Match Report – Lions flex muscles to reclaim top spotMonday, July 26, 2021 - 6:00 AM - by Alex Ventouras

SUBIACO got more and more dominant as their clash with South Fremantle went on at Leederville Oval Sunday with the eventual 44-point win seeing the Lions reclaim top spot on the WAFL ladder.

Subiaco only briefly gave up top spot for 24 hours to Claremont with the Lions having to wait until Sunday to play their Round 16 WAFL match against South Fremantle at Leederville Oval.

It loomed as a tremendous battle between the last two WAFL premiers with Subiaco not having beaten South Fremantle since the thumping in the 2019 Grand Final, but the Lions once again proved what an outstanding defensive force they are.

Subiaco again showed just how hard they are to score against holding South Fremantle to four goals for the day, and two after quarter-time and that's a Bulldogs team that has been averaging 83.7 points a game this season.

The Lions then had enough firepower to get the job done up the other end too and recorded the 10.13 (73) to 4.5 (29) victory over the Bulldogs on their home turf.

Subiaco returned to top spot as a result of the win with a 10-3 record on the season while the Bulldogs have now fallen to fourth spot on ladder at 9-4 dropping below a West Perth team on a six-game winning streak.

Subiaco's dominant midfield pair Leigh Kitchin (33 possessions, 11 inside 50s) and Greg Clark (32 disposals, five tackles) were again brilliant for the Lions while Michael Braut kicked three goals, Ben Sokol two and Nick Martin two.

For the Bulldogs, Sandover Medallist Haiden Schloithe continued his strong season with 29 disposals and four tackles, while versatile key position player Blake Schlensog was strong all day to finish with 18 disposals and 12 marks. 

It was a scrappy start as both teams showed why they’re the two best tackling sides in the competition, as each of them struggled to cope with the pressure applied from the opposition. 

After South Fremantle kicked the opening two majors of the game, Subiaco fought back through late goals to forwards Nick Martin and Ben Sokol to have scores tied at the first break.

The Lions ball movement was particularly impressive in the second term, managing to get repeat inside 50s but were unable to capitalise on the scoreboard kicking just two goals and five behinds for the quarter.

After going stat less in the first term, 2021 draft prospect Jesse Motlop’s first impact on the game was giving away a costly 50m penalty resulting in a Lions goal. However, he made up for it minutes later converting his own free kick to bring the margin back to 10 points at half-time.

The wind picked up significantly in the third term blowing towards Subiaco’s end becoming a major influence on the game as the football lived in the Lions forward half for the entire quarter. 

However, the Lions accuracy woes continued kicking another 2.6 for the term keeping the visitors in the game trailing only by 21 points at the final break.

In a fiery last term, the Bulldogs fought strongly, but as the quarter went on undisciplined acts cost them and the class of the Lions proved far too strong finishing the game 44-point winners. 

RACE AT THE TOP HEATS UP
With just two games separating first and fifth spot on the ladder the last four rounds will prove to be extremely important for how the finals fixtures shape up. Subiaco sit in top spot on equal points with Claremont but have a comfortably better percentage. West Perth take South Fremantle's spot in third position by just a couple of percentage points and Swan Districts sit a game and significant percentage in fifth. 

YOUNG RUCKS DO BATTLE
Two of this season’s breakout young rucks did battle against each other, with both putting in strong performances. South Fremantle’s Hamish Free won the air battle finishing with 31 hit outs to Lewis Putt’s 26, however Putt had more influence around the ground finishing with 15 disposals and three marks, while Free finished with nine disposals along with six tackles. Free has had to take the No. 1 ruck position after an injury to veteran Brock Higgins, while Putt has been sharing the role for most of the year with Sandover Medallist Lachlan Delahunty, who too is currently in two weeks' quarantine.

OPTUS WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 16

SUBIACO            2.1    4.6    6.12    10.13 (73)
SOUTH FREMANTLE        2.1    3.2    4.3    4.5 (29)

SUBIACO: Goals – Braut 3; Sokol, Martin 2; Kitchin, Marsh, Bailey Matera.
Best – Kitchin, Clark, Lockyer, Marsh, Dewar, Sokol, Brandon Matera, Rohde.
SOUTH FREMANTLE: Goals – Ninyette, Shaw, Schlensog, Motlop.
Best – Schloithe, Schlensog, Pearson, Blechynden, Kelly.