Claremont left to rue poor opening half as West Perth remain at top of WAFL colts ladder after Albany triumph

A dominant first half guided West Perth to a strong victory in a regional WAFL colts fixture with Claremont on Saturday night in Albany. For the third time in four years Albany’s Retravision Stadium played host to a WAFL colts game but it was the Falcons who stole the show as they finished 35-point winners. Two goals from debutant Eli Alexander helped the Falcons take a nine-point lead into quarter time and the margin only grew in the second term. The Falcons’ midfield stamped their authority on the game as Jack Demarte, Nate Dimanlig and Byron Sherwood were outstanding at the stoppages in the second, resulting in three unanswered goals that pushed the deficit to 30 points. The Tigers were held goalless in the second and had just 1.5 (11) on the board at the main break before Louis Tangney gave them a much-needed major early in the third but again the Falcons had the answers. The hard-running Demarte slotted a goal which was answered immediately by Great Southern product Cooper Childs. Noah Farrow added his second and when Alexander jailed a third the Falcons had opened up a game-high 38 point lead. The Tigers’ hopes of a comeback were buoyed by two early final term goals, one from Jezreel Daisybell and then Childs, but the Falcons regained control and went on to record an eighth win of the season. Key forward Aiden Nelson capped a terrific night with the final two goals as his Falcons recorded a comfortable 11.7 (73) to 5.8 (38) win. Nelson starred in the front with four goals from 14 disposals and four marks while Alexander was eye-catching on debut with three goals and a couple of strong contested marks. The Falcons’ engine room was busy throughout the night with Demarte leading the way with 27 touches and a goal. Dimanlig racked up 25 possessions and six marks to drive his side forward plenty of times and Sherwood had 21 disposals, seven marks and four inside 50s in a telling performance. Nine Great Southern players took to the field for Claremont and inside midfielder Rhori Williams-Jolley was a shining light in the defeat. Williams-Jolley was the Tigers’ leading disposal winner with 23 to go with four marks and two inside 50s as he worked tirelessly to try to get his side back into the game. Tangney was effective with 14 touches and a goal while defender Xavier Graham was a strong interceptor and held firm in the Tigers’ back half. Fletcher Netherway (18 disposals) and Max Wilson (15 possessions and six inside 50s) were also strong contributors for the Tigers who were outclassed around the ball. Childs finished as their only multiple goal kicker with two and he also hit the post in the opening term. The match was played in front of more than 500 spectators.