WAFL: Lions re-establishing winning brand

The 2023 season to date has been about recapturing what Subiaco Football means, according to the head coach. Coming off a season to forget in 2022, the Lions have started to get back to their winning ways, following a 4-2 start to this year.

Beau Wardman said a preseason with purpose has allowed the side to start strongly.

“Across preseason, it was more just re-establishing our brand as a competitive team, and going into every game knowing the opposition would have to compete to win,” he said.

“We were able to build that out, and we saw some glimpses in the preseason games.

“To be 4-2, to have beaten the two Grand Final teams from last year says we’re around the mark.”

However, Wardman said there’s still a long way to go this season.

“We’re certainly not the finished product, and we’ve got some room for growth” he said.

“To expose a couple of kids with Koltyn (Tholstrup), Robbie Hansen, and Luker Kentfield coming in and challenging some guys in different roles.

“We’ve got really good compliance and buy in, and I think there’s real resilience and resolve from the group at the moment which is important for us at this point in the season.”

Part of the resurgence has come thanks to a thriving forward line. While Ben Sokol and Ryan Borchet have become the focal points for the side, the added avenues of Tholstrup, Hansen, and Kentfield have provided a spark inside 50.

Wardman said it was a calculated approach.

“Speaking with Juddy (Kara Antonio) in the review from last year, that forward pressure is something we lacked,” he said.

“Luker was able to compete in the air and put a really good block of training together and was impressive in that space.

“Koltyn and Robbie have got some real speed and a thirst for the contest… which has probably been the difference for us in the start of the season.”

Another change for the side has been the re-recruitment of ruckman Zac Clarke. The former Docker landed at the club in 2018, and played a pivotal role in the club’s Premiership that season. His efforts were rewarded with a call up to Essendon in the AFL.

Clarke returned to the club in 2023, replacing the retiring Lachlan Delahunty, and has performed since his arrival. He’s leading the competition in hit outs (248), and works as the side’s stoppages coach, helping with the up and coming rucks.

Wardman said he’s been a massive inclusion.

“The way he’s been able to have a mature approach, particularly with some of our young mids, we’ve got really good balance in there at the moment,” he said.

“He’s been able to give good service, but I think his follow up at ground level and the ability to get around the ground and create a contest for us has been really important.

“It’s a different dynamic to what we had with Dela, in terms of the ability to rack up 30 disposals, but he gives us that contest he’s been able to go back and help our back six, and push forward and take marks.”

Subiaco’s injury list appears to be dwindling as the weeks progress. According to Wardman, skipper Leigh Kitchin is set to return to football this weekend.

“Kitch has done a fair bit of work on his hamstring to get that back to the level now where he’s progressing,” he said.

“He’ll come back through the reserves on Saturday.” 

Meanwhile, he said Jordan Lockyer continues to progress in his return from a knee reconstruction.

“Jordan is progressing pretty well. We’ve said to him that it needs to be a slow build and really progress to get it right,” Wardman said.

“He’s been able to integrate into some match sim which has been important.

“He’s a really good leader and sees the game really well, so to be able to impart some of that with the other players is important.”

A couple of other players are set to return in the near future. Brendan O’Kane will play his first game after an ACL, and Lachlan Vanirsen is back to full training after tearing his tendon.

However, Jordan Snadden is set for some time on the sidelines, due to a calf injury. The Lions this week turn their attention to Swan Districts, who sit 1-5 this season. Wardman said it’s important for the side to get back on track after the round six loss to the Sharks.

“We went away from what had worked for us against East Fremantle,” he said.

“Swan Districts have been highly competitive in every game they’ve played, and just fallen short.

“We’re going to have to be really methodical with how we move the ball and getting it into our forwards.”