ANOTHER STRONG FINISH SEES FALCONS BOOK IN HOME FINAL

WEST Perth has once again finished all over the top of its opponent this time kicking the last four goals to beat South Fremantle by 23 points at Fremantle Oval on Saturday to guarantee second spot on the WAFL ladder and a home final.

West Perth had a narrow lead for most of the afternoon at the port, but South Fremantle kicked the first two goals of the last quarter to take the lead and challenge the Falcons to again find something.

But West Perth has been able to deliver big last quarters for much of the 2015 season and that was again the case on Saturday with the Falcons booting the final four goals to beat the Bulldogs 12.13 (85) to 9.8 (62).

The result means that West Perth is guaranteed of finishing in second position on the WAFL ladder no matter the result on Saturday against Claremont at HBF Arena.

That will see West Perth host a home final on Sunday September 6 at HBF Arena either against East Perth or Peel Thunder.

Saturday's win saw the Falcons go into the game without Luke Tedesco, Chris Keunen, Laine Rasmussen, Kris Shannon and Mitch van Berlo leading to what is sure to be some tough selection decisions to be made in the coming weeks.

Matt Fowler had a day out against an undersized and undermanned South Fremantle forward-line kicking a career-best six goals from 17 possessions and eight marks in a tremendous performance. Michael Lourey also chipped in with two majors for the Falcons.

At the other end of the ground, Marcus Adams and Nick Rodda were outstanding holding South Fremantle forwards Ben Saunders and Josh Pullman to a combined 11 possessions, four marks and one goal. Adams had 13 possessions himself and Rodda 16 along with eight strong marks.

Aaron Black again had a big game on the ball for the Falcons finishing with 33 possessions, six marks, five tackles and four inside-50 entries with Trent Manzone also racking up 29 disposals and Shane Nelson 25.

Andrew Strijk's ability to set up the game with his elite kicking skills was again on show and he had 24 touches, eight marks, six inside 50s and a goal while Rohan Kerr gathered 21 possessions, Steven Browne 20, Corey Chalmers 19 and Drew Rohde 18 to go with seven marks.

Debutant Tim Sutherland worked hard in the ruck finishing with seven possessions and 20 hit outs as well in the absence of premiership-winning big man Chris Keunen.

It took just three minutes for South Fremantle captain Ryan Cook to give his team the perfect start with the first goal of the game. West Perth answered back with its first through Lourey and then the Falcons added another one entering time-on thanks to good roving and a clever snap from Steve Potente.

Almost immediately Josh Pullman marked and goaled for the Bulldogs to continue his impressive finish to the season, but the Falcons then added another soon after through Strijk to regain an eight-point lead.

That was cut to three points by quarter-time when the retiring Craig White took a mark and kicked truly after the siren in his last ever game at Fremantle Oval.

It took just a minute into the second quarter for West Perth to again lead by nine points with a goal to Fowler, and then just a few minutes later he added a second as the Falcons opened up the biggest lead of the game at that point at 17 points.

Cook kept South Fremantle in touch with his second goal but it was again Fowler doing the damage at the other end as he booted his third to put the Falcons 18 points to the good. Cory Dell'Olio did keep South Fremantle in touch before half-time, though, bringing the margin back to eight points.

James Sellar took a mark and kicked truly to give the Bulldogs a good start to the second half and then it took until the 21-minute mark for the next goal, and that came to West Perth courtesy of Kerr.

Adam McIntosh again brought South Fremantle within two points with a goal following a 50m penalty, but the Falcons were still eight points on top at three quarter-time following Fowler's fourth major.

Callum Ah Chee kicked truly early in the last term as South Fremantle again got within a goal and then the home team hit the front for the first time since early in the last quarter when Ashton Hams kicked truly.

However, West Perth has made a habit of finishing games strongly this year and again the Falcons kicked the last four goals through Ray Bartholomew, Fowler, Lourey and Fowler again to win by 23 points and sew up second position and a home final.

South Fremantle's reserves remained three games clear on top of the ladder beating a West Perth team guaranteed of playing finals as well, with the Bulldogs winning 17.8 (110) to 9.6 (60) at Fremantle Oval.

Brayden Antonio did all he could for West Perth and put himself right back in the mix for a league call up with 37 possessions, six marks, five inside-50 entries and two goals.

Callum Papertalk and Brent Fotheringhame kicked two goals each for West Perth with Dean Munns collecting 23 disposals, Kaidyn Fullgrabe 21, Marc Crisp 198 and the returning Mitch van Berlo 17.

West Perth's colts secured their place in the finals and knocked out South Fremantle with a come from behind 11.12 (78) to 11.8 (74) victory at Fremantle Oval on Saturday morning.

South Fremantle needed to win to stay in the finals hunt and started well leading by 19 points at half-time, but West Perth dominated the second half to win by four points and lock in fifth position leaving the Bulldogs two games behind in sixth spot.

Mitch Antonio kicked four goals for West Perth from just six kicks while Mitchell Peirce compiled 26 possessions, six inside 50s, five marks and a goal.

Clint Hinchcliffe also finished with 20 disposals and a goal for the Falcons with Liam Baker adding 19 touches, Ben Mountford 15 and Ethan Hills had 35 hit outs to go with 10 possessions.

WEST PERTH            3.5    6.8    8.10    12.13    (85)
SOUTH FREMANTLE        3.2    5.6    7.8    9.8    (62)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Fowler 6; Lourey 2; Strijk, Kerr, Bartholomew, Potente.
Best: Black, Fowler, Rodda, Adams, Strijk, Manzone, Nelson.
SOUTH FREMANTLE – Goals: Cook 2; Ah Chee, A Hams, Pullman, Sellar, White, Dell'Olio, McIntosh
Best: A Hams, K Hams, McIntosh, Dragovich, K Stewart, Parry, Cook.