Falcons run over the top of Royals to win 2013 premiershipSunday, September 22, 2013 - 5:46 PM - by Chris Pike

WEST Perth had too much left in the tank for East Perth in the 2013 WAFL grand final with the Falcons overpowering the Royals in the final quarter after a tight tussle all day to end up winning by 49 points.

Precious little separated both sides throughout the first three quarters of a ferocious contest made all the more tough and physical because of the wet conditions.

With nine lead changes over the opening three quarters, it appeared that a grandstand finish in the final quarter was in the making, but the last term was all West Perth.

With the advantage of the breeze and clearly being more ferocious, fresher and having plenty more run in their league the Falcons booted seven goals to one in a blistering final quarter to run out 20.11 (131) to 12.10 (82) victors.

The win is West Perth's first premiership since beating Subiaco in 2003, the fourth since moving to Arena Joondalup in 1994 after triumphs previously in 1995, 1999 and 2003 and 19th flag overall in the competition.

West Perth had not won a final since the 2003 grand final before this year and now, after a second semi-final win over the reigning premiers Claremont and now grand final win over their arch-enemy in front of a crowd 20,008, the Falcons are back on top of the WAFL competition.

Captain Jason Salecic was the only West Perth player to have played in a grand final before and now the 213-game veteran is a dual premiership player, and premiership captain.

Mark Hutchings was outstanding for West Perth with 36 possessions, eight clearances and three goals.

Young midfielder Shane Nelson was also brilliant with 36 disposals and a massive 13 clearances while Carlton recruit Rohan Kerr showed what a great pick-up he has been by booting five goals.

Veteran midfielder Matt Guadagnin had 24 touches and 12 clearances with Aaron Black gathering 23 disposals, Jay van Berlo 18 and Kody Manning 17 to go with nine tackles.

Ruckman Chris Keunen fought hard with 13 possessions, 31 hit outs and six clearances up against both Paul Johnson (10 touches, 46 hit outs) and Scott Lycett (eight touches, 36 hit outs, two goals).

Veteran defender Dan Hunt was also outstanding holding Bernie Naylor Medallist Josh Smith to two goals and five kicks.

East Perth only guaranteed itself a finals berth by beating Subiaco in the final round and then downed Swan Districts in the first semi-final and Claremont in the preliminary final to make the grand final, but in the end they ran out of legs against the Falcons in the final quarter.

East Perth was well served by its two co-captains with Brendan Lee leading the way with 37 possessions and 10 clearances while Craig Wulff had 24 disposals and seven clearances.

Adam Selwood worked hard with 32 touches and 10 clearances as well while Aaron Sweet finished with 29 disposals and Blayne Wilson 22 in defence.

Jamie Cripps kicked three goals with Lycett, Mat Seal and Smith adding two apiece.

West Perth skipper Salecic won the toss and decided to kick into the breeze and it paid immediate dividends with the Falcons kicking the first goal of the game just two minutes in after Kerr marked on the lead and kicked truly from the pocket.

Even though East Perth got the next goal through Lycett to tie scores up after eight minutes, the Falcons booted the grand final's next three goals in the space of nine minutes through Josh Mellington, Kerr and then Hutchings after a brilliant bit of roving off his Eagles teammate, but Royals rival Lycett.

West Perth had the momentum at the 22-minute of the first term, but East Perth then kicked the last four goals of the quarter though Johnson, Smith and then two to Seal to suddenly be leading by a goal at the first change.

The Royals then continued that momentum to start the second quarter when Smith booted his second with a clever snap and their lead was out to 13 points, but three goals in six minutes for the Falcons soon saw the lead change again.

West Perth was back in front by five points after Mellington kicked his second of the day after a 50-metre penalty against Lycett.

The lead then continued to see-saw right up until just before half-time when West Perth kicked the last two goals through Kerr and Crisp to lead by 11 points at the main break.

That came after a moment of controversy when a goal was initially paid to Hutchings at the 26-mimute mark that could have put West Perth back in front, but it had been touched off the boot and with the intervening of a boundary umpire the right decision was eventually reached.

The Falcons still led by almost two goals at the main break but the Royals were soon on top again early in the second half thanks to early goals to Eagles pair Cripps and Lycett.

The Royals were then about to have a crack at another goal when Wilson received a 50-metre for a late bump from Salecic, but then the umpires made their mark on the contest.

A bit of push and shove from Cripps with Salecic ended with the Falcons captain falling over hoping to lure a reversal from the umpire, and he got his wish by fooling the man in orange and subsequently Hutchings marked up against the goal post, and kicked his third goal of the game.

That put West Perth back in front by three points and then it was nine when Crisp snapped another just a minute later before full-forward Matt Fowler kicked a beauty from the boundary at the 26-minute mark with the Falcons leading by 15 points.

West Perth missed a couple of gettable shots at one end to stretch the lead further through Steve Potente and Mellington, but East Perth went down the other end with Cripps goal just before three quarter-time to make the margin just 11 points at three quarter-time.

Both sides kicked a goal each in the first three minutes of the final quarter to have things back at an 11-point West Perth lead, but the Falcons finished with the advantage of the breeze and all the run, kicking the grand final's last six goals thanks to Nick Rodda, Kerr, Fowler, Kerr again, Nelson and then Rodda with another to end up winning by 49 points.

WEST PERTH 4.2 10.3 13.7 20.11 (131)
EAST PERTH 5.2 8.4 11.8 12.10 (82)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Kerr 5; Hutchings 3; Rodda, Crisp, Mellington, Fowler 2; Nelson, Manning, Salecic, Potente.
Best: Hutchings, Nelson, Kerr, Guadagnin, Hunt, Manning, Black, van Berlo.
EAST PERTH – Goals: Cripps 3; Lycett, Smith, Seal 2; Wulff, Swan, Johnson.
Best: Lee, Sweet, Wulff, Selwood, Wilson, Anderson.

Simpson Medal: Mark Hutchings (West Perth).