PerthNorg

Lions secure spot in Grand Final

In what was easily one of the best games of the season, Subiaco today came from 4 kicks down going into the final quarter to secure a spot in the Grand Final. Subiaco has now earned a week's rest, while the Bulldogs will have to face Claremont next week in the preliminary final.

Kicking to the northern end in the first quarter, Subiaco blazed away with 4 unanswered goals, including a sensational goal from Mapleston from the boundary on 50, before South Fremantle clawed its way back into the game with 4 of its own, to go into the first break with a slight lead. The second quarter saw the game slow down considerably, with both teams choking the flow of play but with South's gaining the upper hand, with Smithers and Siegert being instrumental. Even though they gained, Souths were wasteful.

The third quarter saw the Dogs push the advantage with Craig White, Toby McGrath and Ashley Sampi having excellent games. By the final break commentators were predicting a Bulldog's win and went so far as to suggest that Subiaco may put on the brakes to save themselves for the preliminary final against Claremont next week.

The start of the final quarter however, saw Subiaco come out swarming, and the game's intensity only grew as goals from Clossom and Captain Marc Webb edged the Lions closer to South's total. A mysterious free kick right on the box saw Subiaco hit the lead with 15 minutes to go, though South's finally rallied with the lead changing hands two more times. However, misses by Craig White from both a set shot and running into an open goal 30 metres out, proved costly. A goal from Mapleston out of the middle sealed it for Subiaco with about 6 minutes remaining.

The siren went as Souths were going for goal in the forward pocket, though it didn't matter as Subiaco were more than 2 kicks in front and the home crowd, which had watched their side come from behind, errupted into loud cheering.

Allistair Pickett bagged 4 goals for Subiaco and starred alongside Maplestone for the Lions, who's ranging midfield performance proved to be the difference on the day. Souths had even performances across the team, with Sampi putting in a gutsy performance to come away with 3 goals.

If the Grand Final is a repeat of today, it will have a lot to live up to.

Final score: Lions 15.7: 97 Bulldogs 12.18: 90

Source: http://static.flickr.com/80/239201256_5e596a41b2.jpg