Royals remain focused

If Saturday’s showdown against the minor premiers is anything to go by, it was certainly a tasty sample for what’s to come in the finals. Subiaco finished the day on top, and the season on top after a testing 9.14 (67) to 9.9 (63) win over the Royals. The loss for East Perth hasn’t affected their position on the ladder with a home game elimination final locked in for Sunday afternoon against Claremont. The Tigers scraped into the final five in another appetising round 23 match at HBF Arena where they came from behind to spoil West Perth’s perfect 10 home game triumphs.

It seemed to take a while for the players to adapt to slippery conditions at Medibank Stadium with a perpetual flow of stoppages and turnovers silencing any attempts at goal. It took thirteen minutes for first points to arrive with Subiaco’s Michael Wood grubbering a behind from what should have been a certain goal. East Perth were able to profit from the Lions frustration with Malcolm Karpany kicking the first and only major of the opening quarter to put the Royals’ nose in front by four points at the early break.

After a flat start the boys came out firing in the second quarter kicking five goals from five attempts in a rousing display of football. Rowen Powell, Tom Omodei, Mitch Howlett, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls and Craig Wulff all kicked truly up front to extend the lead out to 18-points at the main break. Equally as good at the back, and if not better was Garry Moss who played one of his best games this season.

With accuracy on point, defence in check and fire in the belly, East Perth were rightly confident heading into half-time, but that quickly diminished courtesy of a Subi goal in the opening minute of the second half. The ‘visitors’ continued to dominate the run of play in the third term with nine goal attempts to East Perth's four. The Lions clawed their way back into the game and stole the lead on the stroke of three quarter time.

Down by two points heading into the final quarter, the Royals responded well and applied the early pressure to reclaim the lead with goals to Tom Lamb and Clayton Giblett. East Perth led by as much as fourteen points, but as it happened it wasn’t enough to contain the defending champions. Shane Yarran, the WAFL’s lead goal scorer added another one to his tally in the closing stages of the game to all but seal the win for Subiaco. As the clock wound down from minutes to seconds, nineteen year old Clayton Giblett was rewarded with a last-minute chance at goal from 40 out, but it wasn’t to be for the youngster as his kick swayed to left of the centre sticks.

Garry Moss was the standout performer for the Royals accruing 31 possessions and eleven marks in a best on ground performance. Malcolm Karpany was the only multiple goal scorer for East Perth kicking two goals. Despite Paul Johnson’s dominance around the ruck (41 hit-outs), the Royals were unable to capitalise at ground level. Other notable efforts came from captain Brendan Lee with 27 disposals, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (23), Scott Selwood (21) and Kane Lucas with 21.

The Royals focus now turns to their sudden death encounter against the Tigers this Sunday. Channel Seven will be televising the elimination match live at Medibank Stadium from 2:30pm. Finals series tickets can be purchased from $15 for members. Please note - there will be no parking available inside Medibank Stadium for this weekend's elimination final.