Premiership the only thing on Horsley's mindThursday, September 20, 2018 - 5:30 PM - by Chris Pike

FOR a fourth time in his career, Subiaco captain Kyal Horsley went ever so close winning a Sandover Medal in 2018 but his sole focus remains on Sunday's Grand Final and on making sure the Lions execute to their potential in all areas after two years of heartbreak.

It's difficult to dispute Horsley's status as the premier player in the competition and while one accolade that continues to elude him is the Sandover after yet another top three finish on Monday night, it's not something he's too worried about.

Instead, the Lions skipper is firmly focused on Sunday's WAFL Grand Final against West Perth at Optus Stadium with him leading Subiaco into a fifth straight decider and attempting to make up for the tough losses the past two years against Peel Thunder.

That's where Horsley's focus is and all his energy is directed towards ensuring he and his teammates do everything right in the preparation for the Grand Final, and then once they get out onto Optus Stadium they give themselves the very best chance to make up for the past two years.

Horsley already is a triple premiership player having also captained Subiaco to the triumphs of 2014 and 2015 to go along with four appearances for WA including being skipper on top of two club fairest and best awards and being a life member at the Lions.

So he's certainly not lacking for accolades throughout his career, but he continues to be such a prolific and consistent performer over a WAFL career that has now spanned 180 matches heading into what will be the eighth Grand Final that he's played in.

Given Horsley has also been runner-up in the Sandover Medal count in 2011 and finished third in both 2014 and 2017, it might have been a recognition fitting for him but it's the last thing now on the mind of the 30-year-old.

Reflecting on a thrilling count on Monday night where he went neck and neck with eventual winner Jye Bolton, Horsley has no trouble believing the Claremont midfielder was a deserved winner and was quick to congratulate him for a second Sandover Medal in three years.

"Jye is a deserved winner and he had an incredible year, and I thought the back half of his season was probably a step above everyone," Horsley said.

"We saw that when we played them and he nearly carried them over the line to beat us and if it wasn’t for a couple of really good efforts from Chris Phelan and Leigh Kitchin in that game from us, they probably would have got the chocolates. 

"He had an incredible year and I don’t play footy for individual accolades. It's all for team success and that's what the Subi culture has been from the moment I walked in the door and nothing has changed since. 

"As good and flattering and as proud as you are for individual accolades, it's the Grand Finals you play for."

A big reason for Horsley not winning the Sandover Medal on Monday night was the number of teammates he had who polled well also, which in turn is a major reason why the Lions went through the season undefeated and are raging favourites heading into the Grand Final against the Falcons.

As well as Horsley polling 47 votes in the Sandover Medal count, Lachlan Delahunty received 38, Josh Deluca 31, Zac Clarke 23, Leigh Kitchin 22, Hayden Kennedy 21, Chris Phelan 17 and Ben Sokol 16.

That depth of big vote winners only goes to show why Subiaco went through the season undefeated and Horsley is proud of the playing group he calls teammates as they now look to complete the first unbeaten season in the WAFL since 1946 by winning Sunday's Grand Final.

"All those guys deserve the votes they got for having incredible years and I think Lachlan Delahunty would have won the award by a street if he was an inside midfielder with the year he had. But as we know, it's tended to be a midfielder's award and that's unfortunate for him," he said.

"But the year the guys have had is incredible and Jarrad sets a standard that he wants everyone to follow and the guys believe in that, and buy into that. That results in playing good individual footy, but most importantly good team football."

Subiaco might be seen as unbackable favourites to win the 2018 premiership given its undefeated season to date, there is none of that feeling inside the walls at the club and with the playing group or coaching staff.

The Lions know all too well what it feels like to be the standout team all season as they have been the past two years winning both minor premierships but then coming up short on Grand Final day.

Given that pain from what they have been through the past two years courtesy of Peel Thunder, there is no complacency whatsoever from Horsley and his playing group.

What he has learned the hard way is that favouritism and what you've done all year counts for nothing once you get out onto the Grand Final stage, and that's why he knows to win the premiership on Sunday it's likely going to take Subiaco's best performance of 2018.

"The mindset is probably a good reality check that we know nothing's for certain and you can't take anything for granted. We found out the last two years, especially the last two years, where Jarrad and the coaches laid out a great plan for us that we executed as well as we could," Horsley said.

"We dominated a lot of areas of the game but we didn’t kick straight and they got the result. We understand that in Grand Finals everything has to go your way and you have to get the bounce of the ball, and hopefully on the weekend it goes our way. 

"But all we want is a cracking contest and we're up for it and I know they will be as well."