Round 13 Preview – West Perth v SubiacoSaturday, June 30, 2018 - 8:07 AM - by Chris Pike

WEST Perth took it right up to Subiaco back in 6 and the Falcons might even be in better form this time around heading into Saturday's clash with the unbeaten league-leading Lions as part of the International Football Festival at Joondalup Arena.

Not only is it a big day on Saturday at Joondalup Arena because of the WAFL game itself pitting the third placed West Perth up against the league-leading Subiaco, but the International Football Festival is proving one of the best days annually on the WAFL calendar.

Highlighting the job West Perth has done for the now annual event, 6044 watched Subiaco win by two points back in 2012 and 6195 watched East Fremantle win by 73 points in 2013.

Another strong crowd of 5362 saw Subiaco win by 25 points in 2014, 7849 witness West Perth beat Subiaco in 2015 and then early last year the Lions beat the Falcons by 44 points in front of 6090 people.

Then last year, wet weather made it a washout of an occasion with Subiaco beating West Perth by 11 points but that won't be a concern this time around with the weather looking good, the league game set to be a beauty and a tremendous day of celebration planned for al in attendance.

The game itself is shaping as one of the games of the WAFL season with West Perth trying to take it right up to a Subiaco team that is looking unstoppable.

The Falcons come into the contest in third position with a 7-4 record having won their previous two matches against Perth by 21 points and Claremont by one. Prior to that, West Perth lost to Peel by three points but did beat East Perth and East Fremantle prior to that.

While West Perth's form is good, Subiaco just looks unstoppable with its dominance at present having now won all 10 matches to open the 2018 season by an average of 71.5 points, including an 82-point thumping of the fourth placed Swan Districts last Saturday at Steel Blue Oval.

But West Perth remains the one team that Subiaco hasn’t gotten a hold of at least once so far this season.

When they first met back in Round 6 at Leederville Oval, West Perth pushed Subiaco all the way before the Lions managed to pull away and end up winning by 22 points.

But that performance would have given great confidence to the Falcons that they compete with the Lions as they now attempt to become the first team to beat them in 2018.

While Subiaco does look unable to be moved from top spot no matter the result on Saturday, for West Perth a win would move them into second position on the WAFL ladder if South Fremantle loses to East Perth.

Even with a win for South Fremantle, West Perth will remain right in touch for that second position and well clear in third spot. But a loss and the Falcons could lose touch with second position and be clinging to third.

West Perth is in good form coming into Saturday's clash with Subiaco and as a result there was little reason for coach Bill Monaghan to want to change too much about the line-up.

At this stage, no players have been named out for the Falcons with Rudy Riddoch, Tyson Moulton and Dean Munns included to the squad.

In last week's reserves win for West Perth against Perth, Riddoch kicked two goals from 15 possessions while Moulton had 12 disposals and a goal, and Munns 23 touches and eight marks.

Highlighting the good position West Perth is currently in both regards to form and health, Aidan Lynch, Matt Guadagnin, Max Alexander and Baylee James are among those playing strong reserves football at the moment but can't even break into the Falcons' 25-man squad.

Subiaco does lose dangerous forward Rhys Waters to injury who has kicked 23 goals this season and joins Brad Stevenson, Kyle Halligan and Ben Newton out of the line-up for the Lions.

But depth is anything but a concern for the Lions and Ryan Borchet, Nick Menegola, Jack Beverley and Daniel Leach have been added to the squad to play West Perth at Joondalup Arena on Saturday, and at least one of them will break into the team.

Leach, in particular, continues to bang the door down in the reserves for Subiaco and had another 36 possessions last Saturday against Swan Districts while there's still no room in the 25 for 100-game premiership winning hard man Adam Cockie. 

WEST PERTH (7-4, 3rd) v SUBIACO (10-0, 1st) – JOONDALUP ARENA, SATURDAY 2.40PM
Selected teams, live stats 
Broadcast – Noongar Radio, HFM, Footy Radio