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FALCONS DOMINATE DEMONS IN MOORA

Monday, August 12, 2013 - 2:30 AM

WEST Perth all but secured a double chance come finals time with an emphatic performance after quarter-time in Moora on Saturday to beat Perth by 60 points.

The Falcons completely controlled the contest in Moora after quarter-time kicking 15 goals to three in the last three quarters of the game, and the only six majors of the second half to secure the eventual 18.7 (115) to 7.13 (55) victory.

The win improves West Perth to a 13-5 record on the season to now be three games clear of the third and fourth-placed Swan Districts and East Perth with a superior percentage to all chasing teams.

The Falcons now have two games of the season remaining starting next Sunday at home to the sixth-placed East Fremantle before a bye and then the final match of the home and away campaign against Swan Districts at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval.

Matt Fowler continued to show that he could be West Perth's answer out of the goal square with Nick Rodda now required to play down back with the injury to Michael Pettigrew.

Fowler booted another five goals on Saturday against Perth in Moora from just the eight kicks and five marks.

Small forward Marc Crisp copped a knock to his head during the day, but still managed to continue his outstanding season with another three goals while veteran Anthony Tsalikis added another two to stretch his lead on top of the team's leading goalkicking race.

Veteran midfielder Matt Guadagnin was judged best afield, though, after finishing the afternoon with 24 possessions and two goals.

Falcons wingman Aaron Black also racked up 33 possessions and young midfielder Shane Nelson another 28 to go with six tackles.

Queensland recruit Trent Manzone gathered 25 possessions, Steven Browne 22, Ray Bartholomew 22, Steve Potente 20, Rohan Kerr 20 to go with six inside 50s, Shaun Marusic 18 and Andrew Strijk 18.

Ruckman Chris Keunen dominated for West Perth as well finishing with a career-high 66 hit outs to go with 11 possessions and a goal.

West Perth started the game in Moora well with the first two goals of the afternoon but Perth was playing to return to the top-four and came back hard to lead by seven points at quarter-time.

However, the Falcons took control of the contest from that point on and turned on some inspired, and exciting, football in the second quarter piling on nine goals in a blistering second quarter to suddenly lead by 30 points at half-time.

West Perth then rammed home its advantage in the second half booting the only two goals of the third quarter with the Demons managing just the five behinds while Perth again kicked five points in the final term with the Falcons banging home four majors to eventually win by a commanding 60 points.

While the league side made the trek to Moora on Saturday, the two other sides did battle with Perth at Lathlain's Brownes Stadium.

The West Perth colts started the day with a 25-point loss to Perth with Ryan Simcock booting three goals for the Falcons with Kyle Egan collecting 20 possessions, Ashley Smith 19, Kirk Bartel 18, Nick Bowe 18 and Troy Manners 18.

Tim Sutherland did well in the ruck finishing with 16 possessions, seven marks and 34 hit outs.

And then the Falcons reserves side pulled off a convincing 52-point victory over the Demons with a dominant performance from the outset.

Drew Rohde kicked four goals from just six kicks for West Perth with Max Alexander banging home another three majors and Corey Chalmers two.

Ben O'Regan collected a team-high 20 possessions to go with six inside-50 entries and a goal for West Perth with Joel Latham finishing with 19 disposals, Frank Stockley 18 (and 56 hit outs), Tom Shadbolt 18 and Brayden Antonio 17.

WEST PERTH                                      3.1          12.3        14.4        18.7        (115)

PERTH                                                   4.2          7.3          7.8          7.13        (55)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Fowler 5; Crisp 3; Guadagnin, Tsalikis 2; Kerr, Browne, Keunen, Marusic, Mellington, Manning.

Best: Guadagnin, Black, Manzone, Keunen, Nelson, Fowler, Kerr.

PERTH – Goals: Bevan, Reimers 2; McInnes, Moody, Tunbridge.

Best: Smith, Hodge, White, Manuel, Leeson, Florio.

BY CHRIS PIKE

PHOTOS BY DAN WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY