Round 9 Recap v West Perth

LEAGUE
Subiaco travelled away to Provident Financial Oval to take on the West Perth Falcons in a clash that would determine whether or not the Lions would play Finals in Season 2020. 

Subiaco were pushed on to the back foot early on in the contest, falling behind by 15 points at the first break thanks to a four-goal to one opening stanza. The Lions inaccuracy in front of goal continued into the second, as they registered another 1.3 for the quarter. The Lions backline fought valiantly to only concede a further two goals for the quarter as they went into the break 20 points down and hopeful of a strong showing in the second half. 

The Lions would be disappointed with the result of the third quarter, which ultimately cost them the match. Subiaco scored one solitary major for the quarter but conceded five as the margin was pushed out to 46 points, leaving their chances of a victory unlikely. The Lions brought a renewed intensity and effort around the contest at the commencement of the final quarter which saw them go forward with some vigour and impact the scoreboard, booting five majors of their own to one. The Lions did well to close some of the gap, but ultimately the match was lost, with the third quarter deficit proving too difficult to make up as the Lions were beaten by 19 points; 12.5.77 to 8.10.58. 

On a day where goals were hard to come by, only two Lions registered multiple goals; with Greg Clark booting 2.1 from his 16 disposals and the returning Ryan Borchet kicking two of his own from his limited opportunities. Although the Lions were well beaten around the ground, it was their inaccuracy in front of goal that ultimately cost them the match, registering more scoring shots than the Falcons who only kicked five behinds for the afternoon to the Lions 10. 

Leigh Kitchin fought hard in the midfield all day, gathering 23 disposals and laying an impressive 13 tackles for the match, who along with Kyal Horsley (21 disposals) and Lachlan Delahunty did their best to extract the ball from stoppages and work together as a midfield unit. The latter recorded 36 hit outs and 18 disposals for the match in another strong showing for the star ruckman. 

The loss brings about the end of a difficult season for the club, who failed to live up to the dizzying heights of the previous two seasons and complete a three-peat. From a long-term perspective though, many players have been given opportunities throughout the season to test themselves at the top level and cement their place in the League side for seasons to come. Subiaco will no doubt continue to challenge for the Premiership in the coming years, as the side transitions into the beginning of what will no doubt be another strong era in the WAFL competition.  

WEST PERTH     4.0    6.2     11.5     12.5    (77)
SUBIACO            1.3    2.6      3.7      8.10    (58)

SUBIACO BEST: G. Clark, K. Stainsby, L. Kitchin, J. Miller.
SUBIACO GOALS: 2 – G. Clark, R. Borchet 1 – K. Stainsby, R. Waters, M. Walters, B. Matera.
REPORTS: Nil.

RESERVES
The Lions travelled to Provident Financial Oval to take on the West Perth Falcons on Saturday afternoon in the final match of the 2020 WAFL Reserves home-and-away season. With a top-two finish already sewn up for the Lions this match served as a fantastic opportunity to fine-tune their game plan before their 2020 Finals campaign. West Perth had everything to play for, with a Finals birth still a mathematical possibility should they get the four points. The Falcons flew out of the gates early, to draw ahead by 10 points at the first break and maintain a slim six-point lead at the end of the first half. Subiaco commanded the third quarter with their dominance of possession and supreme accuracy in-front of goal. The Lions piled on 7.1 for the quarter and restricted the Falcons to a measly two behinds as they charged ahead into the final break with a tidy 35-point lead. The last quarter saw the Falcons turn the tables on the Lions, essentially repeating what was done to them in the third as they kicked five goals of their own and kept the Lions to just three behinds, giving them a late scare in the process. Ultimately, the Lions third-quarter dominance was enough for them to hold on for a six-point win, 10.8.68 to 9.8.62.

The Lions had an even spread of goalkickers, with nine players all registering a vital major for the day. Thomas Edwards-Baldwin was the only multiple goal scorer for the Lions as they banked the four points and turn their attention to their first Final against East Perth next Sunday.

NEXT UP
In Week 1 of the 2020 WAFL Reserves Finals Series, the top two finishing teams will face off at Provident Financial Oval. The winner of this match between East Perth and Subiaco will be granted passage straight into the Grand Final while enjoying an important week off along the way. 

WEST PERTH    3.1    4.4    4.6       9.8     (62)
SUBIACO           1.2    3.4    10.5    10.8    (68)

SUBIACO BEST: W. Hickmott, B. Golding, A. Clinch, J. Robbins, L. Shepherd.
SUBIACO GOALS: 2 – T. Edwards-Baldwin 1 – H. Marsh, A. Breman, M. Lawrence, M. Hughes, N. French, O. Matthews, L. Shepherd, B. Young.
REPORTS: Nil.

COLTS
Round nine of the Simply Energy Colts competition saw Subiaco travel away to Provident Financial Oval to take on West Perth in the final match of the 2020 Home-and-Away season. The Lions were dominant early as they signalled their intentions for the match, kicking four goals and keeping the Falcons to four behinds for the quarter. An incredibly inaccurate display from the Falcons kept the Lions in the lead at the main break, with the half-time scoreline reading 3.10 to the Lions 5.2, giving Subiaco a narrow four-point lead. The second half was a complete arm wrestle as both sides inaccuracy in front of goal allowed the other the opportunities to score and take the lead. 

Cameron Dean was the leading disposal winner for the Lions, recording 22 to go with his 10 marks and two goals, while Matthew Johnson (20 disposals, five tackles) and Lachlan Vanirsen (20 disposals, six marks) found plenty of the ball also. Sandon Page continued his strong season, kicking two majors from his 16 disposals. The gun forward is enjoying a remarkable season that has seen him kick at least two goals in every one of his seven Colts matches in Season 2020. 

In the end, West Perth’s dominance with ball in hand proved too much for the Lions, with the Falcons recording 22 more inside 50’s, nine more scoring shots, 19 more hit outs and 58 more disposals for the morning as they ran out nine-point winners, 7.15.57 to 7.6.48.

Subiaco will be buoyed by the fact they nearly stole victory despite being well below their best and losing in a lot of key statistical areas. They have still secured a top-two finish with an extraordinary percentage of nearly 181 as they head into a Finals campaign with a real possibility of the ultimate success. 

NEXT UP
Subiaco will take on Claremont in a top-two clash that will see the winner proceed straight through to the 2020 Grand Final. Bounce down is at 9:30am at Fremantle Community Bank Oval this Saturday, September 20.

WEST PERTH    0.4    3.10    4.14    7.15   (57???????)
SUBIACO            4.1    5.2      6.6      7.6    (48)

SUBIACO BEST: L. Vanirsen, E. Brunalli, C. Dean, L. Henderson.
SUBIACO GOALS: 2 – S. Page, C. Dean 1 – E. Brunalli, N. Cleaver, J. Bilchuris.
REPORTS: Nil.