DOMINANT LAST QUARTER SEES FALCONS BEAT SWANS

WEST Perth took the best shot from Swan Districts and delivered a dominant final quarter to win by 21 points at HBF Arena on Saturday to remain in second position on the WAFL ladder.

After a tight contest all afternoon, West Perth kicked the only four goals of the final quarter to beat Swan Districts 14.12 (96) to 11.9 (75).

The result means that West Perth now remains unbeaten at HBF Arena this season in nine matches while also remaining solid in second position on the WAFL ladder to be in pole position to earn the finals double chance, and a home final in the first week against which team finishes third.

The two teams had already played out two thrillers this season with the Falcons winning at HBF Arena back on the Anzac Day holiday Monday coming back from trailing by 26 points at the 22-minute mark of the last quarter.

West Perth then led for most of the day more recently at Steel Blue Oval, but Swan Districts ended up winning after kicking the last goal of the game.

That set up a terrific contest on Saturday and it didn’t disappoint with the clash taking on a finals-like intensity and delivering a fascinating first three quarters that featured 10 lead changes before West Perth proved too strong in the last term with the only four goals.

West Perth welcomed back premiership star Rohan Kerr from a back injury while co-captain Luke Tedesco returned in the reserves with Nick Rodda, Kris Shannon and Laine Rasmussen all potentially back in time to take on South Fremantle this Saturday at Fremantle Oval.

Sandover Medallist Aaron Black delivered a best on ground performance for West Perth with 32 possessions, 14 marks and two goals.

Michael Lourey, Shane Nelson, Steven Potente and Kody Manning all kicked two goals apiece for West Perth while Corey Chalmers continued his best run of form in his short league career with another three majors.

Trent Manzone continued his career-best form as well for the Falcons in the midfield with 30 possessions and 10 tackles while co-captain Jay van Berlo finished with 22 disposals, nine marks, five tackles and three inside-50 entries.

Aidan Lynch worked hard again for 21 touches, six marks, four tackles and three inside 50s while Kerr made a strong return with 21 possessions and six marks, but more importantly his precise kicking along with Andrew Strijk's proved a big difference. Strijk finished with 20 disposals, eight marks and seven inside-50 entries.

West Perth's back-line held up well also with Joe Morrow holding Tim Geappen to just eight possessions and one goal, while Marcus Adams (19 possessions), Drew Rohde (18 disposals, seven marks) and Luke Meadows (18 touches) were terrific in defence.

Ruckman Chris Keunen also had the better of his one-on-one battle with Nathan Blakely finishing with 16 possessions, seven marks, 38 hit outs, five inside-50 entries and a goal.

West Perth got off to a strong start with the first goal after four minutes courtesy of Manning and then another seven minutes later on the run from Nelson when he caused a turnover when Swans were trying to come out of their back 50.

Swans got their first goal on the board through Matthew Jukes after 21 minutes, but Manning responded soon after with his second before the black-and-whites added their second courtesy of Dylan Nelson.

West Perth was able to take a 12-point lead into quarter-time, though, thanks to a goal after the siren to Chalmers.

It took only two minutes of the second quarter for Swans to level the scores after two quick goals and then after a steadier for West Perth to Potente, the black-and-whites continued on with the momentum booting the next three goals to take an 11-point advantage heading into time-on.

The Falcons were able to regain the advantage after goals to Lourey and Chalmers, but then Swans led by four points at half-time when Tony Notte was paid a mark despite it being taken after the siren, and he went back and goaled from just outside 50.

It took less than 10 minutes of the third term for West Perth to regain the lead following Chalmers booting his third goal and then Black nailing his first to see the Falcons go up by two points.

Swan Districts regained the advantage when Dylan Nelson booted his third goal of the day before West Perth answered through ruckman Keunen when his hard running was rewarded by being found on the lead in the forward-line, and he went back to kick truly.

The black-and-whites were still three points on top at the last change, though, after Jukes kicked his third goal shortly before the three quarter-time siren.

The game was right in the balance at the last change, but it was all West Perth in the final quarter with Swan Districts unable to keep up the intensity that both teams had been playing with for the first three terms.

West Perth had no trouble finish the game out strongly, though, and goals to Lourey, Potente, Black and Nelson saw the Falcons end up winning by 21 points to further consolidate second position and to leave Swans with work to do in order to make the finals in 2015.

West Perth's reserves remained in fourth position on the ladder with two rounds of the season remaining with a 19.5 (119) to 16.5 (101) victory over Swan Districts at HBF Arena.

Brayden Antonio was outstanding for West Perth with 34 possessions, eight inside-50 entries, six marks, six tackles and three goals as he tries to break back into the league side.

Hayden Yarran also kicked five goals for the Falcons, Callum Papertalk three, Mark Hamilton three and Bradley Ryan two while Dean Munns had 28 disposals to go with 14 tackles.

Broderick Walton also finished with 23 touches for West Perth, James Batterham 19 and Marc Crisp 18 while Luke Tedesco made a solid return from a calf injury with 12 possessions and seven marks.

West Perth's colts returned to fifth position on the ladder with two rounds of the season remaining beating reigning premiers Swan Districts 11.6 (72) to 8.10 (58) at HBF Arena on Saturday morning.

Clint Hinchcliffe delivered another outstanding performance for West Perth in the colts with 24 possessions, six tackles and two goals while Mitch Antonio and Ethan Mullane added two goals apiece.

Troy Manners gathered 25 possessions for the Falcons, and Ethan Hills did well in the ruck ending up with 14 disposals, 27 hit outs and a goal.

WEST PERTH            4.3    7.6    10.9    14.12    (96)

SWAN DISTRICTS        2.3    8.4    11.6    11.9    (75)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Chalmers 3; Black, Nelson, Potente, Lourey, Manning 2; Keunen.
Best: Black, Rohde, Morrow, Keunen, Manzone, Kerr, Strijk.
SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Jukes, Nelson 3; Rogers, Notte, Davis, Geappen, Nuich.
Best: Riggio, Davis, Notte, Elari, Coniglio, Nelson, Jukes.