Bulldogs primed for challenge against the LionsThursday, April 28, 2016 - 2:17 PM - by Chris Pike

SOUTH Fremantle has had a blistering start to the 2016 WAFL season but the Bulldogs are yet to take on two-time reigning premiers Subiaco and coach Todd Curley is confident they are ready for that challenge this Saturday.

South Fremantle has won its opening five games of the 2016 season with an average winning margin of 46 points while holding the opposition to only 55 points a game with East Fremantle's 87 points and seven-point margin the best any opponent has done against them to date.

The Bulldogs have looked tremendous beating West Perth, Swan Districts, East Perth, Perth and then in the Anzac Derby East Fremantle, but there's no question the biggest challenge is coming this Saturday in the form of Subiaco at Fremantle Community Bank Oval.

Subiaco has won the last two WAFL premierships and is currently on a 10-game winning run following five straight victories to end 2015 including the grand final against West Perth, and now the first five matches of 2016.

The Lions are fresh coming off the bye as well after a 39-point win over Swan Districts where they welcomed back triple-premiership player Greg Broughton for the first time in 2016 and dangerous premiership forward Kyle Halligan also returned.

Curley got a good look at Subiaco's capabilities in the three matches in 2015 where the Lions won each of them by an average of almost 52 points but he knows South Fremantle is much more capable of battling them in 2016.

With Brock Higgins, Chris Luff and Jacob Martinez all back in the reserves last week against East Fremantle, the Bulldogs have just about everybody available besides Jarrod Parry who will miss all of 2016 following a knee reconstruction.

"There doesn’t appear to be anyone who has pulled up injured again and the twos have been really consistent," Curley said.

"There have been guys really stacking some form together so we will pick our best team who we think can give us the best chance of competing with Subi. I think you learn a lot more about yourselves when you play against the best teams. We are looking forward to the challenge."

Curley and the Bulldogs are fully aware of the challenge that awaits in the form of Subiaco come Saturday afternoon, but they are ready to see how their impressive form so far of 2016 stacks up against the Lions.

"They clearly have been the best side the last three or four years so it's a good chance for us to see where we're at," he said.

"We weren’t at our best this week but it still showed some good resilience to get over the line and take the points. It would have been easy to lie down going behind that late in the game. It's a good chance for us to challenge the best and see how we stack up."

Subiaco has been the standout team in the WAFL having won six premierships since losing the 2003 grand final, and now the last two to be searching for a second hat-trick in the last decade.

Curley just feels it's the consistency in terms of personnel and performance that sets them apart.

"They are just more consistent in bringing their best footy for longer," he said.

"They are really experienced, have some great mids, dangerous forwards and even though they've had a fair bit of change in their back-line, they are still really solid back there. They are really well organised and are a talented team. It will be a good test for us."

One player who is a shining example of South Fremantle's improvement in 2016 has been dual Bernie Naylor Medallist Ben Saunders.

He has still done well kicking goals with 15 in the five matches, but it's his dedication and determination to putting on defensive pressure that is setting a shining example for his teammates all over the field.

"He's been fantastic all year and the thing you know about Ben is that he's got that ability to keep his feet, and he's pretty good overhead and at ground level," Curley said.

"He will always get his shots on goal, but his pressure has been a standout and some of the chases and half tackles that he put on made a difference.

"I thought his pressure was great and then to stand up and take a really big contested mark for us was important. He is starting to play like a real leader for us and he's worked hard, so it's good to see."