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Top Falcons bow out with a win

Shane Nelson.

Veterans Anthony Tsalikis and Dan Hunt bowed out in a winning side when West Perth outclassed Perth by 82 points at Lathlain Park today.

Tsalikis became the Falcons’ third highest goal scorer when he kicked accurately at the 30-minute mark of the first quarter.

The 31-year-old finished with 31 possessions, 13 marks and four goals in his team’s 21.18 (144) to 9.8 (62) victory.

It helped ease the pain of missing West Perth’s grand final win against East Perth last year due to a shoulder injury.

Hunt, who was a member of the 2013 premiership team, played in a variety of roles including full back, full forward and the ruck.

He capped off a good day’s work with a rare goal in the final quarter adding three more before the end of the match.

A dominant midfield brigade led by Aaron Black, Shane Nelson and Rohan Kerr laid the foundation for the Falcons’ ninth win of the season.

Nelson finished with a remarkable 52 possessions, while Black and Kerr each had 39.

Marcus Adams offered a strong focal point in attack for the winners who were also well served by Tsalikis, Hunt, Laine Rasmussen and Max Alexander.

Callum Collard was lively in attack for Perth, with former East Fremantle midfielder Aidan Tropiano, Dene White, Michael Florio and Michael Sinclair also finishing the season strongly for the Demons.

Perth started each of the first two quarters in promising fashion before West Perth hit back, the visitors ahead by 24 points at half time after Seva Martin, Steven Potente and Tsalikis kicked the last three goals before the long break.

The Demons had all the play in the early part of the third term, closing to 11 points after Mitchell Browne and Callum Collard found range.

West Perth met the challenge for the third time in as many quarters, booting the last five goals of the third stanza to lead by a match-winning 44 points at the last change.

Perth defender Chris Billings was reported in the second quarter after a sling tackle on West Perth utility player Brayden Antonio.

Antonio had to be helped from the ground by trainers and took no further part in the match.

West Perth ruckman Chris Keunen was a late withdrawl before the gsme due to a migraine, the beanpole big man missing the chance to notch his 150th league match.

The Falcons also won both minor grades in convincing fashion, taking out the reserves by 66 points and the colts by 69 points.

Aidan Lynch and Ben McNamara did well in the early game for the Falcons with Cameron Manuel shining for the Demons.

Manuel, dropped for today’s match, finished with 31 possessions, seven marks and five inside 50s.

Lynch, yet to make his league debut, had 26 disposals, eight marks, five inside 50s and kicked a goal while McNamara had 20 possessions, five marks, three tackles and seven inside 50s.

WEST PERTH

5.5

8.9

14.13

21.18

144

PERTH

3.1

5.3

8.4

9.8

62

GOALS – WEST PERTH: Tsalikis, Hunt, Adams 4; Potente 3; Martin 2; Browne, Guadagnin, J van Berlo, Rasmussen. PERTH: Collard 3; Bevan, White, Power, Browne, Tropiano, Arangio.
BEST – WEST PERTH: Nelson, Black, Kerr, Tsalikis, Adams, Hunt, Alexander. PERTH: Tropiano, Collard, White, Florio, Sinclair.
INJURIES – WEST PERTH: Antonio (concussion); Keunen (migraine) replaced in selected side by Rohde. PERTH:''' Bevan (hamstring).
REPORTS: Billings (P) for rough conduct against Antonio (WP) in the second quarter.
UMPIRES: S McPhee, S Parry, A Coster.
CROWD: 2200 (approx) at Lathlain Park.