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Round 18 – Peel Thunder v Subiaco Match ReportMonday, July 24, 2017 - 9:01 AM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO came out ready to make a statement in the third grand final rematch of 2017 against Peel Thunder at Bendigo Bank Stadium on Saturday and walked away with a 15th consecutive win to the tune of 46 points.

Subiaco got off to a flying start with the only eight scoring shots and four goals of the opening quarter against Peel in Mandurah.

The reigning premiers did make a contest of it from there and were just a couple of goals down early in the last term. But Subiaco ran away with it booting the game's last five goals to claim the 12.14 (86) to 6.4 (40).

It's a third win for the season for Subiaco against Peel since the Thunder broke through for a maiden WAFL premiership winning last year's grand final against the Lions.

It's also a 15th consecutive win on the season for Subiaco who remains well clear on top of the WAFL ladder.

Peel's five-game winning run came to an end but the Thunder do remain in third position with a 10-6 record.

Subiaco's strong, experienced midfielders were the major difference in the game with the Lions led again by inspirational captain Kyal Horsley who finished with 29 possessions, eight tackles and six inside-50 entries.

Leigh Kitchin also kicked three goals for the Lions from 21 disposals while Craig Hoskins collected 22 touches (eight tackles), Justin Joyce 22 and Adam Cockie 21 with Lachlan Delahunty a strong contributor in the ruck with 23 possessions and 19 hit outs.

Subiaco's back-line was also particularly impressive led by Aaron Heal who compiled 26 possessions and 14 marks. Also down back, Jordan Lockyer had 24 disposals and five marks, Wayde Twomey 20 touches and seven marks, Corey Adamson 19 disposals, Greg Clark 18 possessions and a goal, and Angus Litherland 17 disposals and six marks.

Then up forward, Bernie Naylor Medal leader Liam Ryan booted another four goals for Subiaco and Max Walters two.

Matt Taberner continued his impressive form for Peel with another 25 possessions, 11 marks, 10 hit outs and two goals. It's hard to conceive he hasn’t earned a Fremantle recall given the malfunctioning Dockers forward-line at present.

Brady Grey also made a strong return for the Thunder kicking two goals to go with 20 possessions and seven marks.

Rory O'Brien had another strong performance for Peel with 24 disposals, 11 tackles and seven marks on the day he surpassed Brandon Hill to be Peel's all-time games played leader.

Traye Bennell continued his good form on the wing for the Thunder with 23 possessions and eight marks while Danyle Pearce collected 22 touches, Luke Ryan 20, Brad Walsh 19, Michael Tassone 18, Haydn Matthews 18, Alex Bray 18 and second-game defender Aaron Naughton 17 (11 marks).

Sam Collins was also solid down back with 17 possessions and six marks while Jonathon Griffin battled hard in the ruck to end up with 17 disposals, 11 marks and 43 hit outs.

Subiaco came out determined to send a message to the team it lost last year's grand final to and put together a remarkably dominant first quarter.

It took less than four minutes for the Lions to kick the first goal thanks to Kitchin before Walters kicked two in the space of four minutes with Subiaco making Peel pay for some poor turnovers coming out of defence.

Ryan then kicked his first of the day heading into time-on and the Lions kicked the only four goals and had the only eight scoring shots of the first term to be up by 28 points at quarter-time.

After a couple of Subiaco behinds to start the second quarter to take the score to 30-0, Peel finally got on the board with a goal to Grey at the three-minute mark of the term.

The Thunder then added the next of the game too through Zac Dawson and then second-gamer Naughton got in the act too and the home team was right back in the contest. However, a steadying goal to Scott Hancock before half-time regained a 16-point advantage for Subiaco.

Peel closed the gap again to 10 points with a goal to Taberner to open the second half before Ryan's second of the day put Subiaco back on top by 19. He then added a third at the 21-minute mark to stretch the lead to 25 points and the Lions were still on top by 19 at three quarter-time.

The Thunder remained in touch with an early final quarter goal to Taberner, but the Lions would have nothing of it going on to kick the last five goals of the contest to run out 46-point winners to make it 15 on the trot.

Peel looks to return to the winner's list this Saturday against the fourth placed Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval. A win and the Thunder will remain clear in third spot but a loss and the battle is on for that position with a month of the home and away season remaining.

Subiaco heads to East Fremantle Oval on Saturday aiming for a 16th straight victory on the season against an East Fremantle team who climbed off the bottom of the ladder this week despite having the bye.

PEEL THUNDER 0.0 3.3 5.3 6.4 (40)
SUBIACO 4.4 5.7 7.10 12.14 (86)
 
PEEL THUNDER – Goals: Grey, Taberner 2; Dawson, Naughton.
Best: O'Brien, Taberner, Naughton, Grey, T Bennell, Griffin, Tassone.
SUBIACO – Goals: Ryan 4; Kitchin 3; Walters 2; Stevenson, Hancock, Clark.
Best: Heal, Horsley, Lockyer, Kitchin, Delahunty, Ryan, Litherland, Clark.