Reserves Grand Final Match ReportSaturday, October 1, 2022 - 11:53 AM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO has made up for a heartbreaking Reserves Grand Final loss 12 months earlier to win a similarly nail-biting affair by six points over West Perth at Leederville Oval on Saturday.

Subiaco's reserves lost by a goal to Perth at Optus Stadium in the Grand Final last year and the Lions were back again and this time got to do it on their home ground of Leederville Oval.

However, West Perth also called Leederville Oval home up until the end of 1993 and it was the Falcons who finished the home and away season on top of the ladder before winning the second semi-final against Claremont to move straight into the Grand Final.

Subiaco had to win into the Grand Final the hard way beating Swan Districts, South Fremantle and Claremont in the opening three weeks of the finals to book their place in the decider having finished the home and away season in fourth position.

That set the stage for a fascinating Grand Final to open the day at Leederville Oval with plenty of players at West Perth disappointed to not be in the league side later in the day and looking to make their case for more opportunities in 2023.

Subiaco then had the double motivation to make up for last year and then players to show they have a league future as well, and the Lions made a flying start with the only four goals of the first quarter.

West Perth then kicked the first four goals of the second term and the stage was set for a big second half.

The teams traded goals for most of the second half but ultimately what it came down to was a stunning set shot kick from nearly 50m out and not much inside the boundary to the Vincent Street end of the ground from Jake South.

The big man struck it perfectly having received the free-kick and it put Subiaco in front by six points, and the Lions held on to win 8.6 (54) to 7.6 (48).

The triumph is Subiaco's 19th reserves premiership and first since going back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.

Lachlan Vanirsen was the standout player in the Grand Final and was awarded the Merv McIntosh Medal with the emerging Subiaco star showing he has plenty of league football in his future.

He did play nine league matches in 2022 and then on Saturday, finished the Grand Final with 27 possessions, eight tackles, seven marks and four inside-50 entries.

Kody Eaton and Jake South ended up kicking two goals apiece for Subiaco as they spent time pinch-hitting in the ruck and providing a marking option in attack.

Jaxon McGowan also picked up 19 disposals for the Lions, Noah Ash 18 and Jake Stergiou 15.

Mitch Antonio kicked three goals in a scintillating second quarter for West Perth to finish with 11 kicks and nine marks as his team's sole multiple goalkicker.

Koopah Todd finished with 22 possessions for the Falcons, Trent Manzone 21, Alec Johnson 19, Callum Johnson 16 and Blake Wilhelm 15.

West Perth might have been the fresher team but Subiaco had the momentum from three impressive finals wins to get to the Grand Final, and going to the scoring end, the Lions delivered a dominant opening quarter.

It began with a goal to Kody Eaton after just four minutes before a lovely left-foot finish from 50 by Jaimon Alone gave the Lions the perfect start on their home turf for the Grand Final.

Another goal to Jake South and then a nice set shot finish from Eaton saw the Lions lead by 24 points at quarter-time having held the minor premiers West Perth scoreless.

It didn’t stay that way for long, with the Falcons getting on the board two minutes into the second term with a goal to Lochlan Paton.

Mitch Antonio then kicked truly soon after and then a clever snap from Koopah Todd saw West Perth right back into the contest with three goals in the space of seven minutes.

The Falcons continued the momentum with another goal from Antonio as he showed his ability around the goals. That gave West Perth the lead for the first time in the Grand Final but Subiaco responded with the first goal of the game to the Vincent Street end thanks to Ben Golding.

The Falcons, though, finished the half with a third goal to Antonio of the quarter which helped his side to a one-point lead at the major break.

Scoring became considerably tougher to come by throughout the second half with the premiership up for grabs. There was just the one goal apiece in the third quarter and that saw scores all square going into three quarter-time.

It then took 14 minutes into the last quarter for a goal to be kicked and it went the way of Subiaco with a neat finish from Jordan Faraone. West Perth responded soon after thanks to 104-game league veteran Rudy Riddoch.

That put the Falcons back in front by a point but scores were back level soon after and ultimately a late rush of blood for West Perth from Logan Foley gave away a crucial 50m penalty.

Subiaco was able to lock its ball in its forward half after that and eventually Jake South received a free-kick. He went back to slot the goal to win the Grand Final and for those in the Lions team from last year to make up for that heartbreak with their own thrilling win in 2022 on their home ground.

WAFL RESERVES GRAND FINAL 2022

SUBIACO            4.0    5.1    6.4    8.6 (54)
WEST PERTH            0.0    5.2    6.4    7.6 (48)

SUBIACO: Goals – South, Eaton 2; Faraone, Muavou, Golding, Alone.
Best – Vanirsen, McGowan, Ash, South, Golding, Alone, Robbins, Stergiou.
WEST PERTH: Goals – Antonio 3; Riddoch, Cox, Todd, Paton.
Best – Manzone, A Johnson, Antonio, Todd, Wilhelm, C Johnson, Boyes.

Merv McIntosh Medal: Lachlan Vanirsen (Subiaco)