|
Monday, 22 September 2008 |
Subiaco defeats Swan Districts
Subiaco - 22.16 - 148 defeat Swan Districts - 14.7 - 91
The Subiaco Lions defeated the Swan District Swans in the 2008 WAFL Grand Final at Subiaco Oval on Sunday. It is the third consecutive premiership for the Lions who were clear favourites going into the game with only one lose for the season (to the Swans), the last minute controversial inclusion of ex West Coast Eagle Daniel Chick and a far more experienced side with eleven players with more than 100 games each compared to the Swans two players with the century milestone. The Black and White’s played hard and proved their position, but the Lions were too strong and finished up by 57 points.
The first quarter was a great display of talent and desire by both teams. Young Eagles rookie Tony Notte started the game with a bang kicking the first goal in under a minute of bounce down as the largely Swans supporter crowd cheered. Docker’s player Clayton Hinkley and the tall Llane Spaanderman helped get the ball out of trouble and assisted Chris Yarran and Nick Natanui to bring the ball forward. Michael Johnson stole the ball from Subi star forward Brad Smith and went on to kick a major score for the Swans. Brett Wolfenden delivered well to teammates while young Todd Banfield showed promise when he kicked a goal under pressure to extend the lead 12 points. While Jeffery Garlette made his only contribution to the game with a beautiful snap on goal just before quarter time to finish the term 16 points up.
David McKinlay had the tough job on Brad Smith and while McKinlay did the job at times getting to the ball first, Smith was bound to continue his goal kicking count and started the second term with a quick major score. But he was also inaccurate with a strong breeze picking up the ball to go out of bounds; the Lions were also unlucky with another potential goal, when Hinkley stopped the ball only moments before crossing the line and got it out for the Swans possession. Notte kicked big to Swans fill-in captain Garth Taylor who cleanly marked the ball and went on for a major score and kept the teams hopes up. But Subiaco’s David Mapleston kicked two quick goals then the reigning premiers played along the wing to get it to their leading goalkicker and Smith kicked another major score putting the Lions in the lead. The Lions went in to the major break with the slight lead of four points.
The Lions came back strong into the second half of the game while the Swans had lost their precision. A rushed behind was the only score on the board for the Swans until Ryan Davis marked the ball in time-on and kicked a goal from 45m out. Shane Beros worked hard to get the team’s momentum back, but as David McKinlay kicked the ball it was marked by the Lion’s Mapleston. Chris Hall and Chad Cossom both kicked goals in the last few minutes of the third term and extended Subiaco’s lead to 37 points.
Wolfenden tried to keep the Swans in the game and kicked a major score within moments of the start of the final term, but it was quickly answered back by Smith who kicked his fourth. Taylor and Spaanderman again worked well to get the ball out of Subiaco’s forward, but the team was unable to carry through to the scoreboard. Daniel Rich and Mapleston were kicking toward goal for the Lion’s, but it was Phil Read who jumped up in a soccer-style kick and booted the ball through for a spectacular goal. Natanui kept the pressure on in the backline, but could not stop Read’s next goal on the run from 50m out. Yarran and Tim Geappen kicked a goal each for the Swans in the last minutes of the game, but only to slightly narrow the margin while the Lion’s coaching staff started an early celebration in the dugout. Although it was a tight contest for the first half of the game the Subiaco Lion’s were in control for the second half and won by 57 points.
Subiaco Lions 3.5 9.9 15.13 22.16 (148)Swan Districts 6.3 9.5 10.6 14.7 (91)
Subiaco’s Chris Hall won the Simpson Medal. Hall scored two goals two behinds with 21 disposals. It was a great last game for the Lion’s midfielder Jarrad Schofield with 32 disposals and a goal while Brad Smith kicked six goals. Brett Wolfenden topped the Swans disposals list with 21 while Josh Roberts and Tony Notte were the only multiple goal kickers for the Black and White’s.
Focus will now be on the AFL draft to see if the Swans young talents will travel interstate or stay in WA to continue the Swans exciting growth as a team.
By Melissa “Frizz” Ferguson
|
