Unbeaten Lions

by LES EVERETT

THERE were many good reasons to go to Leederville Oval on Saturday. The game was between the WAFL's two unbeaten teams Subiaco and Swan Districts and the possible top two AFL draft picks for latter this year were going to be on show - Subi's Daniel Rich and Nick Naitanui, the high leaping Swans ruckman.
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Nick Naitanui wins a ruck knock for Swan Districts. Photo by Les Everett.

Early inaccuracy from the Lions kept things close early - Brad Smith missed with his first four shots and the margin was seven points at quarter time. Subiaco had kicked seven more behinds.

Relentless work from midfielders Chad Fletcher, Phil Read, Jarrad Schofield and Rich became too as the game went on and Smith kept getting the ball and began to find the target. Ten goals to three in the middle two quarters put the game beyond the reach of the young Swans. Both teams kicked six goals in the last quarter and Lions finished up 61 points clear.

Smith kicked eight goals and Subi fans would have been pleased with the form of Allistair Pickett in the second half. Swans did enough to maintain the feelings of hope at Bassendean. Naitanui work in the ruck in the least quarter was spectacular, Clayton Hinkley did some nice work in the midfield along with Andrew Krakouer and Garth Taylor was constructive in defence.

A Claremont Oval the Tigers thrashed East Perth by 73 points with Chad Jones kicking seven goals. Andrew Merrington continued his good form for the Royals.

There was a thriller at Rushton Park where Peel beat East Fremantle by a point. Hayden Ballantyne kicked seven goals for Thunder, Simon Rosa kicked four goals and Brock O'Brien was in strong form.

The Sharks kicked 15.24 for the afternoon and had 14 more scores than Peel. Matthew Carr was in good form and Josh Kennedy kicked three goals.

West Perth recorded their first win of the season and did it at a place they rarely taste success when they defeated South Fremantle by 34 points at Fremantle Oval. Phil Smith and Kepler Bradley lead the way for the Falcons.

Next week: East Perth vs South Fremantle, Peel vs Claremont, West Perth vs Swan Districts, Perth vs Subiaco.

The ladder: Subiaco 16; Perth 8; South Fremantle 8; Claremont 8; Swan Districts 8; Peel 8; West Perth 4; East Perth 4; East Fremantle 0.

14 April 2008

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