Lions continue dominance over SharksSaturday, April 10, 2021 - 7:27 PM - by Matt Paddick

A five-goal run in the last quarter for Subiaco was the difference as the Lions defeated East Fremantle by 33 points on Saturday at New Choice Homes Park.

Subiaco captain Leigh Kitchin was instrumental for the Lions, with 28 disposals and six inside-50s to help orchestrate the Lions’ win.

After East Fremantle won the toss and kicked with the breeze, neither team was willing to give an inch early, before ruckman Luke Strnadica kicked the first goal to get the Sharks in front.

It started off a flurry of scores for East Fremantle, as Dillon O’Reilly kicked consecutive goals to stretch the lead to 19 points.

Harry Marsh was able to convert an opportunity from outside the 50 to get things going for the Lions as they worked their way back into the game, trailing at the first break by seven points.

The second quarter belonged to Subiaco, who were able to show their class around the ground and in front of goal, kicking four goals one to East Fremantle’s two behinds to take a 16-point lead into half time.

The Sharks fought their way back into the match in the third term, thanks to goals from former Tiger Luke English and former Saint Jonathon Marsh.

English’s goal was especially important, as it was East Fremantle’s first goal since the 11-minute mark of the first term. 

The Sharks used the wind to their advantage and got the margin to two points at the final break.
With tensions high and four points hanging in the balance, it was the Lions who struck first in the fourth, with midfielder Greg Clark nailing the goal to get some separation from East Fremantle.

It was the beginning of the end, as Subiaco turned up the heat, kicking the next four goals which was enough to set up the hard-fought victory.
 
IT’S IN THEIR BLOOD

The Marsh brothers although on different teams had similar moments where they both capitalised. In the first quarter, after three unanswered goals from the Sharks, Harry Marsh kicked a goal from beyond the 50 metre arc to kick Subiaco’s first goal of the day. After a wave of goals from the Lions, the Sharks needed someone to stand up. With the pressure on and the advantageous wind behind him, Jonathon Marsh launched a 60-metre kick straight through the big sticks to breathe life back into the Sharks.

EX-DOCKER’S BIG IMPACT

East Fremantle ruckman Luke Strnadica for the second week in a row has shown why he is one of the standout ruckmen of the competition. His presence was felt around the ground, winning 48 hitouts and having 24 disposals to go along with a goal. The former Docker will be one AFL scouts keep a close eye on in the lead up to the mid-season draft.

TACKLE-FEST AT SHARK PARK

Four men on the ground had 10 or more tackles to their name at the final siren. Subiaco’s Greg Clark led the way with 11 while his captain Leigh Kitchin had 10. For the Sharks, Milan Murdock and former Gold Coast Sun Josh Schoenfeld both finished in double digits with 10 each. It’s no surprise these were the dominant men on the ground given their effort and intensity to put pressure on and win the contest.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 2

EAST FREMANTLE        3.2    3.4    7.4    8.5 (53)
SUBIACO            2.1    6.2    7.6    12.14 (86)

EAST FREMANTLE: Goals – O'Reilly 2; Kommer, Murphy, Marsh, Strnadica, English, Monaghan.
Best – Strnadica, Schoenfeld, Murdock, Jansen, Eardley, Bennett.
SUBIACO: Goals – Borchet 3; Marsh, Faraone 2; Litherland, Clark, Delahunty, Sokol, Menegola.
Best – Kitchin, Marsh, Clark, Borchet, Delahunty, Kennedy, Powell.