Match Preview v Peel Thunder

Match Preview v Peel Thunder presented by CSG Marketing (https://csg.marketing/)

Its Round eight and Subiaco are set to face Peel for the first time this season at home for a 2:10pm bouncedown. 

Keep an eye on Subiaco’s social media channels and app for updates across the day and if you cannot make it to the game.

FORM
After last week’s close encounter with the Swans, Subi have notched up five wins for the season to one loss, given to them by reigning premiers, South Freo. Round seven’s fixture was entitled to be a scrappy game given the weather conditions that unfolded and the result did reflect that with a final margin of eight. Spectacles like last week and another close one against West Perth in round three are not how the Lions want to win every week but show have showed resilience within the playing group sticking at it until the end. 

Reflecting Subi being such a high pressure team, they are ruling the tackle count for the competition, 35 tackles clear of South Freo in second and averaging 66 a game. 

It’s been Clark and Kitchin leading the way for these high pressure acts with them both sitting on 40+ tackles for the season so far. Creative small forward, Faraone leads the goal tally for the Lions (13.8) and showing some consistent run of form, has kicked at least a goal a game so far.

OPPONENTS FORM
Peel have got this point in the season with three and three on the board and just last week coming off a loss to West Perth. Last year’s shortened 2020 season was a disappointing one for the Thunder with no wins for the season. In a bit of a turnaround, they now sit equal third on the ladder and of their three losses this year have been against quality top four sides. 

Peel are leading the way for goals kicked this year with 91 for the season, credited to Blair Bell, Sam Sturt and Tyrone Thorne as they’ve all had a total of 13+ scoring shots for the season. In terms of highest ball getters, its been Jackson Merrett and Ben Hancock who have, on average, been racking up 25 and 23.5 touches a game with an accumulative 291 disposals for the season so far.  

GOAL KICKERS
In Round five of 2020 in Subiaco’s 37 point win over the Thunder, it was raining more points than goals for the game with a total of 23 behinds for only 15 goals for both teams. For Subi, it was Nick Martin that kicked 3.3, Ben Newton with two and five other players with a major each for the day. For the home team in Peel, Ex-Afl star, Hayden Ballantyne managed two goals, Blair Bell, Jack Sears and Kudzi Motsi only each having one also. 

LAST TWO TIMES
In a comfortable for away team Subi, their wayward kicking dampened what could’ve been a percentage boosting victory. The Lions made enough of their opportunities because they ran away with the four points, but could’ve been a different story had Peel kicked straighter and likewise the Lions winning margin could’ve been stretched out further. 

Subi had more of the ball and therefore put themselves in front of goal more often. Kitchin had 28 possessions, eight tackles and was a key factor to surging the ball forward with eight inside-50s. 

Before that, in 2019 Subiaco claimed the win again by a margin of 41. Kyal Horsley had a big game for the Lions, 28 touches, 10 tackles, massive 11 inside 50s and even a goal as well. Ben Sokol kicked three along with 18 touches too in what shaped up to be a big day for the forwards.

A big win this week could see the Lions sit comfortable up in top spot and a continuation of a winning streak against the Thunder of recent years.  

OTHER GRADES
Subi Colts will play at 9 on Saturday morning followed by Reserves at 11:30, both being played at Leederville Oval. The Lions’ Womens team have their game on Saturday also, but will follow the league game at 5:15pm.