Subiaco Hand Swan Districts First Loss of 2018

SWAN Districts got off to the start it hoped with the first two goals and then five goals to three in the opening quarter but couldn't keep it going with Subiaco handing the black-and-whites their first loss of 2018 at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

 

 

Subiaco and Swan Districts were the last two remaining undefeated teams in the WAFL heading into the Round 3 contest at Leederville Oval, but it was the Lions who sent another strong message to the competition that they mean business in 2018.

 

Both teams were undefeated and Swans did come out and kick the opening two goals of the game, and then the last three of the opening term to be on top by 11 points at the first change.

 

But from there the Lions kicked 18 of the last 19 goals to run out 21.14 (140) to 6.8 (44) winners.

 

Swans' only goal after quarter-time came at the 13-minute mark of the third term courtesy of Rhys Palmer.

 

Subiaco came into the game on the back of the thumping wins over East Perth by 118 points and South Fremantle by 58 to open the season.

 

Swan Districts was coming off wins against Perth and Peel Thunder so were expected to give the Lions their biggest test of 2018 to date. But it wasn’t to be with Subiaco's strength early this season on the back of playing in the past four WAFL Grand Finals remarkable.

 

It was as dominant a performance after quarter-time as you are likely to see with Subiaco finishing the game with 143 more possessions than Swan Districts, 32 more marks, 27 extra inside-50 entries and 35 scoring shots to 14.

 

Rhys Palmer returned for Swan Districts after missing last week's win over Peel following a dominant Round 1 performance against Perth. He battled hard on Saturday against Subiaco finishing with 20 possessions, six tackles and two goals.

 

Adam Faulkner also picked up 21 possessions for the black-and-whites, Steven Payne 20 and Matt Riggio 17 along with five tackles.

 

The Swans' back-line was under siege with Subiaco amassing 59 inside-50 entries for the afternoon but Tobe Watson finished with 16 possessions and five marks, and Tony Notte 14 disposals, five marks and five tackles.

 

Swans came out and made the perfect start as they tried to topple the Lions with goals in the first five minutes to Corey Gault and Rhys Palmer. 

 

Subiaco did answer through Brad Stevenson, Rowen Powell and Hayden Kennedy but it was a good first term by the black-and-whites topped off with goals to Warrick Wilson, Matthew Rogers and Todd Banfield as they led impressively by 11 points at the first break.

 

By three minutes into the second term, Subiaco had assumed the lead, though, with goals to Stevenson and Josh Deluca and they never looked back.

 

Subiaco went on to kick the only six goals of the second quarter to lead by 27 points at half-time.

 

Stevenson then added a third with Max Walters adding another before Palmer's second goal for Swans cut the deficit back to 35 points midway through the quarter.

 

Subiaco went on to kick the last three goals of the third quarter to lead by 55 points at three quarter-time and then the only seven goals of the final term to win by 96. 

 

Swan Districts reserves held on to beat Subiaco 15.8 (98) to 13.10 (88) on Saturday at Leederville Oval.

 

Swans led by 17 points at quarter-time, 15 at half-time and 25 at three quarter-time before holding on despite the Lions kicking three goals to one in the last term.

 

Brad Fullgrabe kicked three goals for Swan Districts to go with 16 possessions, nine marks and 14 hit outs.

 

Albert Dean also booted three majors along with 23 disposals, five marks and five tackles. 

 

Levi Ridley, Brody Sutton and Chad Daniels also kicked two goals for Swans as well.

 

Jack O'Sullivan gathered 24 possessions for Swan Districts, Ben McGillivray 22, Freddie Clutterbuck 22, Mitch Mackenzie 20 and Lockie Huntley 19.

 

And in the colts contest at Leederville Oval on Saturday, it was also a battle of the undefeated teams with Subiaco beating Swan Districts 12.6 (78) to 5.12 (42).

 

Subiaco's colts are now the last remaining undefeated side and they had to come from 14 points behind at half-time against Swans to do so. 

 

The Lions kicked the only nine goals of the second half to claim the 36-point victory.

 

Atem Deng, Mitchell Bain, Ryan Bennell, Patrick Farrant and Lachlan Ebsary were the goal kickers for Swan Districts.

 

Bain also had 19 possessions for Swans, Jarred Cameron 19, Graydon Wilson 18 (10 tackles) and Jackson Beck 17 (nine marks, seven tackles).

 

Swan Districts will attempt to bounce back on Saturday against West Perth at Steel Blue Oval in the now traditional battle commemorating Anzac Day between the two clubs.

 

SWAN DISTRICTS 5.2 5.2 6.4 6.8 (44)

SUBIACO 3.3 9.5 14.11 21.14 (140)

 

SWAN DISTRICTS – Goals: Palmer 2; Rogers, Banfield, Gault, Wilson.

Best: Palmer, Faulkner, Payne, Watson, Riggio, Notte.

SUBIACO – Goals: Stevenson, Sokol 4; Powell 3; Halligan 2; Kennedy, Waters, Kitchin, Deluca, Delahunty, Walters, Clarke, Heal.

Best: Deluca, Kennedy, Sokol, Phelan, Delahunty, Horsley, Clark.