Falcons book spot in Foxtel Cup grand finalTuesday, June 24, 2014 - 10:57 PM - by Chris Pike

WEST Perth has advanced to the Foxtel Cup grand final for 2014 after recording a thumping 74-point victory over the Western Storm from Tasmania at Patersons Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Falcons kicked the only seven goals of the first half and the opening nine majors of the match to set up the eventual 15.7 (97) to 3.5 (23) victory in emphatic fashion.

The win advances to West Perth to the Tuesday July 22 Foxtel Cup grand final where it will face the winner of next Tuesday's other semi-final between the WAFL's East Perth and the VFL's Williamstown.

That means there is a very real possibility of the Foxtel Cup grand final for this year being decided between two WAFL clubs and it would just happen to be between the league's most hated rivals, and a rematch of last year's grand final that saw West Perth beat East Perth for the premiership.

Tuesday night's semi-final proved a great mismatch with West Perth backing up its win over the Box Hill Hawks at Etihad Stadium with a 74-point thrashing of a Western Storm team who had upset the SANFL's West Adelaide to book a spot in the next round.

The Falcons dominated from the outset and it started with a goal to big man Seva Martin who spent the night at full forward in the absence of regular key forward targets Nick Rodda and Marcus Adams.

Martin has rarely had the chance to show what he can do outside of the ruck in his career, but displayed encouraging signs as a key forward on Tuesday night finishing with 11 possessions, five marks, 11 hit outs, two clearances and three goals.

West Perth's team included seven premiership players from last year but had plenty of fresh faces including Aidan Lynch, Mitch McPhee, Corey Chalmers and Ben King making their senior football debuts.

Lynch led the way in the middle all night for the Falcons with 24 possessions and nine clearances – both game highs.

McPhee was also impressive up forward kicking three goals from 11 touches and five marks while Chalmers ended up with nine possessions and King three to go with three tackles and two marks.

Jack Thrum also did well in the midfield for West Perth gathering 18 possessions while Brayden Antonio finished with 15 disposals, Trent Manzone 13, Luke Meadows 12, Shaun Marusic 12, Steven Browne 11, Joe Morrow 11 and captain-for-the-night Matt Guadagnin 10.

Matt Johnson also booted two goals for West Perth from nine possessions and six marks.

Chris Keunen did well in the ruck before resting in the final quarter ending up with eight possessions, 19 hit outs and three marks in his first game since suffering an eye injury in the WA Day derby loss to East Perth.

It was a tough night for the Storm who had upset the SANFL's West Adelaide to qualify for the semi-final.

Alex Russell, Will Hanson and Logan Barker were their goalkickers with Matt Hanson picking up 20 possessions, Thane Bardenhagen 18, Beau Thorp 18, Jay Blackberry 17 and Jade Child 14. Cody Thorp also finished with 11 disposals and 18 hit outs.

The Falcons dominated the contest from the outset with developing ruckman Martin kicking a goal inside the first minute.

West Perth went on to kick the only three goals of the first quarter with Guadagnin and Kris Shannon also joining in on the act.

It took more than 12 minutes in the second quarter for a goal but it eventually came through McPhee for West Perth. That set up a six-minute burst of four goals for the Falcons with Marc Crisp, Antonio and Ray Bartholomew getting involved.

West Perth led 7.5 to 0.3 at half-time and then started the second half on fire with a goal in just 40 seconds to Johnson.

Martin then added his second soon after before finally the Storm got their first major of the day thanks to Russell.

However, West Perth then answered that through Marusic and McPhee before three quarter-time.

Early final quarter goals to Martin and Johnson then extended the lead out to 74 points and that's where it finished at the final siren when Manzone kicked truly as time elapsed.

WEST PERTH                3.3    7.5    11.6    15.7    (97)
WESTERN STORM            0.2    0.3    1.5    3.5    (23)

WEST PERTH – Goals: Martin, McPhee 3; Johnson 2; Guadagnin, Shannon, Crisp, Antonio, Bartholomew, Marusic, Manzone.
Best: Lynch, Martin, Manzone, McPhee, Thrum, Antonio, Meadows.
WESTERN STORM – Goals: Russell, W Hanson, Barker.
Best: M Hanson, Blackberry, B Thorp, Bardenhagen, C Thorp