Here it is..
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=210&ContentID=71233Smith leads the rout with Rich pickings
5th May 2008, 9:00 WST
Brad Smith is proof that full-forwards benefit when midfielders like precocious 17-year-old Daniel Rich deliver the ball into the goalmouth.
Marking like a vice and kicking with a smooth, simple action that is almost impossible to counter, Smith booted 10 goals on Saturday to pass the 400 mark and lead Subiaco to a record 157-point mauling of Peel.
No passage was better than the second quarter gem when Rich gathered at centre half-back on the short Digger Daws Oval in Boulder and drove it 70m to Smith, who took it at full stride and calmly drilled the goal.
“It was nice to reach 400 but that is not the sort of thing that makes my season,” Smith said after his 17-mark effort took him to 408 goals.
“Richie is a beauty and has a big future but all young guys can be up and down a bit. It’s great Kyal Horsley and Adam Cockie and Trent Dennis-Lane have been outstanding.”
Horsley (20 kicks, four goals) and Rich (15 kicks) were highly influential in the 29.33 (207) to 7.8 (50) result that saw Subiaco produce the highest score of their long history and fall just three points short of their biggest winning margin.
Subiaco’s previous best score was 32.12 (204) against Perth at Subiaco Oval in 1984 while the biggest win was by 160 points against Perth at Lathlain Park only three years ago.
The result was apparent early when Peel appeared intimidated by their opponents after sharing a plane to the Goldfields and was confirmed in the opening minutes when the Lions launched an unceasing barrage of assaults.
The margin could have been more with Subiaco, who had the advantage of the fluky breeze in each quarter, kicking 6.14 in the last as a violent wind storm made it almost impossible to deliver the ball precisely.
Peel coach Chris Waterman refused to flood the backline to stem the slaughter and also left Matt Battye on Smith and Hayden MacLeod on David Mapleston when they were getting being beaten consistently.
The game was marred by an ugly half-time melee involving all 44 players and resulted in three reports for striking.
Subiaco’s dominant centreman Phil Read could be excused for having Dale Kickett flashbacks after his brief but violent encounter with Daniel Haines at half-time left both players reported and the Lion nursing a sore jaw. It is the third time in six weeks Read has been reported.
He did not return after halftime but Subiaco coach Scott Watters said that was simply a precaution given his history of tight hamstrings and Subiaco’s dominant position in the match.
Former West Coast players Daniel Chick (Subiaco) and Zac Beeck (Peel) also went into the book after separate incidents in a match made more spiteful by the inconsistent umpiring.
Peel held their own in the donnybrook but were unable to match Subiaco’s superior skill and strength though lively forward Hayden Ballantyne kicked three first-half goals.
Beeck beat Luke Newick in the ruck but Subiaco’s mobile big man did plenty of damage running free.
JOHN TOWNSEND
Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 9:12 pm
