Subiaco Record First Win Over West Coast

Subiaco has maintained its winning start to 2019, with a hard fought win over West Coast’s WAFL side in a historic Good Friday battle.

In a match played in tough conditions on a wet Leederville Oval, Subiaco kicked four goals to one in the first half, eventually holding on against a pressing West Coast by 15 points.

After having the better of the first half, Subiaco was overrun by West Coast in the third quarter and early in the fourth, with Subiaco finding themselves in unchartered territory trailing heading towards time on of the last quarter.

With the game on the line in the last ten minutes, key forwards Ryan Borchet and Ben Sokol were able to make the most of some attacking play up the field, making and goaling for the final three goals of the match.

Key midfielders Kyal Horsley, Josh Deluca and Leigh Kitchin led Subiaco combing for 78 possessions, 13 clearances and 12 tackles, dictating the midfield battle at the crucial moments.

Defensively Angus Litherland had 23 disposals, including 11 rebound 50s, while Jordan Lockyer was rock solid in the last line with a season high 15 spoils time and again preventing West Coast’s forward entries.

Subiaco now enjoys an eight day break before a second consecutive battle against an AFL aligned club, with Peel travelling to Leederville next Saturday.

GAME CHANGERS

WINTER COMES EARLY

Friday’s game was played following the first major storm front of the year with over 20mm of rain falling in the 12 hours leading up to the game. While the rain held away for the majority of the match itself, that earlier rain, plus a strong south westerly breeze affected both teams with some uncharacteristic disposal errors by the Lions. The weather also played a part in the low Good Friday attendance.  

MAKING THE MOST WHEN IT MATTERS

Subiaco were beaten in a number of key statistical areas, including contested possession, clearances and tackles. However with the game on the line in the last quarter, Subiaco’s attacking flair and structure was pivotal in turning the game. The ability of Subiaco’s midfield to transition the ball quickly from defence to attack, couple with the ability of its forwards to find space behind the ball, helped set up the crucial last goals of the game.

WELL HEALED RETURN

After an injury interrupted pre-season, Aaron Heal’s return to Subiaco’s league team could not have been more perfectly timed. The hard working defender used his read of the game to repel a number of West Coast forward entries, finishing with a team high three intercept marks.

PRESSURE WHEN NEEDED

While youngsters Greg Clark and Jack Beverley only had 16 disposals for the game, they were at the coal face of Subiaco’s pressure efforts, leading the team with a combined 14 tackles. After nine tackles last week Clark had eight this week and continues to be one of Subiaco’s best midfielders for applying pressure so far in 2019.

TIME ON DOMINANCE

In a game that Subiaco won by 15 points, their ability to convert in time on was crucial. Subiaco scored 20 points in time on, holding West Coast to just three points. The ability to finish quarters, and ultimately the match strongest highlighted the hard work by the Subiaco strength and conditioning team across the pre-season.

THIRD QUARTER STREAK ENDS

One long standing Subiaco streak came to an end in Friday’s game as West Coast outscored Subiaco four goals to one in the third quarter, ending a 32 game run of Subiaco winning the third quarter battle. It was tight towards the end, however Subiaco’s comeback ensured that they continued their current unbeaten run to 23 games.

FINAL

SUBIACO                     2.1       4.6       5.8       8.12.60

WEST COAST WAFL    0.5       1.8       5.8       6.9.45

SUBIACO BEST: Lockyer, Deluca, Horsley, Kitchin, Borchet, Litherland.

SUBIACO GOALS: Waters 3; Borchet 2; Beverley, Fimmano, Sokol 1.