Round 3 Preview - West Perth v SubiacoFriday, March 31, 2017 - 3:59 PM - by Chris Pike

WEST Perth and Subiaco matches rarely disappoint and this Saturday's clash at HBF Arena looks to be another cracker as the Falcons and Lions look to make an early season statement.

There's never any shortage of feeling in clashes between West Perth and Subiaco and even going back to the last meeting of 2017 at Kingsway, both teams will still have some feelings remaining over from that spirited contest.

But more importantly both teams will want to make their mark on the scoreboard early in the new season.

West Perth had the opening round bye before doing well to beat East Perth by 21 points last Sunday at HBF Arena. It was a tight affair all afternoon before the Falcons kicked the opening three goals of the last quarter to set up a match-winning advantage.

Subiaco is coming off playing in the previous three WAFL grand finals, but made a slow start to the season losing to South Fremantle by 39 points at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

But the Lions bounced back with a solid 23-point win over Perth at Leederville Oval last week and will be looking to build on that performance now against West Perth on Saturday at HBF Arena.

Looking back to last year, Subiaco beat West Perth in Round 3 by 44 points at HBF Arena and in Round 20 at Kingsway Reserve by 52. 

West Perth did get one back in between winning in Round 10 by 26 points at Leederville Oval.

West Perth does have at least three changes to make from the team that beat East Perth on Sunday.

Aaron Black has received a one-week suspension so he is out of the line-up to take on the Lions with Steve Potente and Dean Munns joining him.

Brayden Antonio was outstanding in the reserves last week with 27 possessions and three goals to likely earn himself a call up while Ben King could come straight back in after being a late withdrawal against East Perth.

Alexander Coe, Conal Lynch, Mitch Peirce and Mitch van Berlo all performed well in the reserves against East Perth on Sunday to put themselves in contention to take on Subiaco this Saturday.

Adam Cockie has worked his way back to some form and fitness the past two weeks in the reserves for Subiaco to put himself back in the mix to take on West Perth on Saturday. Last Saturday against Perth he had 27 possessions, six inside 50s and a goal.

Brad Stevenson has also spent the first two weeks in the reserves and the versatile key position player is in the mix to take on West Perth.

Former Swan Districts player Dylan Nelson could make his Subiaco debut following four goals in the reserves last week with Braden Fimmano, Ben Sokol and Daniel Perkins also in the mix at the selection table.

James Garcia, Chris Bryan and Greg Clark are three players who will be out of the Subiaco side against West Perth on Saturday.

WEST PERTH v SUBIACO – HBF ARENA, SATURDAY 2.15PM
Selected teams, live stats 
Broadcast – HFM (107.3FM)