SUBIACO has taken another step towards securing a WAFL Colts top three birth, after holding off the fast-finishing East Perth by a solitary point in at entertaining clash at Leederville Oval.

After leading by 26-points early in the final quarter, the Lions withstood a late charge from the Royals to finish in front and move their ledger to 11-3 with a month of football to play.

We highlight how each member of the Western Australian Under 18 squad fared, alongside a couple of others who impressed for their respective sides.

EAST PERTH:

#12 Tyler Lindberg
Wing | 184cm | 29/07/2005

Lindberg was a solid contributor for the Royals, occupying the wing role and providing some good work rate and run for the home side. With ball in hand, he looked reasonably composed and showed adeptness on his non-preferred side, using his left foot on a couple of occasions when under the pump. He finished with 13 disposals and five tackles.

#24 Bailey Harbour
Midfielder/Defender | 185cm | 02/11/2005

The defender turned midfielder continued in his new on-ball position for the start of the game and was effective at times, using his strongly built frame to be a good physical presence around the contest. After starting inside, he was shifted back into his more familiar defensive position, where he remained for the majority of the second half. He finished with 12 disposals, four marks and five tackles.

#25 Xavier Walsh
Key Forward | 195cm | 06/09/2005

The 195cm prospect provided the Royals with a strong target up front, competing well aerially and playing with a good presence as a key forward and secondary ruck option. After being relatively well held for three quarters, Walsh was one of the catalysts in the Royals’ final term comeback; taking a contested mark and kicking truly for his only major, and producing a couple of other strong efforts at ground level to help drive the ball forward.

#44 Lucas Kemp
Tall Defender | 189cm | 83kg | 01/01/2005

Stationed in a key defensive post, Kemp produced a solid display before his game was cut short, acquitting himself well in aerial contests to ensure his direct opponent was held in check. While he didn’t find much of the ball, his use was generally sound, opting to use the short option when it was on. He left the field in the third term after falling awkwardly from an athletic spoiling attempt.

Others:

Key forward Brody Delaney continued his strong form, backing up a five-goal bag last week with another three majors to go with 17 disposals. Over-agers Mitch Miller and Jude Mazzucchelli were both productive with 18 disposals each, while small forward Jacob De Santis was also among the Royals’ best, with his speed proving dangerous in the front half.

SUBIACO:

#2 Tyler Senge
Midfielder | 176cm | 25/05/2005

While not a member of the State squad, Senge produced a best on ground display that deserved its own feature. The West Coast NGA prospect brought his own football to Leederville Oval early on, racking up 21 disposals in the first half, with the Royals having few answers for his agility, speed and piercing right-foot kick. His influence waned a touch after the long break, but he still finished with 29 touches and seven marks in a performance from a player who has gone from strength to strength this season.

#8 Riley Wills
Midfielder/Forward | 181cm | 08/07/2004

The over-age talent continued with the form that saw him added as a late inclusion to the State squad, gathering 24 disposals and booting two goals in an impressive outing. Using his power to break from congestion and penetrating kick, Wills did maximum damage with most of his touches, gaining plenty of meterage for his side and hitting the scoreboard with two lovely finishes in the first term.

#10 Malakai Champion
Small Forward | 176cm | 15/05/2006

The bottom-ager showed glimpses of his raw talent, getting busy in the front half to finish with 13 disposals, six marks and a goal. Working high up the ground, Champion took several uncontested marks and while his ball use wasn’t always precise, he never appeared far away from the action. He was rewarded for his work rate in the final term, where he drifted inside 50 to take an uncontested mark, before kicking truly from 40 metres. Champion also almost put his hand up for a mark of the year contender, showing his vertical jump to almost take a spectacular grab in the first term.

Others:

Lachlan Macrae (25 disposals, six marks) and Charlie Burke (23 and five) were strong inside for the Lions, while bottom-ager Xavier Hickey was solid down back. Fresh off starring for Western Australia in the Under 16 Championships, Darcy Montgomery also featured in his second ever Colts game, booting a goal from five touches.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

The Fremantle Derby was the only other game in Round 16, with East Fremantle continuing its winning ways to notch up a sixth straight victory, beating South Fremantle by 27 points at Fremantle Oval.

Shark Jack Cocking extended his lead atop of the competition’s goalkicking charts with another five majors, while Declan Pauline and Samuel Otto were prolific, with 23 and 20 disposals respectively.

For South Fremantle, Jordan Douglas (26 disposals) and Jacob Whan (20) were among the leading ball winners, while Rueben Hawksley hit the scoreboard with three goals in the loss.

>> Up the Grades: Kentfield continues senior run