DEMONS STORM HOME OVER LIONS

By Mark Thornber

Round 9, Perth v Subiaco

At Medibank Stadium, Saturday 18 May 2013

Perth                           5.3       9.3       13.5      18.7      115

Subiaco                       6.3       8.8       13.10    13.12    90

Perth showed some wonderful fighting spirit, and despite being down to only one fit player on the bench stormed home kicking 5 goals to none to win an entertaining match by 25 points against Subiaco at Medibank Stadium on Saturday.

In perfect football conditions Perth Captain Paul Bevan won the toss and chose to kick to the city end of the ground. It was not long before the Demons hit the scoreboard with an early goal to tall wingman Michael Florio, who lined up on former Demon Jarrod Kayler- Thomson.

Daniel O’Sullivan converted another major from a free kick as Perth were looking good early on. The Lions soon hit back though as David Madut converted truly for the home side. In what turned out to be a high scoring first term both team’s traded goal for goal in a high scoring quarter producing 11 goals.

At quarter time it was Subiaco that held a narrow lead after kicking 6 goals 3 to 5 goals 3. The second quarter saw Perth’s hard working midfield led by Brett Hodge and Ali Smith continually drive the Demons deep and long into attack. Bevan kicked Perth’s 6^th goal and this was followed by another to Kyle Reimers, who was playing a great game starting in the centre square.

The real spark though for the Demons was Matthew Moody who came off the bench to play some really inspired team football that including him kicking a wonderful running goal late in the term. The Lions did manage a late goal just before half time, however it was the visitors that lead the match at half time by 1 point after kicking 4 goals to 2 for the quarter.

The second half again saw the trend of the match continue with Perth starting the term well with early goals only to see the Lions come back. After a quiet first half Brennan Stack came to life and booted his side’s 10^th and 12^th goals. Subi responded though as Kayler-Thomson set up key forward Ray Daniels, who was testing Perth’s backline.

After another very even term a costly Perth defensive error saw the home side kick a late goal and take a narrow lead of 5 points as the three quarter time siren sounded.

A confident Perth Coach Damien McMahon pleaded with his players to run out the match in his three quarter time speech. The last term started well for Perth with the lively Stack booting 2 quick goals in 3 minutes as Perth looked to have finally gained the momentum of the match.

Christian Eyres was now dominant in the centre square with Ali Smith and Hodge full of run as they carried the ball inside Perth’s forward 50 metres. The Perth fans were thrilled with the Demon’s last term as they ran all over their tired looking opponents.

When Stack booted his 6^th major the match was well and truly safe with Florio finishing off a wonderful last term by kicking his team’s 18^th goal. When the final siren went the Demons were 25 points clear. The win was a great character victory for the club especially with early injuries to Ashley Smith and Daniel O’sullivan and then later to Kane Ransted meant their rotations were limited in the final quarter.

Hodge was clearly best on ground in a courageous display for Perth picking up a game high 33 tough possessions. Stack after a slow start provided a real spark up forward and finished with 6 goals with Bevan again playing a wonderful Captain’s match with 3 goals and 23 touches.

Ali Smith, Reimers and Moody all played matching winning roles in an exciting last quarter reading the palming of an impressive Christian Eyres in the ruck to excellent effect.

Next week Perth will be playing for outright second place on the ladder when they tackle the Falcons in the match of the round at Arena Joondalup.

Goals: Stack 6, Bevan 3, Florio, O’Sullivan, Reimers, Moody, Sketcher, Busher 1.

Best: Hodge, Stack, Bevan, Moody, Reimers, Ali Smith.