Subiaco Start 2018 With Stunning 118 Point Win

Subiaco produced one of its best ever round one performances defeating East Perth by 118 points, making a strong statement that the Lions will again be contenders in 2018.

 

After two consecutive years marred by Grand Final heartache and after a long and gruelling pre-season, Subiaco finally got the chance for their first competitive match since the 2017 Grand Final, producing an irresistible display of attacking football.

 

After captain Kyal Horsley won the toss and elected to kick with the wind to the northern end of the ground, Josh Deluca scored a behind inside the games first 30 seconds and from there Subiaco never trailed as they romped away, extending their lead at every change.

 

The omen for the rout was in place early as full back Angus Litherland found himself up the ground and taking a mark inside 50 before kicking the set shot goal for the games first goal.

 

Just two minutes after Litherland’s game opening goal, Ryan Borchet’s first kick in league football saw him convert, being mobbed by teammates to celebrate his first WAFL league goal.

 

Subiaco had 11 more scoring shots than East Perth in the first quarter as they built up a 36 point lead.

 

The second quarter would be the tightest of the game, as East Perth played with more urgency and showed more competiveness around the contest.

 

However the game would turn just before half time as Subiaco piled on four goals in the final seven minutes of the first half, with Borchet kicking another goal just before half-time that pushed the lead past 60 points.

 

Brad Stevenson kicked a goal inside the first two minutes of the second half to set the tone and Subiaco kicked six goals to one in another dominant third quarter display.

 

It was again Stevenson who was the focal point in the last quarter as the versatile forward kicked four of Subiaco’s seven goals for the quarter with Subiaco going on to kick 29 goals and win by 118 points.

 

The final score of 188 points placed it top ten for Subiaco’s highest ever scores and was the highest score kicked in round one, while the winning margin of 118 points made it the greatest round one win in history for the Lions.

 

Subiaco showed outstanding forward efficiency throughout the game, converting at 72% from 60 Inside 50 entries with a goal accuracy of 67%, showing that efficient forward entries to multiple options will be the best way to replace the near 100 goals kicked by small forwards Liam Ryan and Liam Baker from 2017.

 

In a sign of the ferocious intent on the contest that Subiaco had, despite the lopsided winning margin and having more possession than East Perth, they were still able to out-tackle their opponents.

 

Individually none were better than captain Kyal Horsley who had 27 possessions, laid five tackles and kicked a goal in a typical lead from the front performance.

 

In his first game for Subiaco, and first game at WAFL league level, former AFL listed player Ben Newton showed intensity around the contest and polish with his ball use having 20 possessions and nine tackles.

 

Lachlan Delahunty had 24 possessions, kicked two goals and had 10 hit-outs pinch hitting in the ruck while Ben Sokol proved an important focal point entering the forward 50 with 20 possessions and 10 marks, finishing his day with three goals.

 

Subiaco’s next match will be next Saturday in a Preliminary Final rematch against South Fremantle down at Fremantle Oval.

 

 

GAME CHANGERS

 

DEBUTS TO REMEMBER

Subiaco had seven new players wear the maroon and gold for the first time and all seven had important contributions in the emphatic win. Experienced players Ben Newton, Zac Clarke and Drew Rohde had strong outings with Clarke showing promise in the ruck and Rohde part of a complete defensive effort. The four younger debutants Ryan Borchet, Jacob Miller, Kaidyn Fullgrabe and Nick Menegula all had good moments with Miller providing one of the highlights of the day with a long range goal in the third quarter that brought the Subiaco faithful to their feet.

 

3 WAFL KICKS, 3 WAFL GOALS

Ryan Borchet had a great start to his WAFL career with a goal from his first kick a few minutes in. Across the day Borchet had three kicks and all three kicks resulted in majors. So far Borchet is at 100% from kicks, to goals.

 

SEVEN STRAIGHT

Questions were raised of Subiaco in 2018 about where the goals would come from. For Round One, it was a career best outing from Brad Stevenson who bagged seven goals without a miss that was the focal point. Rhys Waters was another to impress in front of goals with five straight goals. A combined 12.0 from Stevenson and Waters was a positive start to the season in front of goals.

 

SUBIACO         7.6       16.7     22.11   29.14.188

EAST PERTH    2.0       7.2       8.5       10.10.70

 

GOALS: Stevenson 7; Waters 5; Borchet, Sokol 3; Delahunty, Halligan, Perkins 2; Horsley, Litherland, Miller, Newton, Walters 1.

BEST: Horsley, Newton, Stevenson, Waters, Delahunty.