WAFLW: Lions narrowly miss finals after brave effort

Subiaco's remarkable 2022 campaign has come to an end, after a narrow 5-point loss to Peel Thunder at Leederville Oval on Saturday June 11.

Needing two goals under lights in the last quarter, the Lions gave it their all trying to get the win.

Subiaco kept surging the ball forward, but the Thunder's pressure behind the ball was up to the challenge.

The final few minutes was chaos, with the Lions stopping at nothing to get the ball to goal.

In a thrilling contest, Peel held their nerve, taking out the 2.9 (21) to 2.4 (16) win.

Veteran Tiah Toth was the best of the Lions, who crashed packs and intercepted on her way to 27 disposals and 11 marks.

Meanwhile midfielder Madi Wilkins took the game on to try to get the Lions on top, with 21 disposals and seven tackles.

The contest was fierce from the start, with neither team willing to concede in a game that had a finals-like intensity.

Both teams had chances inside forward 50 early, but the high pressure meant no goals could be scored in the first term.

However, Peel were able to get out to a two-point lead at quarter time.

It was much of the same in the second half, but the Lions would be the ones to strike first.

Tiah Toth had a set shot inside 50, but when the ball was about to fall short, Kate Pocsidio sensed the moment.

When the ball deflected from the marking contest, she soccered it through traffic to get the Lions the first goal of the match.

The defensive acts from Subiaco were strong, keeping the Thunder scoreless for the term.

In doing so, the Lions took a 5-point lead into half time.

Peel came out in the second half determined to get on top in the game.

The majority of the play was in their forward half, where they kept the Lions scoreless for the quarter.

Subiaco kept their opposition to one goal for the majority of the term, but a late goal to Peel slowed the momentum of the maroon and gold.

After the opening couple of minutes in the last term, Subiaco were 12 points down and needed to give it everything to turn the game on its head.

The Lions had chances inside 50, but the Thunder's desire to defend was immense.

Hanna Dethlefsen was able to convert a set shot late in the term, meaning it was game on.

It meant the last few minutes became all about territory, and whether or not the Lions could get one last look in front of goal.

In the end, Peel were too good on the day, taking out the five-point win.

It puts an end to Subiaco's 2022 campaign, which saw them come from the wilderness to come one straight kick away from finals.

Meanwhile, the Thunder got the better of Subiaco in the other grades, taking 42 and 70-point wins in the reserves and Rogers Cup respectively.

Subiaco's reserve side has finished fourth, and will play Swan Districts in week one of finals at Lane Group Stadium on Sunday June 19.

SUBIACO        0.2     1.3     1.3     2.4     (16)
PEEL THUNDER    0.4     0.4     2.7     2.9     (21)

Goals: Dethlefsen, Pocsidio.
Best: Toth, Wilkins, Dodd, Golisano, Corlett.