Colts Extend Winning Run as Reserves Drop a Close One

It was mixed results for the minor grades with the Colts continuing their impressive winning run, while the Reserves dropped a tight one, in a great late season top of the table battle.

 

Both games were in the balance in the last quarter, in the Colts Subiaco kicked the two pivotal goals, while in the Reserves it was flipped with Claremont kicking two pivotal late goals to half the Subiaco Reserves charge for top spot.

 

COLTS RECAP

 

The Subiaco Colts won their seventh straight game, with a hard fought 13 point win over Claremont.

 

The current win streak now dates all the way back to May, when they last lost to Perth in Round Nine.

 

The most recent win came on a heavy Claremont Oval, with Subiaco showing grit and toughness in difficult conditions.

 

After trailing throughout the first quarter, Subiaco hit the front early in the second quarter and never trailed again, with the young Lions able to maintain a steady lead throughout the entire second half.

 

In a tight final stanza, Claremont pressed hard, but Subiaco had enough class when it matter most, kicking two goals heading into the last five minutes of the game to assure a victory that momentarily pushed them two games clear at the head of the WAFL Colts table.

 

Tristan Hobley had 34 possessions to have a game high, while Liam Hickmott was also good with 28 possessions and laying nine tackles.

 

Up forward Jack Mayo kicked four goals to extend his lead at the head of the WAFL Colts Goalkicking, while Jordan Faraone bagged two goals.

 

Subiaco can take a step closer to a minor premiership with a win in another WAFL Colts top three battle next week against Swans.

 

GAME CHANGERS

 

COMING THROUGH IN CRUNCH TIME

Claremont had threatened for most of the second half and pulled within eight points with seven minutes to go. Subiaco produced when it matter most though, kicking a decisive goal followed by a second two minutes later to extend to an unassailable 20 point lead with five minutes on the clock.

 

THREE TALL STRATEGY

Subiaco employed a three tall strategy to stretch Claremont and it paid dividends with the trio of Xavier Peacock, Mach Deng and Sam Di Francesco all having an impact in the air. Subiaco doubled up Claremont in the hit-out category, eventually finishing plus 28 in this category.

 

TACKLE LEADERS

Liam Hickmott as he does week in, week out, put his body on the line for the Subiaco Colts, leading the team with nine tackles. Impressively, second in tackles for the team was Taj Schofield who laid a career high seven tackles returning to his Subiaco teammates after a seven week absence due to state footy duties.

 

MAYO MAKES DIFFERENCE

In a game where only 16 goals were scored, having a key forward who can take a mark and kick a goal is paramount. Jack Mayo delivered just that, kicking 25% of the goals on the day with four and making a pivotal difference in the final result.

 

FINAL

SUBIACO         1.2       4.8       6.8       9.9.63

CLAREMONT   1.4       2.4       4.6       7.8.50

 

BEST: Hobley, Mayo, L. Hickmott, Golding, Stainsby

GOALS: Mayo 4; Faraone 2; French, L. Hickmott, Oxenham-Smith 1.

 

 

RESERVES RECAP

 

In an epic battle between Subiaco and Claremont in the Reserves, it was Claremont that snuck home against a plucky Subiaco who could not quite make the one last gasp they needed to grab victory.

 

The tough loss keeps Subiaco in second, now two wins behind Claremont.

 

Subiaco made the better of the start kicking the first three goals and had a solid quarter time lead, but were powerless as Claremont stormed back in the second and third quarters to take the lead.

 

In a see saw battle across the last half, both teams had points of dominance, however it was Claremont who kicked four consecutive goals in the fourth.

 

Subiaco battled to the end, kicking a goal with under two minutes to go to bring the margin to within four points, but could not get the one last goal they needed to grab a win.

 

Justin Joyce and Adam Cockie combined for 65 possessions while Christian Martin was the lead goal kicker on the afternoon with three.

 

Subiaco will look to bounceback with a home game with Swan Districts next Saturday.

 

GAME CHANGERS

 

JOYCE IMPRESSES

In just his second game of 2018, Justin Joyce found good form for Subiaco. After a quiet first up hit-out, Joyce exploded with 11 possessions in the first quarter. Though he was quieter late, it was still a good effort from Joyce who finished with 33 possessions, eight marks and drove the ball inside 50 on seven occasions. Expect Joyce to be a name to come up for selection next week.

 

FORWARD EFFICIENCY GOES BEGGING

Subiaco led the inside 50 count by 28, having 63 entries to 35, yet could not translate their forward attacking play into enough scores. Adam Cockie, Ray Daniels and Joyce put the ball inside 50 on 26 occasions, yet the Lions could not make the most of these opportunities.

 

ECCLES OF FORM

Young Subiaco player James Eccles has put together a solid month of football highlighted with his third 20 possession game in the past four matches. Eccles finished the day with 21 possessions and had a career high with nine tackles leading the Lions in the tackle count.

 

LATE LOSS AGAIN

In three of Subiaco’s five Reserves losses for the year, the Lions have led during the last quarter but have been unable to sustain the lead. It is the second game that Subiaco has lost by less than a goal, having also been beaten by South Fremantle by two points back in Round Two.

 

FINAL

SUBIACO         5.4       6.7       9.11     11.12.78

CLAREMONT   3.2       6.6       8.9       12.10.82

 

BEST: Joyce, Eccles, Cockie, Lawrence, Clegget.

GOALS: Martin 3; Burnett, Daniels 2; Bradley, Breman, Cockie, Eccles 1.