Round 7 Match Review

PERTH 9.10 (64) lost to SUBIACO 13.12 (90)

All eyes were on Lathlain's Mineral Resources Park to start Round 7 on Saturday to see if Perth could look in a finals spot or if Subiaco could stay in the hunt, and it was the Lions who came away with a strong 26-point win.

The game presented a chance on home soil for the Demons to guarantee themselves a first WAFL finals appearance since 1997 and in the process ending the finals prospects of a Subiaco team chasing a third straight premiership.

But Subiaco has proven time and time again this century why they are the benchmark club in the WAFL and the Lions kept themselves in the finals race on Saturday with the 26-point win where the final scoreline probably flattered the Demons.

Subiaco fielded a stronger line-up on Saturday too with premiership players Rowen Powell, Aaron Heal and Kyal Horsley returning and as the Lions look better on paper, it's only natural their performances improve and that was the case from the outset against the Demons.

Knowing their season was on the line, Subiaco came out and dominated the first quarter with 11 scoring shots to just two from Perth. 

While the Lions didn’t kick as accurately as they would have liked, they still put up four goals to two and went into the quarter-time break in control by 19 points.

Subiaco continued to dominate in the second quarter and kicked another four goals to just one from Perth and that saw the Lions command a match-winning 32-point advantage by the main break.

Both teams added two goals apiece in the third quarter and then Perth did finish the game well with four goals to Subiaco's three in the last quarter, but the Lions were in control all afternoon and went on to score the 13.12 (90) to 9.10 (64).

It was an eighth win in-a-row for Subiaco against Perth with the Lions improving to a 3-3 record on the season to close in on the fourth placed Demons who are now 4-2.

Perth finishes its season with games against Swan Districts and South Fremantle while Subiaco plays East Fremantle and West Perth.

Jakob Atkinson provided Subiaco with a strong target up forward finishing with three goals from 18 possessions and seven inside-50 entries. Rhys Waters and Max Walters kicked two goals apiece as well.

Kyal Horsley showed how sorely he has been missed for Subiaco over the past three games as he showed he has plenty of gas left in his 205-game tank delivering 23 possessions, four marks, four tackles and four inside-50 entries.

Leigh Kitchin also collected 20 disposals for the Lions, Drew Rohde 19, Walters 17 and debutant Liam Hickmott 16 to go with seven tackles and a goal.

Reigning Sandover Medallist Lachlan Delahunty was terrific as well with 19 possessions, 23 hit outs and a goal.

Fraser McInnes kicked three goals for Perth as did exciting young gun Logan McDonald to now have 17 for the season to be leading the Bernie Naylor Medal race.

Second-gamer Nathan O'Driscoll was especially impressive for the Demons with 20 possessions and six tackles while Matthew Taylor collected 20 disposals, Jacob Coniglio 16, Michael Sinclair 15 and Brady Grey 15.