Lions Set for Grand Final Rematch in Mandurah on Saturday

Subiaco return after the state game bye with a Grand Final rematch against Peel in Mandurah on Saturday afternoon.

Subiaco has made a strong start to the 2018 WAFL Season, sitting first on the ladder and undefeated following five matches with five wins to start the year.

Meanwhile their opponents Peel currently sit sixth on the WAFL ladder having won two games and lost three.

Subiaco will make at least one change with Craig Hoskins injury interrupted 2018 season unfortunately continuing set to miss after returning back in round five.

Players to come into the squad include veterans Scott Hancock and Clancy Wheeler with Braden Fimmano and potential debutant Daniel Leach also named in the squad.

Hancock and Wheeler are potentials to play their first games of the season, after each had injury interrupted pre-seasons.

Meanwhile Fimmano and Leach have been the two standout performers in reserves football in recent games.

Subiaco fans are encouraged to get down to Mandurah and support the Lions, those that can’t make it to the game can catch all the active live on 7Mate from 2pm.

GAME CHANGERS

TV CONTEST

The Grand Final rematch will be broadcast live and exclusive on 7Mate with the broadcasting commencing from 2pm. This will mark the sixth time that Subiaco and Peel have been shown in a broadcast fixture in the 18 months since the 2016 WAFL Grand Final. Last year, four Subiaco and Peel battles were shown on television with Subiaco winning twice during the home and away season while Peel won the two finals battles.

SEASON FORM V FINALS FORM

The reasons behind this quirk have been well publicised, but over the past 20 years, Subiaco has been dominant over Peel in the home and away season. Subiaco has won 45 of the 52 meetings at a winning record of near 90%. Meanwhile in finals Peel has beaten Subiaco in all three finals meetings between the sides including the last two Grand Finals.

STARVED LIONS

While eight Lions played in the state game last week, for the remainder of the side, it has been a long time between regular games. Since April 20, Subiaco has played just one game, a win over West Perth on May 5^th. This quirk of the fixture was known going into the season, but still the Lions will quickly need to reacclimatise to WAFL footy against the reigning premiers.

GRAND FINAL CHANGES

It was always a given that Peel would look completely different in the Grand Final replay, yet Subiaco will field a vastly different side also. Young players such as Jacob Miller and while recruits like Ben Newton, Drew Rohde and Zac Clarke have all added an impact to the Lions outfit in 2018. Through the mix of injuries to veterans, retirements and new personnel, Subiaco could field up to 10 different players in the replay on Saturday.

ROUND SEVEN DOMINANCE

In an interesting quirk of Round Seven battles so far between Subiaco and Peel, Subiaco holds a current 3-0 advantage head to head with an average winning margin of 131 points in these three contests, beating Peel by over 100 points in every Round Seven battle to this point. Don’t expect things to come quite so easy for Jarrad Schofield and his men on Saturday, however at least Round Seven form is on Subiaco’s side.