WA DAY DERBY PREVIEW V EAST PERTH

WEST Perth looks to continue its momentum it had prior to the State game last week with the Falcons aiming for a third straight win and to further consolidate second spot on the ladder in Monday's WA Day Derby against East Perth at Medibank Stadium.

Neither East Perth nor West Perth have forgotten what happened just three weeks ago when they last met and now that sets up a WA Day derby clash on Monday at Medibank Stadium with plenty of the usual spice that is there between the two fierce rivals.

Back in that game, East Perth blew a 42-point lead late in the third quarter to end up losing by 38 points and that was a game that the Royals were hurt by, and will be desperate to bounce back from but the Falcons took plenty confidence out of kicking the last 12 goals of that game.

West Perth built on that victory to go on and beat East Fremantle by 22 points in difficult conditions leading into the State game and that improved the Falcons to a 5-3 record to sit in second position on the ladder.

Coming off that defeat, East Perth then only managed two goals against Claremont recording the club's lowest ever score against the Tigers and the Royals have now lost three straight matches to need to bounce back on Monday to improve on their 3-5 record to remain in touch for the top five.

It was just three weeks, and two rounds, ago when East Perth and West Perth last did battle at HBF Arena and that was a remarkable contest.

The Royals were undermanned, but had put in a terrific performance to be in control and leading by 42 points heading into time-on of the third quarter. But then the game took a stunning turn with the Falcons kicking the last 12 goals to turn that 42-point deficit into a 38-point victory.

West Perth had just the two players in the WA team in last week's State game win over South Australia but Aaron Black and Andrew Strijk were two of the best players on the field. Strijk finished with 27 possessions and eight marks off half-back, and Black had 28 disposals, eight marks and two goals on the wing.

The Falcons also had some players who deserved to consider themselves unlucky to not play most notably star on-baller, premiership player and two-time fairest and best winner Shane Nelson, but also premiership ruckman Chris Keunen and small defender Laine Rasmussen.

East Perth ended up with just the one representative in the State game, but he was named captain and ruckman Paul Johnson was the best big man on the ground as skipper and had 14 touches and 19 hit outs.

Co-captain Brendan Lee pulled out with a hamstring niggle but should be right to play for East Perth on Monday in the WA Day derby while reigning fairest and best winner Steven Payne could consider himself unlucky to not have been selected.

West Perth will welcome back powerhouse key defender Marcus Adams to play his first game since Round 3 after he suffered a hand injury. He will further strengthen the Falcons' defence and to make way for his return Mitch van Berlo hasn’t been able to hold onto his place in the team.

Former East Perth colts player Tyler Keitel could make his league debut against the team he left leaving the Falcons and Royals embroiled in an extended wrangle over his clearance, that eventually came.

He has now played four matches in the reserves with West Perth and split his team between playing both as a key forward and defender. He has averaged almost 18 possessions a game, taken some strong marks and also kicked three goals last time up against East Perth.

Speedster Kris Shannon is on track to come straight back into the West Perth team after missing the win last up over East Fremantle while Corey Chalmers and Blake Wilhelm continue to play well in the reserves to press their claims for a spot in the league team with the Falcons.

East Perth was certainly down on manpower in its last up showing against Claremont where the Royals managed just the two goals and ended with a third straight defeat.

The news isn’t completely positive at selection for the Royals coming into the WA Day derby, though, with Brant Colledge being rewarded for his strong midfield form this season by earning a call up to play with West Coast against Geelong at Domain Stadium on Sunday.

Tom Barrass has also been named as an emergency for the Eagles after some strong form in his first five league matches as a key defender, but he is still expected to play for East Perth against West Perth.

Damian Lee is also out of the Royals team after breaking his hand in the last up loss to Claremont a fortnight ago.

However, there are certainly some positive inclusions headlined by wingman Freddie Clutterbuck who comes back into the East Perth team after missing the Claremont game with a quadriceps strain to play his 100th WAFL game on the big occasion of the WA Day derby.

West Coast's Xavier Ellis will also play his first WAFL league game after playing in the reserves two weeks ago against Claremont and picking up 17 possessions in limited game time.

Two more West Coast players Scott Lycett and Patrick McGinnity should also be back with the Royals on Monday after not playing against Claremont, but lining up against West Perth three weeks ago.

Quality small defender Mitch Fraser also is set to come straight back into the East Perth team after being out injured since Round 5.

Clayton Giblett, Scott Jones, Agid Gardoud and Zac Dent are the other East Perth players in the mix at the selection table.

RESERVES SQUAD
B Antonio, M Ashfield, R Bartholomew, J Batterham, M Douglas, B Fotheringham, C Franklin, K Fullgrabe, J Gray, A Innes, J Kirwen, T Manzone, B McGillivray, J Morrow, T Moulton, D Munns, C Papertalk, M Peirce, Z Saunders, T Sutherland, B Walton, H Yarran

COLTS SQUAD
A Allen, M Antonio, A Charlie, K Coleman, R Dolman, Z Guadagnin, E Hills, K Hindmarsh, J Horgan, E Larmett, C Lynch, T Manners, N Marinovich, J Moore, B Mountford, S Nelson, T O'Brien, G Popzeleff, D Robertson, J Romanelli, T Smith, D Stasev, J Turner, M Walley, D Yem, B Zanon