Round 2 – Subiaco v Perth Match ReportSunday, March 26, 2017 - 2:11 AM - by Chris Pike

PERTH again started strongly and fought hard but were overwhelmed in the end by Subiaco who took out a 23-point win in the twilight Round 2 fixture at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

Both the Lions and Demons were coming off Round 1 losses and it was Perth who started the better much like last week.

A week ago against Swan Districts the Demons piled on eight first quarter goals before being run over to lose by 12 points. It wasn’t quite as dramatic this week, but Perth still managed to lead Subiaco by four points at quarter-time and by eight at half-time.

That was encouraging for the Demons who have lost seven of their last eight games against the Lions.

However, Subiaco has played in the past three WAFL grand final for two premierships and that counts for something.

The Lions responded with six goals to two in the third quarter to set up the eventual 13.12 (90) to 10.7 (67) victory.

Subiaco hasn’t lost its opening two games of a season since 2001 and that looked a genuine possibility at half-time after a solid half by Perth.

However, the Lions' quality and experience shone through in the finish and Perth had no answers for Kyal Horsley or Liam Ryan which proved the difference.

Horsley missed Subiaco's 39-point defeat to South Fremantle last Saturday but returned in style at Leederville Oval on Saturday evening. The captain delivered a dominant performance finishing with 35 possessions, five marks and two goals.

Then up forward, it was Ryan who proved the most dangerous forward in the game with the dynamic goalkicker putting on quite a show. He ended up kicking six goals from 17 possessions, of which just three came from marks.

Those two were brilliant for Subiaco but they also had plenty of support.

Chris Phelan compiled 29 possessions for the Lions with Craig Hoskins also gathering 28 disposals (six tackles), Leigh Kitchin 24, Lachlan Delahunty 22, Max Walters 22 and Wayde Twomey 18.

Second-game ruckman Damon Guiness again worked hard doing the majority of the work in the middle for Subiaco finishing with 15 possessions and 24 hit outs.

Perth did fight hard and never gave up the ghost, but in the finish just didn’t quite have the depth in talent or experience as Subiaco. The Demons did have 76 fewer possessions but took 18 more marks than the Lions while managing only 32 inside 50s to 52.

Perth also ended up with just 17 scoring shots to 25 from Subiaco.

The Demons' effort can't be questioned, though, with captain Clint Jones again doing all he could ending up with 22 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

Corey Byrne in just his fourth league game was again a strong performer for Perth backing up his wafl.com.au Player of the Week performance with another 23 disposals against Subiaco.

Sandover Medallist Aidan Tropiano didn’t have big numbers with 17 possessions but gave his all laying 14 tackles.

Gordon Narrier was dangerous up forward kicking two goals along with Spencer White who booted two from just seven kicks and six marks. 

Cody Ninyette was another impressive young player for the Demons with 17 possessions and six tackles with Brent Edmonds also laying eight tackles to go with collecting 16 touches.

Ruckman Christian Eyres did well in the tap out department finishing with 38 hit outs.

Subiaco heads to Joondalup's HBF Arena next Saturday to take on West Perth. 

Perth returns to Lathlain Park to take on a Claremont team coming off a big win over East Fremantle in Round 1 and the bye this week.

SUBIACO        3.0    5.4    11.6    13.12    (90)
PERTH            3.4    6.6    8.6    10.7    (67)

SUBIACO – Goals: Ryan 6; Powell, Wheeler, Horsley 2; Bryan.
Best: Horsley, Ryan, Phelan, Hoskins, Walters, Kitchin, Delahunty.
PERTH – Goals: Narrier, White 2; Garstone, Scotney, McFarlane, Walley, Jones, Roe.
Best: Byrne, Jones, Tropiano, Edmonds, Ninyette, Narrier.