QBE Day is Here, Now Revisit QBE Day History

Tonight's round four clash with Claremont marks the eighth year that Subiaco has run QBE Day.

 

Having first started to celebrate QBE’s 125^th year, the day has grown over the past eight years into one of the most anticipated for Subiaco fans as the club trades the maroon and gold for an eye catching cyan blue jumper.

 

It has generally been a good day for Subiaco, sporting a 5-2 win record on QBE Day.

 

With Subiaco and QBE sporting a partnership over 34 years, this remains one of the most proud partnerships in WAFL football. On the eve of the seventh clash, take a trip down memory lane to some of the great QBE Day matches of years past.

 

2017 (Round 10) Subiaco 15.18.108 d East Fremantle 11.11.77

Subiaco went into QBE Day of 2017 as top of the ladder having defeated South Fremantle in a top of table clash a week earlier.

 

In what was a big day for the club, Chris Phelan played his 150^th game to earn life membership, one week after great mate Kyal Horsley also achieved the feat.

 

On a wet, soggy Saturday afternoon, Subiaco mustered the only goal of the first quarter as they finished the first quarter with an inaccurate 1.6. Subiaco kicked five goals to two in the second quarter to hold a commanding half time lead before East Fremantle came storming back in the second half to take the lead.

 

Subiaco would steady in a tight final stanza and then kick the final four goals of the game as they went on to record a hard fought 31 point win.

 

Leigh Kitchin had 30 possessions and Corey Adamson his best game as a Lion with 28 possessions while Liam Ryan kicked four goals and Max Walters chipped in with three.

 

This was the middle of a run that saw Subiaco win 19 consecutive games on their way to a third straight minor premiership.

 

2016 (Round 18) Subiaco 10.9.69 d South Fremantle 9.4.58

Subiaco took battle with South Fremantle in a historic Thursday night match that was a battle for top spot on the WAFL ladder.

 

Subiaco started strongly kicking five goals in the opening 20 minutes of the match with new sensation Liam Ryan kicking one magical early goal. South Fremantle would hit back strongly across the second and third quarters, however some stout Lion defence ensured that South Fremantle would never gain full ascendancy.

 

With the match in the balance at three quarter time, it was Subiaco’s midfield that would lift, controlling the middle of the ground and managing to control the ball. Though wasteful, kicking 1.7 in the final quarter, Subiaco had built enough of an advantage clinging to a crucial 11 point win.

 

Ryan was the man of the night with three goals and an eye catching mark in the final quarter. Chris Phelan was outstanding with 29 possessions, while Adam Cockie gave a typically strong willed performance producing a number of crucial efforts in the second half.

 

This win would be instrumental in ensuring Subiaco the minor premiership in 2016.

 

2015 (Round 15) Subiaco 15.9.99 d Peel 6.8.44

Subiaco made a fast start to their annual QBE Day in 2015 with a dominant five goal to one first quarter setting the Lions on the way to what would end up being a comfortable 55 point win.

 

Despite Peel having access to 16 Fremantle Docker players in the match, it was Subiaco’s physicality at the contest that was superior, laying an impressive 79 tackles to 60. Tough midfielder Leigh Kitchin led the way with nine tackles while forwards Michael Wood and Chris Deluca showed their forward pressure with eight tackles each.

 

Wood was also the chief destroyer up forward with three goals with Deluca chipping in with two and Brett Robinson and Kyle Halligan also kicking two goals. Sam Menegola continued his impressive 2015 season with a game high 29 possessions.

 

From this point on Subiaco would lose just one more game, as they used this QBE Day Game as the start of an impressive run that culminated with the 2015 premiership.

 

2014 (Round 17) Subiaco 27.9.171 d Perth 15.8.98

In a freewheeling, high octane offensive game, Subiaco powered to a 73 point win on QBE Day of 2014 over a hard working Perth outfit.

 

With the match still in the balance heading into the last quarter, Subiaco put on an offensive burst in the final quarter kicking 10 goals and blowing apart a game that had been tight throughout.

 

On a good day for the forwards Shane Yarran was the highlight with six goals while Rhys Waters kicked five and Matt Boland kicked four.

 

Kyal Horsley was everywhere throughout the game having 35 possessions while Andrew McDougall had an impressive game in the ruck with 25 possessions, 17 hitouts and three goals.

 

2013 (Round 19) Claremont 7.16.58 d Subiaco 5.9.39

Subiaco fell to a 1-2 record on QBE Day as Claremont won a hard fought WAFL clash played in tough conditions on a Saturday afternoon at Leederville.

 

After a goalless first quarter for the Lions, a three goal second quarter ensured that Subiaco were well in the match at half time. Despite threatening to take the lead in the last half, Claremont held sway in a low scoring affair, eventually recording a 19 point win.

 

Jarryd Kayler-Thomson showed his class with a 34 possession game while Rhys Waters had an impressive performance with 16 possessions and laid 11 tackles.

 

2012 (Round 12) Perth 20.14.134 d Subiaco 9.10.64

It was case of similar occasion, same opponent, but very different result as Subiaco were outclassed and outplayed by Perth in the second QBE Day match.

 

Subiaco were slow to start and could never really recover as Perth romped to an easy win.

 

On a tough day Rhys Waters, Des Headland and Blake Broadhurst all kicked two goals with Robert Forrest being the leading possession winner on the day for the Lions with 26.

 

2011 (Round 20) Subiaco 13.11.89 d Perth 11.9.75

The first time wearing a cyan jumper to mark QBE Day and the partnership between Subiaco and QBE ended in success for Subiaco recording a hard fought 14 point win over Perth.

 

Despite trailing for most of the day, Subiaco showed character and poise in the last quarter kicking five goals to one, on the way to an impressive late season victory.

 

Earlier in the day Perth had jumped out of the blocks with a six goal quarter and Subiaco trailed by 30 points at quarter time. Despite still trailing by 17 points at three quarter time, Subiaco got a lift in the last quarter as veterans Jason Bristow and Ben Randall led the charge.

 

Blake Broadhurst and Allistair Pickett combined for six goals up forward with Kyal Horsley and Danny Hughes each kicking two.

 

Kyal Horsley showed all of his talent with a 26 possession outing while Michael Rix was dominant in the ruck with 47 hit outs.

 

This stunning come from behind win was part of a wider narrative of the 2011 season of the Lions mounted a mid-season revival after sitting near the foot of the ladder midseason, ended up winning their way through to the Grand final. The first QBE Day was a memorable match in a season that was littered with memorable moments.

 

We call on all Subiaco fans to be at Leederville Oval this Thursday night to help celebrate QBE Night!