Subiaco Travel to Joondalup for Top Three Battle with West Perth

Subiaco are set to make the trip to Joondalup to take on rivals West Perth looking to continue their unbeaten run to 2018 and dampen West Perth’s International Round celebrations.

In what promises to be one of the best battles of the 2018 season so far, top placed Subiaco face one of their toughest challenges of the season against and in-form and rejuvenated West Perth who have won four of their last five matches and sit comfortably in third on the WAFL ladder.

Subiaco’s forward line continues to be plagued by injury with Rhys Waters the only confirmed out at this stage, with late withdrawal from last week’s match Brad Stevenson also set to miss.

Four of Subiaco’s brightest young talents have been named as the possible replacement for Waters with Jack Beverley and Daniel Leach named for possible debuts and Nick Menegola and Ryan Borchet also possible inclusions having put together strong Reserves form coming back from injury.

The match will be broadcast live via the Subiaco Facebook Page and through the WAFL App call of Footy Radio as well as on Noongar Radio and HeritageFM.

GAME CHANGERS

THE NEED FOR GOALS

Subiaco’s forward line has become depleted in recent weeks and will be without three main strike weapons with Brad Stevenson, Rhys Waters and Kyle Halligan to miss. Putting into perspective the missing goals, Subiaco only has three players who kicked goals against West Perth back in Round Six in their squad for Saturday. Who pops up and kicks the goals will be a telling tale of the game given West Perth’s strong defensive structures.

EFFICIENCY COUNTS

One notable similarity between Subiaco and West Perth is their accuracy on goal and their conversion inside 50. West Perth are the one side who have beaten Subiaco for accuracy in 2018 while Subiaco have the lead in conversion. Both teams have strong defences, and making the most of forward chances will be pivotal in this match.

TOP TWO MIDS GO HEAD TO HEAD
Arguably Subiaco’s Kyal Horsley and West Perth’s Shane Nelson are the two best players in the WAFL in 2018. Horsley is averaging 33 possessions and Nelson 35 possessions a game to be the two most prolific ball winners in the competition. Arguably Horsley has been doing more around the ground, but it will be his ability to win the contested ball against Nelson on Saturday which could be pivotal in the match.

INTERNATIONAL BATTLE

Subiaco has had some good success in recent International Promotion games up at Joondalup, having won the last two International Games promoted by West Perth. Last year on a waterlogged Joondalup, the Lions recorded a gutsy 11 point win while in 2016 they won by 44 points. Lion fans will have their fingers crossed that this good form continues for another year.

PAST BATTLE

Subiaco won the only other battle between the two teams in 2018, with a hard fought 22 point win at Leederville Oval back in Round Six. The match which was an emotional one played in the aftermath of the passing of Shane Yarran was notable for the 40 possession game of captain Kyal Horsley.

THE EARLY BATTLES

All three Subiaco and West Perth matches promise to be good ones over Friday night and Saturday, with the colts to do battle on Friday night and the reserves to battle on Saturday morning. In the colts, Subiaco go in just percentage off top spot, but aware that West Perth produced a major upset with a big win in Round Six. Meanwhile the reserves will be another first versus third battle, with Subiaco on top and West Perth third separated only be percentage going into another intriguing battle.