Round 5 – Subiaco v East Perth Match ReportSaturday, April 15, 2017 - 3:06 PM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO continued East Perth's miserable start to the 2017 WAFL season recording a dominant 91-point victory in the Good Friday contest at Leederville Oval.

The Leederville Oval co-tenants have turned it into a tradition to do battle on Good Friday and once again it was Subiaco proving too strong.

Subiaco opened the season with a loss to South Fremantle, but coming off playing in the past three WAFL grand finals they are now building some momentum early in 2017.

Subiaco bounced back from that 39-point loss to the Bulldogs to beat Perth, West Perth and Peel Thunder leading into the Good Friday clash with East Perth.

The Royals have struggled so far in 2017 under new coach Luke Webster. They were coming off losses to Peel Thunder, West Perth, Swan Districts and Claremont leading into Good Friday.

Things certainly got no better there for the Royals with the Lions romping to the 20.15 (135) to 6.8 (44) victory.

Subiaco was on top from the outset but couldn’t put East Perth away converting just four goals from 10 scoring shots in the opening term.

The Lions still led by 16 points at quarter-time before they added another seven goals to two in the second term to open a commanding 45-point half-time advantage.

The Royals managed just the three behinds for the third term with the Lions piling on another five goals.

Four more final quarter goals for Subiaco to two from East Perth saw the eventual 91-point margin.

Liam Ryan again delivered a dynamic performance up forward for Subiaco kicking six goals from 16 possessions and seven marks.

Max Walters continued his tremendous early season form as well kicking three goals from 22 possessions and 11 marks while South Fremantle recruit Bailey Matera booted two majors from 18 touches.

Brad Stevenson kicked two goals with Clancy Wheeler working hard for 19 touches, 12 hit outs and a goal.

Chris Phelan was again prolific in the midfield for Subiaco with 32 possessions while Kyal Horsley had it 24 times, Craig Hoskins 23, Leigh Kitchin 22 and Scott Hancock 19.

East Perth continues to play the game style in line with what West Coast plays at AFL level. That led to the Royals having 89 more possessions, 96 extra handballs and 28 more marks than Subiaco.

It didn’t lead to much positive from West Coast's perspective, at least their players are playing a similar game plan to what they would see at AFL level if or when they are called up.

As a result a host of East Perth players finished with a truckload of the ball with a limited influence on the game.

Lewis Jetta racked up 36 possessions, Mark Hutchings 32, Luke Partington 27, Paddy Brophy 25, Dom Sheed 24, Josh Rotham 22 and Kurt Mutimer 21. They are all Eagles-listed.

Fraser McInnes worked away for 18 touches and 22 hit outs with Scott Jones also having 37 hit outs in the ruck.

Eric Mackenzie did all he could down back and had 25 possessions and 13 marks.

Of the East Perth products, Nathan Blee battled hard for 28 possessions with Steven Payne gathering 25 disposals and Shayne Hille kicking three goals from 18 touches and five marks.

Subiaco now takes on Claremont at East Fremantle Oval on Saturday looking for a fifth consecutive win.

East Perth's search for a first win of 2017 remains home at Leederville Oval against Perth also on Saturday.

SUBIACO            4.6    11.6    16.12    20.15    (135)
EAST PERTH            2.2    4.3    4.6    6.8    (44)

SUBIACO – Goals: Ryan 6; Walters 3; Stevenson, Matera 2; Horsley, Phelan, Hancock, Wheeler, Sokol, Powell, Fimmano.
Best: Ryan, Phelan, Walters, Horsley, Matera, Wheeler, Hoskins.
EAST PERTH – Goals: Hille 3; Sheed, Maginness, Brophy.
Best: Hutchings, Mackenzie, Hille, Jetta, Blee, Payne, Partington.