FALCONS RESERVES WITH WORK TO DO TO MAKE GRAND FINAL

WEST Perth's reserves will now have to win through to the grand final for 2014 the hard way after going down to Subiaco by 56 points in Sunday's second semi-final at Medibank Stadium.

Subiaco and West Perth met at the Leederville venue with a reserves grand final spot at stake after both occupied the top two spots on the ladder at the end of the home and away season.

Subiaco got off to a fast start in the second semi-final with five goals to one in the opening quarter and held West Perth to two goals for the entire first half, and five for the match on the way to a 15.8 (98) to 5.12 (42) victory.

That means that Subiaco is straight into the grand final on Sunday September 21 at Patersons Stadium while West Perth will now play Claremont in this Sunday's preliminary final back at Medibank Stadium with the winner moving into the grand final.

West Perth's reserves team was strengthened by the return of Brayden Antonio, Luke Meadows, Kris Shannon, Seva Martin, Max Alexander, Drew Rohde, Mitch van Berlo and Ben King who all finished off the season in the league side.

However, the Subiaco team featured the likes of Reece Blechynden, Rob Forrest, Scot Worthington, Frank Stockley, Simon Moore, Kyle Halligan, Ryan Wade, Dylan Clarke and Matt Bogensperger still in the mix to play finals with the league side and proved too strong for the Falcons on the day.

The ruck battle between two players who switched clubs over the pre-season was a fascinating one with Stockley ending up with 18 possessions, six marks, 23 hit outs and two goals for Subiaco, and Martin with 25 hit outs but just two disposals for West Perth.

Cameron Branch, Corey Chalmers, Ben O'Regan, Rohde and Mitch McPhee all combined for West Perth's five goals in the game.

Trent Manzone worked tirelessly for the Falcons ending up with 27 possessions, six marks, three tackles and three inside-50 entries.

Jack Thrum ended up gathering 20 disposals as well while Ben McNamara finished with 19 touches, Antonio 17, Shannon 17 (five tackles), Shaun Marusic 16 and James Embley 16 (five inside 50s, four tackles).

WEST PERTH        1.1    2.5    4.11    5.12    (42)
SUBIACO        5.0    9.2    10.5    15.8    (98)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Branch, Chalmers, O'Regan, Rohde, McPhee.
Best: Manzone, Thrum, McNamara, Morrow, Rohde, Shannon, Lynch.
SUBIACO – Goals: Halligan 6; Clarke 3; Stockley 2; Moore, Bestry, Wade, Ashman.
Best: Moore, Halligan, Bogensperger, Wade, Forrest, Worthington, Stockley.