WAFL Match Report: Round Eleven v Subiaco

by Liam Maher

It was another tough day of footy for East Perth as wet and wild conditions made for a hard contest against Subiaco. Although the Royals had their chances to take the win, they ultimately made too many mistakes and dropped the game by 10 points, finishing with 5.13 (43) to Subiaco’s 8.5 (53).

It seemed as if the weather had cleared up momentarily for the start of the game, and East Perth took full advantage of this brief respite. The Royals came firing on all cylinders, looking great right across the ground with slick ball movement, quick hands around stoppages, and solid defence that made it tough for the opposition to get into the game.

The only thing that let them down was poor goal kicking, with one goal and six behinds. Despite their early dominance and holding Subiaco scoreless for the entirety of the quarter, East Perth only had a 12-point lead to show for it. (1.6 – 12) to (0.0 – 0).

As the second quarter began, the weather conditions took a turn for the worse. East Perth continued to persist with their game style, but the worsening conditions made it a struggle. While the Royals were still the better team for much of the quarter, mistakes crept into their game, allowing Subiaco to get back into the match.

East Perth went goalless for the second quarter, managing only two behinds, and at halftime, the Royals trailed by two points. (1.8 – 14) to (2.4 – 16). This was disappointing for the team and fans alike after being the better side for the majority of the first half.

Coming back after halftime, East Perth looked determined to take control of the game, but it just wasn’t happening. The Royals started the quarter well, competing strongly in contested ball situations, but they struggled to create forward momentum. Misplaced kicks and handballs allowed the opposition to get back into the game.

Subiaco started to assert themselves, converting on their chances in front of the goal. East Perth seemed to lose their shape in the third quarter, and after a hard-fought first half, the game started to slip away. At three-quarter time, East Perth faced a 19-point deficit with an uphill battle ahead in the final term. (2.10 – 22) to (6.5 – 41).

It was always going to be tough for East Perth to mount a comeback, but like their efforts the week prior, they gave it a crack. Sam Van Diemen provided a spark early, kicking the first goal of the quarter to cut the margin to two goals. Subiaco responded with a goal of their own, but then Sebit Kuek took flight for one of the marks of the year, bringing some excitement to the game and keeping the Royals’ hopes alive.

Both teams battled hard to finish the game, but the fatigue was evident as neither side could maintain clean ball movement in the wet conditions. East Perth took risks in an attempt to close the margin, but too often, they turned the ball over. As the final siren sounded, the Royals had failed to do enough, falling to their second straight defeat. (5.13 – 43) to (8.5 – 53).

This loss is a tough one to take for East Perth, as they had every chance to win this game. Tom North was again among the best on the ground, adding another 36 disposals to his name, and now sits 4th in the league for disposals this season. Scott Jones continued his brilliant form with another 56 hitouts, placing him at the top of the league in this stat. Ethan Regan (eight disposals, three marks, three tackles) put on an impressive display down and is looking better every week. Milestone man Hamish Brayshaw (29 disposals, nine tackles), Angus Scott (32 disposals, eight marks), and Liam Tedesco (27 disposals, nine inside 50s) were all fantastic in midfield.

East Perth will remain in 5th place on the ladder with a solid record (6-4) and a strong percentage (124.29%) heading into some tough fixtures. Next up is a clash with Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday, June 28th. This marks the first of two away games back-to-back for the Royals, so securing a victory here will give the team great confidence as the competition heats up. Head down to Steel Blue Oval on June 28th to support the team!