2018 Outridge Medal Preview

Subiaco’s celebration of 2018 continues on Friday night, with the annual Outridge Medal Night to be held at the Leederville Sports Bar & Function’s Centre.

After a history making season, highlighted by an undefeated league season, Subiaco’s players, coaches, support staff members and fans will be on hand as the fairest and best of the season are recognised.

The night will have a premiership flavour to it, with the premiership cups won last month to be on display across the evening along with the premiership flags.

As is always the case in a premiership year, the honour of being recognised as the club’s best has extra merit ahead of the 2018 count.

The history making season by the league team, where they won all 20 matches they played by an average of 10 goals a game, means that a high vote count is expected on the night and up to 10 players in with a chance of taking home the most prestigious award at the Subiaco Football Club.

Also on Outridge Medal night, the club’s most courageous and best clubmen are recognised with the President’s Trophy, City of Subiaco Medallion and the Newton Screaigh Awards.

The best rising star is also acknowledged with the Dennis Barron Memorial Trophy and GOLDS player of the year will also be announced.

2018 OUTRIDGE MEDAL – THE CONTENDERS

KYAL HORSLEY

Subiaco’s inspirational leader has arguably had his greatest season as a Lion, leading the club through great adversity off-field, while also being a key driver of standards on-field. Horsley statistically had his best ever WAFL season, averaging over 30 possessions per game. The impact Horsley had forward of centre was highlighted by a career best 122 forward 50 entries, while he also averaged just under five tackles a game. His best performances indeed came at the time when the club needed its biggest influence, including Rounds 6 and 7, than again in the Grand Final. Is rightly the hot favourite to join a select few Subiaco players as three time Outridge Medal Winners. Should he take it home, he will be the first Lion player in history to win two fairest and bests in premiership years.

CHRIS PHELAN

Perhaps it is Horsley’s great mate, Chris Phelan that will right himself in the record books as a three time Outridge Medallist and the first two win two Outridge Medals in premiership seasons. Phelan even at age 30 continues to show no sign of slowing down, producing another consistent season in the Subiaco midfield. Another veteran to finish 2018 with a career high in disposals, Phelan finished the year averaging just under 28 disposal per game. Phelan’s remarkable consistency saw him have over 20 disposals in all bar one game with some big games in the wet including wins over Claremont, Perth, South Fremantle and Swans. A two time winner and a real chance of adding a third medal on Friday night.

LEIGH KITCHIN

The reigning Outridge Medal winner is also in with a shot of going back to back, after another consistent season in the Subiaco midfield. Impressively, Kitchin showed his real value to the team in 2018 by constantly sacrificing his own game to play the role needed to best win football games. Kitchin had the second most disposals across the year with 508 while he also had the second most tackles across the season with 110, including a career best and record breaking 18 in the WAFL Grand Final. After polling strongly in a consistent season in 2017, could be well placed to go back to back.

LACHLAN DELAHUNTY

The Subiaco big man had arguably his best season in 2018, mixing quality time forward and in the ruck to prove a potent ruck tandem for the Lions. Delahunty had a career best 31 goals on the season, while also posting a career high average of 23 disposals per contest. Another who has polled well in Outridge Medals past, including a second place finish in 2017. His consistent performances along with a number of standout efforts including in wins over Swans, Perth and West Perth, means the popular Delahunty could go one better in 2018.

HAYDEN KENNEDY

After injuries had interrupted his past two seasons, Kennedy played 19 of a possible 20 games, becoming the key driver of the Subiaco defence. Kennedy was given more attacking freedom this year and benefited from the freedom. He averaged career highs in possessions, marks, tackles and inside 50s, while also kicking his first goal at league level, a memorable one against Swans in Round Three. His willingness to put the team first has made him a popular figure within the Subiaco group and could surprise with a strong Outridge count.

AARON HEAL

The ever reliable Heal produced another outstanding season in 2018, beating all opponents with relative ease and proving a key piece of a history setting Subiaco defence. Subiaco’s defence produced one of the great seasons in modern football and Heal was one of the chief architects behind this. Heal played every game averaging over 14 disposals and four marks a contest, with a number of these marks key intercept marks. Has placed in the top three previously and given Subiaco’s outstanding defensive efforts in 2018, could be a smoky for the count.

BEN SOKOL

Subiaco’s leading goal kicker in 2018, Sokol finished with 43 goals on the season and was the main focal point in an even forward line. Sokol’s worth to Subiaco’s forward structure was seen not just with his goal kicking, but as the leading mark taker for the club finishing 2018 with 150 on the season. Sokol showed improved consistency in 2018, playing every game, and kicking goals in 18 of those 20 matches. Career highs in marks, tackles, inside 50s and disposals means he is in with a chance of the Outridge Medal on Friday.

JOSH DELUCA

Arguably Deluca was the most dynamic and influential player in Subiaco’s side in 2018. Potentially the only thing that will prevent Deluca taking the Outridge Medal was missing three games due to suspenstion. In his return season to Subiaco, Deluca blossomed into the WAFL’s most dynamic inside midfielder. Deluca showed an ability to win his own ball, tackle with fierceness and a powerful ability to break away from stoppages. Deluca finished with a career best 27 disposals per game in 2018, while also having nearly seven tackles per game. Has put himself with a chance of claiming the Outridge while is also well in the mind of AFL recruiters for 2019.

ANGUS LITHERLAND

One of the most improved players at Subiaco in 2018, Litherland blossomed in his second season in the Subiaco program. While Litherland’s statiscal improvement was only modest, up to 14 disposals and four marks per game, it was the impact Litherland had on games that was most telling. Litherland was able to regularly beat taller opponents and was a key rebound defender as well for Subiaco. Also proved to be a goal kicking threat with six goals on the year. Again, with Subiaco’s defence producing a history making season, Litherland is within a chance of a big night on Friday.

ZAC CLARKE
Alongside the returning Deluca, Clarke was the key pick-up for Subiaco in 2018 and one of the big reasons behind their unbeaten season. Clarke was the ruckman that Subiaco has been demanding for a number of years and made the number one ruck spot his own. After working back from injury in the opening month of the season, Clarke was huge for the Lions from that point on, with some dominant displays in the ruck and crucial goals when up forward. Clarke proved to be a vital threat in the air whether coming out of defence or taking marks inside 50. Like Deluca is very much in consideration for a return to AFL ranks in 2019, and could be going there as an Outridge Medal winner.

It promises to be a big Friday night, live from the Leederville Sports Bar & Function’s Centre, if you can’t make it, stay tuned to Subiaco’s social media accounts across the night for live updates.