Round 2 - Reserves & Colts Update

In the Grand Final rematch of the 2017 WAFL Reserves Grand Final, Subiaco fell just short of South Fremantle by two points at Fremantle Oval.

 

In a see-saing contest, South Fremantle kicked with the wind in the first quarter and built a three goal lead at quarter time before Subiaco stormed back into the match in the second quarter kicking four goals to nil to take a lead into the main break.

 

Subiaco again dominated the third quarter but were left to rue missed opportunities as they kicked 3.6 to 1.1 in the third quarter when they possibly could have put the game beyond their opponents reach.

 

In a tough final stanza, Subiaco failed to maintain their pressure around the contest and were unable to produce the same ball movement which had built the lead in the middle of the match.

 

South Fremantle hit the lead in the final minutes and were successfully able to shut the game down in those final few minutes despite a valiant Subiaco effort to grab the lead back, with Subiaco pressing forward as the siren sounded to end a tight match.

 

Subiaco was well led by Daniel Leach who had 28 possessions and laid seven tackles while Michael Braut was very good in defence with 23 possessions and seven marks.

 

Craig Hoskins collected 21 possessions, Bailey Matera 19 and McKenzie Lawrence 18 with two goals to be some of Subiaco’s other prime midfielders on the day, while Ryan Mu kicked three goals.

 

The reigning Blakemore Medallist Daniel Leach was best afield for the Lions with 28 possessions, 7 tackles, 5 marks and 2 inside 50s.

 

 

GAME CHANGERS

 

ELECTRIFYING MU

Ryan Mu commenced his Subiaco career in electrifying fashion kicking 3.3 across the day and proving a lively threat inside 50 all match long. The 19-year old Mu was recruited to Subiaco over the off-season from Nightcliff in the Northern Territory where he had been a member of Northern Territory’s 2016 Under 18 squad. Last year with Nightcliff Mu had averaged 18 possessions a game and is a player to watch in Subiaco’s Reserves early in the year.

 

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR

McKenzie Lawrence was named in Subiaco’s 25 last weekend and did his future chances of a league debut no harm with a workmanlike performance against South Fremantle. Daniel Leach continues to be Subiaco’s most consistent reserves player and with Subiaco continuing to provide opportunities at league level, Lawrence and Leach will remain in the mix in coming weeks.

SCORELESS FOURTH

Subiaco were left to rue a game that got away as they failed to score in the last quarter. In what will no doubt provide some coaching moments to Subiaco’s Reserves during the week, Subiaco weren’t able to play with the same freedom in the last quarter and that inability to attack to the end cost them the victory.

 

 

SUBIACO                            1.2        5.5        8.11       8.11.59

SOUTH FREMANTLE         4.2        4.3        5.4         9.7.61

 

GOALS: Mu 3; Lawrence 2; Fullgrabe, Elhers, Hughes 1. 

BEST: Braut, Leach, Mu, Hoskins, Reid. 

 

 

COLTS RECAP

Despite a slow start to their Round Two clash, Subiaco blitzed South Fremantle by 44 points at Fremantle Oval with a dominant final three quarters.

After the teams traded goals in the opening quarter, Subiaco trailed by four points at the first change, however from that point on the young Lions kicked 11 goals to three powering away to an impressive win.

 

It backs up their 73-point demolition job on East Perth, making this their best start since 2014 and seeing Subiaco’s colts placed top of the WAFL Colts ladder after Round two.

 

Luke Foley produced his second consecutive best on ground performance with 28 possessions and two goals having started the season as the Subiaco Colts best player.

 

Foley was well supported in the midfield by Liam Hickmott 23 possessions and eight tackles while Zane Shellabear-Healey and Will Hickmott each had 22 possessions.

 

Tristan Hobley had 17 possessions as did Duane Smith who played an excellent game in the Subiaco defence.

 

Up forward Jack Mayo and Taj Shofield led the way with three goals apiece while Nathan French, Mitchell Georgiades and Foley each kicked two.

 

It will be a top of the table clash next week for the Subiaco colts as they take on the second placed Swan Districts in what promises to be a great early match at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

 

 

GAME CHANGERS

 

MIDFIELD DOMINANCE

In the opening two rounds of the 2018 season, the Subiaco midfielders have stamped their authority as a powerful and dynamic unit. Against the Bulldogs, Luke Foley led the way in a combative display. His clearance work and thirst for contact make him a dangerous player in the stoppages.

 

SONS OF GUNS

Being the son of a champion footballer is tough, but both Mitchell Georgiades, son of John and Taj Schofield, son of Jarrad displayed traits that will make them stars into the future. Georgiades’ strong marking ability where he took a game-high seven marks was on display, while Schofield showed off his incredible forward nous with three goals.

 

RUCK COMBO SHINE

A key reason for Subiaco to achieve victory was the influence of their ruck tandem Xavier Peacock and Mach Deng. The two young talls combined for 45 hit-outs and seven tackles showing an important ability in the air and at ground level around the contest. Both players were physical in the hit-outs and often gave their midfielders first use of the football

 

 

SUBIACO                            3.2        7.2        10.7       14.10.94

SOUTH FREMANTLE         4.0        5.5        6.7         7.8.50

 

GOALS: Mayo, Schofield 3; French, Foley, Georgiades 2; Hobley, Faraone 1.

BEST: Foley, Smith, Stainsby, Georgiades, Schofield.