Subiaco Powers to Third Straight Win of 2018 with 96 Point Victory

Subiaco overcame a determined Swan Districts first quarter fight, eventually powering to a 96 point win, as the Lions impressive start to 2018 continued at the hands of Swans.

 

Stung after the disappointment of two Grand Final losses, Subiaco has now won its opening three matches by margins of 118 points, 58 points and 96 points, sitting on top of the WAFL ladder with a percentage in excess of 250.

 

Early in the match it was Swan Districts that made the running and whose pressure at the contest and around the ball was superior, with Swans thoroughly deserving their 11 point quarter time lead as Subiaco battled to find early momentum.

 

However a couple of shrewd moves and some slight adjustments at quarter time by the Subiaco coaching staff saw the Lions take the lead early in the second quarter, a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the afternoon.

 

After uncharacteristically conceding five goals in the opening quarter, Subiaco’s defence tightened significantly after quarter time, holding Swans scoreless in the second quarter and to just one goal through the games final three quarters.

 

Subiaco’s impressive offensive start to the season continued as they passed 120 points for the third straight week, kicking 12 goals in the second half.

 

The goals were shared amongst the Lions forwards, as Brad Stevenson and Ben Sokol continued to head the way at the top of the WAFL’s leading goal kicking table, each bagging four goals.

 

Rowen Powell slipped forward to kick three goals, including a nice long range effort in the last quarter while Kyle Halligan kicked two goals, one in time on of the third quarter and one in time on of the last quarter.

 

Chris Phelan led the way for Subiaco with 32 possessions while Josh Deluca passed 30 possessions for the second straight week as he finished with 31 possessions.

 

Hayden Kennedy had a career high 29 possessions, Kyal Horsley had 27 possessions and Leigh Kitchin had 26 possessions with a goal.

 

Meanwhile Lachlan Delahunty stuffed the stat sheet finishing a dominant all round game with a near quadruple double, finishing with 17 kicks, 10 handballs, 11 marks and nine hitouts; also kicking a goal.

 

Subiaco have a short turnaround with their next match a home game against Claremont on Thursday Night, as the Lions get set for another tough battle as the weekend starts this Thursday night.

 

 

GAME CHANGERS

 

39 GAMES WAITING FOR 1 GOAL

Hayden Kennedy brought Leederville Oval to its feet in the first quarter when he kicked his first career goal. A noted defensive specialist, forward 50 opportunities have been rare for Kennedy in a five season, 39 game career. However when given the chance to kick his first goal on Saturday, it was one that he was happy to take. It ended up being a big day for Kennedy who smashed his previous career high of 22 possessions, setting a new personal best of 29.

 

TOPSY TURVY HALF

It was an intriguing opening half at Leederville Oval on Saturday. Swans jumped from the blocks kicking two goals, before Subiaco answered with the next six scoring shots, kicking 3.3. From there it was Swans turn to take the advantage as they added five scoring shots, kicking 3.2 and holding an 11 point quarter time lead.  Subiaco answered over the next 35 minutes of game time as they piled on 11 scoring shots, 7.4 before Swans registered their first score since quarter time early in the third quarter.

 

HIGH PRESSURE

Swans early lead in the game came on the back of intense pressure around the ball. Subiaco answered across the next three quarters with an equally physical approach at the ball and man. In the end Subiaco held sway in the tackle column by one, with Greg Clark leading the way with 10 tackles.

 

LAST QUARTER SPECIALIST

For the second week in a row Ben Sokol produced a stunning final quarter burst, this week adding three goals in the space of six minutes. Sokol has kicked nine goals in the past fortnight with eight of these goals coming in the second half of matches.

 

EFFICIENT LIONS STRIKE AGAIN

Efficiency has been the story of Subiaco’s attacking start to the season, as the Lions again posted an outstanding forward 50 effiicency of 59% in Saturday’s game. Across three games this season, Subiaco are converting their forward 50 entries at an elite standard of 65%.

 

 

SUBIACO         3.3       9.5       14.11   21.14.140

SWANS            5.2       5.2         6.4       6.8.44

 

GOALS: Sokol, Stevenson 4; Powell 3; Halligan 2; Clarke, Delahunty, Deluca, Heal, Kennedy, Kitchin, Walters, Waters 1.

 

BEST: Kennedy, Sokol, Kitchin, Delahunty, Litherland.