Subiaco Reserves Back To Defend Premiership Title

Subiaco Reserves will play in their second straight WAFL Grand Final after overcoming Claremont in the 2018 WAFL Preliminary Final.

After conceding the first goal of the game, Subiaco kicked the next four goals in the first quarter and led the remainder of the way in a hard fought and convincing 42 point win.

The win was built on a resounding defensive effort with the Lions defenders conceding just two goals in the first half and just five goals for the game.

It came a week after Subiaco’s defence failed to hold a seven goal quarter time lead.

One week later the sense of resolve within the whole Subiaco team was on display with a number of willing and desperate defensive efforts.

Veteran midfielder Craig Hoskins put together one of his best games of the year, finishing with 25 disposals while Daniel Leach and Travis Cleggett each had 23 disposals.

Up forward the goals were shared, with Subiaco’s 11 goals shared amongst 10 individual goal kickers.

Livewire small forward Ray Daniels was the only Lion forward to post more than one goal, finishing with two.

For consecutive seasons Subiaco has bounced back from second semi final defeat to make the Grand Final.

As they did in 2017, Subiaco will now look to rebound against their semi final foe, when they take on East Perth in the 2018 WAFL Reserves Grand Final.

GAME CHANGERS

ANOTHER FAST START

Subiaco’s Reserves for the second straight week made a quick start to a final. After conceding the first goal and the first handful of inside 50s, Subiaco quickly worked on top. Goals to Nick Menegola, Brad Stevenson, Ryan Borchet and Michael Braut late in the quarter, meant Subiaco had a comfortable 21 point lead at the first change.

BETTER FINISH

After faltering late last week, Subiaco put together a far better final quarter. The Lions kicked three goals to two in the final term, finishing the game with a 42 point victory. A strong midfield performance, highlighted by Travis Cleggett meant the Lions were not going to cough up a big lead for a second straight week.

HAND UP FOR THE BIG ONE

A host of familiar league players from 2018 put up solid performances in the Reserves Preliminary Final, with all hoping to be named for Subiaco’s league Grand Final team next week. Rhys Waters returned from injury, working his way into the game with 12 possessions and seven tackles, while Ryan Borchet and Brad Stevenson each had 12 possessions and a goal in the Subiaco forward line. Down back Jacob Miller had 16 possessions. How Subiaco line up in both grades will be an intriguing storyline leading up to the 2018 Grand Finals.

DÉJÀ VU ONE MORE TIME

There were shades of 12 months previous in this victory. Subiaco again built a strong first quarter lead before holding off a determined Claremont. Now Subiaco will be hoping that the trend from 12 months ago continues as the Lions look to claim back to back Reserves Premierships as they take on East Perth in what promises to be an entertaining early morning Grand Final battle.

FINAL

SUBIACO         4.5       6.8       8.12     11.14.80

EAST PERTH    1.2       2.6       3.6       5.8.38

BEST: Hoskins, Cleggett, Reid, Perkins, Braut.

GOALS: Daniels 2; Borchet, Bradley, Braut, Hoskins, Lawrence, Leach, Menegola, Perkins, Stevenson 1.