By The Numbers - Grand Final Edition

A history making season climaxed on Sunday evening as at the historic first Grand Final at Optus Stadium, Subiaco made team history by claiming three premierships, league, reserves and colts.

 

It was the perfect ending to the perfect season, as Subiaco’s league team completed a 20-0 season winning the 2018 Grand Final by 81 points.

 

See some of the other numbers from a big day for the Subiaco Football Club.

 

0

LOSSES – Perhaps ironically, a team of Subiaco heroes is now defined by the number zero. For the first time in 72 years the WAFL has an unbeaten side as Subiaco ran the table all season, winning every game they played. A season of dominance ended with a master class in individual and team brilliance as Subiaco had winners all over the field completing a remarkable season with a remarkable win.

 

3

PREMIERSHIPS – Never before has a WAFL club won the league, reserves and colts premierships in the same year. Not to be outdone by their league counterparts, the Subiaco Reserves and Subiaco Colts earlier on Sunday recorded premiership wins, meaning for a historic first time a club had one three premierships in one day. Perhaps the greatest club of all.

 

5

GOALS – Mid sized forwards Kyle Halligan and Ben Sokol were crucial to Subiaco’s forward success in the grand final bagging five goals a piece. With the game on the line in the first half they kicked three goals each. Those five goals were both a season high for Halligan and Sokol.

 

6

INTERCEPT MARKS – The Subiaco defence was outstanding all year in intercepting their opponents. Aaron Heal led the way in the Grand Final with six intercept marks of his own. Overall Subiaco had 18 intercept marks on the day, with fellow defenders Jordan Lockyer having four and Drew Rohde having three.

 

7

REBOUND 50 – Subiaco defender Jordan Lockyer was the leader for the Lions on driving the ball out of defensive 50. Lockyer had a season high seven rebounds fro defence, as Subiaco finished with 36 rebounds for the game.

 

14

LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP – Sunday’s win was the 14^th in Subiaco’s club history. It followed the wins of 1912, 1913, 1915, 1924, 1973, 1986, 1988, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2015. Subiaco now sit outright 4^th, moving out of a tie with South Fremantle. They are also just one premiership win behind rivals West Perth who sit on 15.

 

15

FREE KICKS – Subiaco had a season high 15 players win a free kick in the Grand Final. Though Subiaco lost the free kick count 19-20, this differential was far closer than the three previous games between the clubs where Subiaco had 27 compared to West Perth’s 67.

 

16

CLARKE – Gun recruit Zac Clarke finished the season with another strong performance collecting 50 hit-outs and a near season high of 16 hit-outs to advantage. With Clarke giving his teammates first use all day, Subiaco were able to maintain dominance around the stoppage and then out in space.

 

18

KITCHIN – Subiaco midfielder Leigh Kitchin wrote his name in WAFL Grand Final folklore with a stunning tackling display. Kitchin had 10 tackles in the first quarter finishing with a Grand Final record 18 tackles.

 

20

THIRD QUARTER WINS – Subiaco’s perfect season, included a perfect record in the premiership quarter, 20-0. Fittingly, Subiaco effectively won the Grand Final with a third quarter flurry, kicking five goals to two, building an insurmountable lead. All year Subiaco has been dominant in the third quarter, winning in that one quarter alone, by an average of nearly 20 points a game.

 

34

VETERANS – Almost fittingly, Chris Phelan and Kyal Horsley finished the 2018 Grand Final with 34 disposals each. The two veterans who have shared incredible highs and lows together, have been linked throughout decorated 10 year plus careers with Subiaco. They have been the benchmark of the side throughout 2018 and finished with a tied game high of 34 disposals.

 

46

SCORE – West Perth’s final score of 46 points was a goal under Subiaco’s defensive average of 2018 of 52 points conceded. Defence has been the hallmark of Subiaco in 2018, and an incredible defensive group did it again on the big stage. It was the lowest score that Subiaco had conceded in a Grand Final since 1973.

 

81

MARGIN – The 81 point win was Subiaco’s second biggest win on Grand Final day, two points shy of the 83 point record set back in 2006. Overall it was the fourth biggest win on Grand Final day in WAFL history.

 

98

TACKLES – Subiaco saved their best tackling displays of the season for finals. Two weeks after having a season high of 94 in the second semi final, the Lions were at it again, breaking their season record for tackles. Despite having 130 more possessions, they also had 20 more tackles than West Perth, highlighting how intent on the contest they were on Grand Final day.

 

99

WINS – Veteran utility Clancy Wheeler clocked up win number 99 in the Grand Final. Wheeler who has played 146 games for the Lions, had a typically workmanlike performance in the Grand Final with 14 possessions, four marks and a goal. For coach Jarrad Schofield it was win number 98 as coach for the Lions, including a historic third premiership as coach.

 

110

MARKS – Subiaco outmarked West Perth in the Grand Final by 50. Subiaco took 110 marks on the day with Ben Sokol leading the way with 12. Running midfielder Justin Joyce had a season high 10 marks.

 

420

DISPOSALS – Subiaco’s overall dominance on the game was seen in almost all categories, but the disposal count was most telling. Subiaco finished plus 130 in this area, outpossessing the Falcons 420-290. All bar one Lion finished with double digits in disposals with eight collecting more than 20.