FALCONS FALL SHORT OF TIGERS BUT COLTS GO TOP

WEST Perth couldn’t quite back up its stunning performance five days earlier losing to Claremont by 20 points at the Showground on Saturday but there was better news with the reserves and colts winning, and colts shooting to the top of the ladder.

West Perth was on a high coming off its 26-point comeback in the last few minutes against Swan Districts at HBF Arena on Monday, but the Tigers got the first goal of the game on Saturday and never surrendered their lead to end up winning 12.11 (83) to 8.15 (63).

The Falcons also had to watch on as former West Perth big men Mark Seaby, Mitch Andrews and Kepler Bradley all had an impact in the win for Claremont up against their old side.

The win was Claremont's first victory of the season after losing the opening five matches while with the loss West Perth slips to a 3-3 record heading into this Saturday's first derby of the year against East Perth at HBF Arena for Hog's Breath Ladies Day.

West Perth also wasn’t able to get the four points to celebrate the 100th WAFL match of 2013 premiership player Steven Browne, who worked hard for 22 possessions on his milestone day.

West Perth co-captain Jay van Berlo kicked three second half goals trying to get his team back into the contest to go with 21 possessions with Ray Bartholomew kicking two majors in his first league match since Round 1 after spending time back in the reserves.

Sandover Medallist Aaron Black racked up 33 possessions for the Falcons to go with seven marks and a goal while Shane Nelson picked up 26 disposals and Rohan Kerr 25.

Aidan Lynch continued the impressive start to his league career with West Perth with another 19 disposals to go with five tackles and five inside 50s.

Claremont started the game brightly with a goal to Jack Bradshaw in the opening minute of the contest and West Perth was playing catch up the rest of the afternoon as a result.

It took 15 minutes but the Falcons did answer back through Black with the game's second goal, but again the Tigers managed to kick the next two before a Kris Shannon major brought West Perth back to within seven points by quarter-time.

Claremont took control in the second quarter kicking the opening four goals of the second term to lead by 34 points, and despite Bartholomew kicking a goal for the Falcons to finish the half, the Tigers were still on top by 32 points at the main break.

It again took 17 minutes for the Falcons to find the major opening in the third quarter with the Tigers booting the first three goals to lead by a game-high 44 points. Co-captain van Berlo added two goals and Matt Fowler another before three quarter-time, but the deficit was still 23 points.

Goals to van Berlo and Bartholomew brought West Perth within 20 points twice during the final quarter, but in the end it was an old Falcon Kepler Bradley who kicked the sealer at the 15-minute mark.

The margin was 26 points just like it was on Monday against Swan Districts, but there would be no miracle comeback this time with the Tigers winning by 20 points.

The reserves played out a thriller at the Showground on Saturday with little separating the two teams right throughout the contest. Claremont led by three points at quarter-time, West Perth by one at half-time and then the Tigers by one at three quarter-time.

Both teams kicked three goals apiece in the final quarter but it was West Perth who finished the stronger to end up winning 13.14 (92) to 14.5 (89).

Brayden Antonio returned from injury for the Falcons and kicked two goals with Joe Morrow and Tyson Moulton also kicking two majors. Blake Wilhelm racked up 27 disposals, Steve Potente 23, Kaidyn Fullgrabe 23 and Mitch Peirce 21.

Tyler Keitel was again impressive in just his second game of the season after being cleared to join West Perth and the 19-year-old key position player finished with 18 possessions.

West Perth's colts then shot to the top of the ladder thanks to a strong 12.3 (75) to 8.4 (52) win over Claremont at the Showground to start the day on Saturday.

Daniel Robertson kicked four goals for West Perth in the win with Kurt Hindmarsh adding three majors and Troy Manners gathered 26 possessions, Scott Nelson 22, Conal Lynch 22, Ben Mountford 19, Mitchell Walley 18, Jacob Turner 17, Alphonse Charlie 17 and Nick Marinovich 17. 

WEST PERTH            2.1    3.5    6.8    8.15    (63)
CLAREMONT            3.2    8.7    10.7    12.11    (83)

WEST PERTH – Goals: J van Berlo 3; Bartholomew 2; Black, Fowler, Shannon.
Best: Black, J van Berlo, Kerr, Browne, Nelson, Lynch, Rasmussen.
CLAREMONT – Goals: Richardson, Holt 2; Yu, Bradshaw, Bradley, Cameron, Lim, Andrews, Seaby, Beeck.
Best: Neates, Yeo, Richardson, Seaby, Andrews, Bradley, Ledger.