FALCONS WIN WAY INTO SECOND STRAIGHT RESERVES GRAND FINAL

West Perth's reserves were disappointed with their loss in the second semi-final to Subiaco and made an emphatic statement on Sunday with a 68-point thumping of Claremont at Medibank Stadium.

West Perth's 18.8 (116) to 7.6 (48) victory over Claremont in the preliminary final means that the Falcons will now take on Subiaco in the grand final with the aim of making up for last year's loss at Patersons Stadium to South Fremantle.

It was a big statement from West Perth as well given Claremont advanced to the preliminary final on the back of a thumping first semi-final victory over East Fremantle.

However, the Falcons dominated the contest from the outset with four goals to one in the first quarter to lead by 17 points at quarter-time.

It was a tighter contest in the second quarter with just three West Perth goals to two from Claremont with the Falcons leading by 23 points at the main break.

It was all West Perth after half-time, though, with the Falcons desperate to make a statement and not only qualify for a second grand final in as many years, but to do so in style and to send a message to Subiaco that the premiership is not automatically theirs despite a dominant 2014 season.

West Perth piled on seven goals to one in the third quarter to open up a match-winning 59-point lead at three quarter-time, and then with another four goals to three in the final term ended up winning by 68 points.

The Falcons made some changes from their second semi-final team with big man Seva Martin and Shayne Zanetti both out, but in their absence Brayden Antonio and Matt Fowler stepped up in the forward-line, and Shaun Marusic held down the ruck.

Marusic, a league premiership player from 2013, finished with 14 possessions, 13 hit outs and five clearances while Antonio booted five goals and Fowler four including one where he took a mark in the goal square and casually kicked it back over his head.

Trent Manzone was again outstanding for West Perth with 30 possessions, 10 clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal.

Kris Shannon also picked up 23 possessions while kicking two goals for the Falcons with Drew Rohde also booting two majors to go with 21 disposals.

Ben McNamara finished with 22 possessions as well, Jack Thrum 17 (seven tackles, five clearances) and James Embley 16.

Keifer Yu did all he could for Claremont with 35 possessions, 11 clearances, nine inside 50s and a goal.

Matt Goyder also picked up 26 possessions and Henry Roberts 17 while Jackson Starcevich kicked three goals from 11 touches and seven marks as Claremont's reserves couldn’t quite join its colts team in the grand final.

RESERVES PRELIMINARY FINAL
WEST PERTH            4.2    7.3    14.5    18.8    (116)
CLAREMONT            1.3    3.4    4.6    7.6    (48)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Antonio 5; Fowler 4; Shannon, Rohde 2; Manzone, Morrow, McPhee, Geraghty, Lynch.
Best: Manzone, Antonio, Rohde, Marusic, Thrum, Shannon, McNamara.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Starcevich 3; Yu, McAdam, Daniher, Lamont.
Best: Yu, Goyder, Starcevich, Cameron, Roberts, Richardson.