Subiaco has 12 Players in WAFL Top 40

Respected West Australian football writer John Townsend has released his annual top 40 WAFL players list with Subiaco securing a league best 12 players in the list.

 

Subiaco’s standing as having one of the best clubs for WAFL top end talent and depth was shown with four players making the top ten and another eight fitting into Townsend’s top 40 list.

 

Veteran midfielder Kyal Horsley was assessed as the best WAFL player at the start of the 2019 season by Townsend for the fourth time in five years, highlighting his leadership qualities and ability to influence the WAFL’s biggest matches.

 

Horsley finished second in last year’s Sandover Medal count and took out the Outridge Medal as Subiaco’s best and fairest for the third time, becoming the first player to win a best and fairest twice during a Subiaco premiership year.

 

As he enters the final stage of his playing career Horsley will continue to have a leadership and mentor role to the club’s exciting new breed of midfielders.

 

For Subiaco next behind Horsley at third on the list was Lachlan Delahunty.

 

The versatile big man had a career best year, winning his third premiership to go with a third placed finish in the Sandover medal.

 

Delahunty spent more time forward in 2018, finishing with a career high in goals as he proved to be a dangerous threat in the forward half all season.

 

Next best for Subiaco was gun young midfielder Josh Deluca who came in at number five, rising from 24^th place 12 months ago.

 

In his first year back with Subiaco, Deluca won his fourth WAFL premiership medal, proving to be a dominant inside midfielder and fitting seamlessly to Subiaco’s midfield group.

 

Deluca’s dominance in 2018 was seen at the Outridge Medal night, where he polled an identical votes per game average as winner Horsley, if not for a three game suspension, Deluca could have pipped Horsley for Subiaco’s highest honour.

 

Rounding out the quartet of top ten players was new captain Leigh Kitchin.

 

Kitchin for the second season in a row was rated as the number seven player in the WAFL competition heading into 2019, as the hard working midfielder once again had a consistently outstanding season in 2018.

 

Kitchin’s ability to lead and sacrifice for the team was seen on Grand Final day where he laid a Grand Final record 18 tackles, including 10 in the first quarter.

 

The standing and respect of Kitchin within the coaching and playing groups is evident as he takes over as club captain for 2019.

 

Veteran big man Clancy Wheeler was selected at 16, looming as an important player for the Lions in 2019, taking on greater responsibility both forward and in the ruck.

 

Just behind Wheeler at 17 was premier WAFL defender Jordan Lockyer who has become one of the most dominant one on one defenders as well as a defender who reads the game expertly from behind.

 

The highest newest entrant for Subiaco was damaging key forward Ben Sokol who slotted in at number 22, a season after he claimed the Austin Robertson Trophy as Subiaco’s leading goal kicker, highlighted by a five goal effort on Grand Final day.

 

Dashing defender Gus Litherland rose from 32 to 26 in this year’s rankings as Litherland grew into one of the WAFL’s most damaging players from defence across the 2018 season.

 

After managing an injury free season in 2018, Hayden Kennedy was rewarded by being ranked as number 35, becoming another key piece of a dominant Subiaco defensive group.

 

Newcomer to the Subiaco squad Harry Marsh was ranked at number 36, as the club’s standout recruit looms as an important addition to the defensive group of the Lions with his clean ball handling and silky skills from defence.

 

Aaron Heal at 38 was the fifth member of the Subiaco defence to be recognised in the top 40 list, after another season where he consistently beat direct opponents.

 

Subiaco had the bookends of the list, with Kyle Halligan sliding into the number 40 spot after a career best season up forward including a bag of five goals on Grand Final day.

 

SUBIACO TOP 40 PLAYERS

1. Kyal Horsley (Previously 1)

3. Lachlan Delahunty (13)

5. Josh Deluca (25)

7. Leigh Kitchin (7)

16. Clancy Wheeler (14)

17. Jordan Lockyer (19)

22. Ben Sokol (New)

26. Gus Litherland (32)

35. Hayden Kennedy (New)

36. Harry Marsh (New)

38. Aaron Heal (36)

40. Kyle Halligan (New)