WAFL Semi-Final ResultsMonday, September 9, 2013 - 12:45 AM - by Chris Pike

WEST Perth has broken its finals drought beating Claremont on Sunday to advance to the 2013 WAFL grand final with the Tigers to now face East Perth in next week's preliminary final for the right to face the Falcons.

The Falcons went into Sunday's second semi-final the warm underdogs against a Claremont team playing at home and coming off winning its last three second semis at Claremont Oval, finishing as minor premiers the last four years and winning the last two WAFL flags.

Claremont was then also in front at every change but West Perth had been on top in all areas aside from kicking on goal, and while that didn’t improve in the last quarter, the Falcons' persistence paid off as they secured the 11.21 (87) to 12.11 (83) victory.

That now sees West Perth win straight through to the 2013 grand final with the Falcons winning their first final of any sort since the 2003 grand final when they beat Subiaco to win the premiership. West Perth had lost all six finals played in the last nine years since that triumph.

West Perth will now sit back with the week off watching next Sunday's preliminary final at Claremont Oval between Claremont and East Perth.

Mark Hutchings was outstanding for the Falcons with 32 possessions and two goals in what proved to be an intriguing battle with Claremont's 175-game dual premiership veteran Trinity Handley.

Matt Guadagnin might not have kicked straight for West Perth but was still terrific with 28 disposals while Jay van Berlo gathered 23 touches, Shane Nelson 21, Aaron Black 19 and Rohan Kerr 18.

Marc Crisp was the most effective forward on the ground finishing with four goals from 21 possessions while Josh Mellington also kicked two goals for the Falcons.

Dan Hunt had a 150th game to remember for West Perth not only playing in his first winning final but also doing a strong stopping job on Claremont full forward Chad Jones.

Matthew Davies and Ian Richardson kicked two goals each for Claremont with Luke Blackwell picking up 27 possessions, Jack Bradshaw 26, Jake Murphy 21 and Ryan Neates 20.

Claremont defenders Tom Taylor, James Thomson and Blake Anderson were amongst their team's best players.

The Royals won the right to play in the preliminary final by beating Swan Districts at Bassendean's Steel Blue Oval 18.14 (122) to 15.4 (94) in front of a strong crowd of around 7000.

East Perth has not played in a grand final since 2002 when the Royals won the third of their premiership hat-trick but now will like their chances up against a Tigers side who has just lost their first ever final at Claremont Oval.

While Bernie Naylor Medallist Josh Smith was held to just one goal up forward for East Perth by Swan Districts captain Tallan Ames, the Royals had other strong avenues to goal with West Coast pair Jamie Cripps and Scott Lycett combining for nine majors between them.

Cripps finished with 22 possessions and five goals and Lycett four goals from 10 touches and 28 hit outs. Michael Swan was the Royals' other multiple goalkicker finishing with two for the day.

While Ames did an outstanding job shutting down Smith, East Perth defender Kyle Anderson did an equally good job keeping Swans forward Tim Geappen scoreless and to just three kicks and two marks.

Adam Selwood was also outstanding for East Perth with 32 possessions, eight marks and seven inside-50 entries while fellow Eagle Cale Morton picked up 26 disposals.

Co-captain Brendan Lee worked tirelessly for 29 possessions with Steven Payne picking up 23, Freddie Clutterbuck 21, Aaron Sweet 20 and ruckman Paul Johnson 20 to go with 28 hit outs.

Retired West Coast star Andrew Embley kicked five goals for Swan Districts with Dayle Garlett adding three and Kirk Ugle two.

Tom Roach gathered 27 possessions, Adam Faulkner 24, Wayde Twomey 22, Matt Riggio 21 and Ryan Davis 20 to go with nine tackles, four inside 50s and a goal.

Meanwhile, the two reserves semi-finals started the day at both venues with West Perth advancing to the preliminary final by eliminating East Perth while South Fremantle won straight through to the grand final with a thrilling five-point win over Perth.

South Fremantle's colts are also through to the grand final after a come from behind 23-point win over Claremont in the second semi-final at Claremont Oval while the Tigers will take on Subiaco in next Sunday's preliminary final after the Lions beat Perth by 52 points in the first semi-final.

Remarkably the results meant that in all six semi-finals across the three grades on Sunday, all six lower-ranked sides won their matches.

FIRST SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
LEAGUE
Swan Districts 15.4 (94) lost to East Perth 18.14 (122)

RESERVES
East Perth 10.3 (63) lost to West Perth 11.6 (72)

COLTS
Perth 5.12 (42) lost to Subiaco 14.10 (94)

SECOND SEMI-FINAL RESULTS
LEAGUE
Claremont 12.11 (83) lost to West Perth 11.21 (87)

RESERVES
Perth 11.12 (78) lost to South Fremantle 12.11 (83)

COLTS
Claremont 10.8 (68) lost to South Fremantle 13.13 (91)