Black declares 'no chance' he will miss preliminary finalSaturday, September 19, 2015 - 10:45 PM - by Chris Pike

REIGNING Sandover Medallist Aaron Black has declared himself a certain starter for West Perth's WAFL preliminary final against East Perth on Sunday with the Falcons turning their attention to a better performance starting in the middle after their second semi-final loss to Subiaco.

Black was one of three West Perth players to come out of last Sunday's loss to Subiaco at Medibank Stadium with an injury complaint joining full-forward Michael Lourey (ankle) and ruckman Chris Keunen (knee).

However, the Sandover Medallist, premiership star and 107-game midfielder has done everything he can this week to get himself up to play in Sunday's preliminary final against the Royals with a spot in the grand final against Subiaco up for grabs.

Black has not missed a game for West Perth since returning to the league side in Round 7, 2012 and there is no way he will be missing a preliminary final and a chance to get the Falcons into a second grand final in three years. 

"I copped a reasonable knock in the third quarter to my leg that hampered me a little bit in terms of my running ability, but it was a positive that I was still able to run out the game and stay out there. It is something that will have to be managed throughout the week," Black said in his perthnow.com.au column.

"Then obviously with the head knock in the last quarter, it just stiffened up my neck a little bit but with the seven days to recover and make sure everything's right, I'll prepare myself right, get the usual massage and ice baths to be ready to go. There's no chance that I'm missing a preliminary final over a couple of knocks."

However, Black certainly knows West Perth will need to put in a vastly improved effort to beat East Perth than they delivered last week against Subiaco, particularly in the middle of the ground at stoppages and with the clearances.

"They were too strong for us inside and for three and-a-half quarters were definitely the better side," he said.

"We have a lot of work to do this week to come mentally prepared to face East Perth at home in a preliminary final. We know the things that we need to do well to win the game so we just have to get that done, and put ourselves in with an opportunity to play in a grand final."

Black remains confident that West Perth can put the loss to Subiaco out of their minds now and come out on Sunday fresh and ready to fire against the Royals on their home turf where they have lost just once in 11 games this season.

"Obviously it's going to be an exciting day. It's a prelim final and it doesn’t get any bigger until you make the grand final. We didn’t have the opportunity to do this last year and we've put ourselves in a tough spot without getting a week off, but we can still make a grand final," Black said.

"We know what it takes to win one and to get to one, so it's going to be an exciting day on Sunday. As long as the boys come prepared and are mentally ready for a big hit out, I think we'll be OK."

Meanwhile, Black's 2013 premiership teammate Laine Rasmussen is also excited for Sunday's preliminary final with the vice-captain and small defender confident the Falcons' season will extend to the grand final.

"It is a great honour representing our great football club in the final series and regardless of the result I’m sure everyone will look back at 2015 as a great success," Rasmussen said in his column at westperthfc.com.au.

"It has been reported even our co-captain Luke Tedesco has been spotted smiling when talking about Sunday’s game. Our young playing group is still a developing prospect and I hope our supporters are as excited as I am to see where we can take the club."