FALCONS SCORE INSPIRED WIN OVER DOCKERS-BOOSTED PEEL

WEST Perth had a lot working against it heading into Saturday's home opener against Peel Thunder at HBF Arena but in the end the Falcons held on for an inspired seven-point victory against a side featuring 16 players on the Fremantle Dockers list.

West Perth was coming into the contest following a 35-point season-opening loss to South Fremantle last Friday night at Fremantle Oval and from that contest lost premiership utility Jordan Jones to a torn hamstring.

However, coach Bill Monaghan made some changes to the team making some big calls dropping premiership players Marc Crisp and Ray Bartholomew to give an opportunity to Matt Johnson and Kris Shannon with Matt Fowler the other change coming in for the injured Jones.

West Perth started strongly to lead by eight points at quarter-time and then by 13 early in the second, but by half-time the Thunder had opened up a nine-point advantage.

However, West Perth came out and kicked the first six goals of the third quarter and ultimately that proved enough to set up the Falcons' first win of 2015 heading into next Saturday's clash at HBF Arena against the winless Perth who will come into the contest on a 16-game losing streak.

Michael Lourey kicked four goals for West Perth in his second game for the club and first home game at HBF Arena. Kody Manning also helped set up the win with three first quarter goals while Luke Meadows chipped in with two majors.

Andrew Strijk delivered a best on ground performance across half-back dominating the game and finishing with 38 possessions, 11 marks and six inside-50 entries.

Shane Nelson also racked up another 32 disposals for the Falcons while laying six tackles with Aaron Black compiling 30 touches, Rohan Kerr 22, Steven Browne 18 and Jay van Berlo 16.

Chris Keunen worked hard in the ruck for 12 touches and 27 hit outs up against Jonathon Griffin and Michael Apeness from Fremantle for Peel. 

The win was all the more meritorious considering that not only did Peel's side feature 16 Fremantle-listed players, but they were of the quality of Danyle Pearce, Michael Barlow and Paul Duffield.

On top of that, Peel has some top flight WAFL talent in Brendon Jones, Gerald Ugle, Josh Bootsma and Eddie Dann as well.

Peel kicked the first goal of the game before Manning answered for the Falcons with the first of his three for the afternoon.

Lourey then joined in the act to kick his first major at HBF Arena since joining the Falcons over the summer. Then when Manning added his second of the first quarter the Falcons were up by 11 points and then 17 points when Meadows kicked a fourth straight for West Perth.

Manning's third of the opening quarter stopped a run of Peel goals just before quarter-time with West Perth ending the term leading by eight points.

The Falcons did kick the first goal of the second quarter as well courtesy of Lourey and the lead was out to 13 points, but the Thunder then managed the last four goals of the half to lead by nine points at the main break.

West Perth came out firing to start the second half with Lourey adding his second major and then Matt Fowler his first of 2015 in the league to see the Falcons hit the lead again by a solitary point.

The Falcons then wouldn’t trail again for the rest of the contest with Lourey's fourth goal, Meadows' second, Drew Rohde's first and Max Alexander's first seeing the home side kick the first six majors of the third term to lead by 27 points.

West Perth's lead was still 20 points by three quarter-time and then after Peel got the opening goal of the last, the Falcons steadied courtesy of a goal to Matt Guadagnin and then held on bravely to win by seven points.

West Perth's reserves also scored a thumping 18.10 (118) to 9.6 (60) victory over Peel at HBF Arena on Saturday.

Brayden Antonio kicked four goals for the Falcons with Marc Crisp adding three, Chris Yarran three, Trent Manzone two, Hayden Yarran two and Jesse Kirwen two.

Manzone also racked up 24 possessions and took 12 marks for West Perth with Corey Chalmers gathering 23 disposals, Antonio 22, Bartholomew 21, Aidan Lynch 20, Brent Fotheringham 17, Broderick Walton 17 and Blake Wilhelm 17.

West Perth's colts got the day off to the ideal start for the Falcons at HBF Arena on Saturday with a 15.6 (96) to 9.3 (57) win over Peel.

Mitch Antonio booted four goals for the Falcons with Ewan Larmett adding three and Mitchell Peirce two.

Liam Baker racked up 30 possessions for the Falcons as well with Peirce having it 23 times, Troy Manners 21, Conal Lynch 19, Scott Nelson 19, Zac Guadagnin 18 and Alphonse Charlie 16.

WEST PERTH            5.0    6.2    12.5    13.6    (84)
PEEL THUNDER            3.4    7.7    8.9    11.11    (77)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Lourey 4; Manning 3; Meadows 2; Alexander, Fowler, Rohde, Guadagnin.
Best: Strijk, Black, Nelson, Lourey, Manning, Kerr, Browne.
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Duffy, Fahey, Pearce 2; Ugle, Jones, Lawler, Langdon, Hughes.
Best: Blakely, Weller, Barlow, Apeness, Ballard, Jones, Ugle, Pearce.