reece Blechynden, Matt Bogensperger, Dylan Clarke, Ray Daniels, Will Fetherstonhaugh, Rob Forrest, James Garcia, Aaron Heal, Craig Hoskins, Simon Moore, Joe Scafidi, Kyle Halligan, Alliston Pickett and Luke Norriss. 

RESERVES SECOND SEMI-FINAL
MEDIBANK STADIUM, SUNDAY 11.25am

WEST PERTH
M Alexander, B Antonio, J Batterham, C Branch, C Chalmers, J Embley, M Fowler, M Geraghty, S Healy, B King, J Kirwen, A Lynch, T Manzone, S Martin, S Marusic, B McNamara, M McPhee, L Meadows, J Mills, S Money, J Morrow, B O'Regan, D Rohde, K Shannon, J Thrum, M Van Berlo, B Walton, B Wilhelm, T Young, S Zanetti

SUBIACO
J Ashman, S Berryman, J Bestry, R Blechynden, M Bogensperger, D Boyle, S Bradley, C Bryan, D Clarke, R Daniels, D Elliott, W Fetherstonhaugh, R Forrest, J Garcia, A Heal, C Hoskins, J Hughes, D Jackson, D Madut, S Moore, M Panizza, J Scafidi, D Stephen, N Stewart, A Vawser