Schofield fully aware nothing guaranteed for LionsFriday, September 21, 2018 - 1:48 PM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO has done a remarkable job to have all three teams into the Grand Finals at Optus Stadium but after the heartache of the past two years, coach Jarrad Schofield knows the Lions can't get caught up in history or expectations.

Remarkably Subiaco is preparing to play in a fifth successive WAFL Grand Final with Schofield as coach this Sunday against West Perth at Optus Stadium.

On the back of finishing his playing career winning three WAFL premierships with Subiaco in 2006, 07 and 08 having completed his AFL career at West Coast, Port Adelaide and Fremantle that spanned 206 matches and included the 2004 flag, Schofield has ushered in a remarkable era as a coach.

PREMIERSHIP THE ONLY THING ON HORSLEY'S MIND

Subiaco won the premiership in 2014 upsetting a West Coast-strengthened East Perth in the Grand Final and now for four straight seasons the Lions have dominated the WAFL winning four straight minor premierships and reaching the Grand Final each time.

The Lions did make it back-to-back premierships in 2015 beating West Perth in that Grand Final and Subiaco went on to reach the decider in each of the past two seasons as well on the back of dominant home and away campaigns.

But heartbreakingly for Subiaco, they lost the past two Grand Finals at the hands of Peel Thunder making that hunger burn stronger then ever to hit back in 2018.

Subiaco couldn’t have done any more to get to this point going through the home and away season undefeated winning all 18 matches and then qualifying straight into the Grand Final by beating South Fremantle in the second semi-final.

That has the Lions now one win away from making up for the pain of losing the past two Grand Finals while also having the chance to become the first team since 1946 to go through a season unbeaten and then finish up winning the premiership.

On top of the success of Subiaco's league side, the Lions colts and reserves will also be playing in Grand Finals on Sunday at Optus Stadium so Schofield is proud of what the club has achieved already in 2018.

"I'm just super proud that we've actually got three teams playing in the last day of the season in three Grand Finals," Schofield said.

"History will tell us if we win them all or not and if we do it will be a fantastic effort by the club with what they've been able to achieve. But at the end of the day we know things aren’t guaranteed and that we are going to have to work hard in all three grades, and at our best in the league one for sure."

Getting to play in the first WAFL Grand Final at Optus Stadium is another source of pride for Schofield and his Subiaco players and given both the Lions and West Perth are in the same situation he can't see the venue having any impact on who wins the premiership.

"It's a fantastic stadium to play at so I'm sure the boys will be excited. I know as coaches as you walk into the coaching box that it's exciting. It's unknown but our guys are professional enough to just go out and play," he said.

"They will be excited about the prospects and we've put things in place for the last few weeks with our training to simulate the dimensions of the ground. 

"But at the end of the day it's a similar shape to both grounds we play on week in, week out. All it does have is a few more seats and we look forward to it."

Without question what will be occupying Schofield's mind the most this week is trying to settle along with his coaching staff on the final 22.

It was a strong group performance in the second semi-final that got the job done against South Fremantle and each of those 22 are available now for the Grand Final on Sunday, but there are plenty of tough calls to make.

Subiaco's reserves won its preliminary final last Sunday against Claremont and from that team, Rhys Waters, Adam Cockie, Brad Stevenson, Craig Hoskins, Daniel Leach, Nick Menegola, Mckenzie Lawrence and Michael Braut all have strong cases to break into the league side this week.

With the reserves playing East Perth on Sunday morning at Optus Stadium, it's going to lead to plenty of interesting decisions needing to be made on who plays and if the Lions hold anyone over as an emergency for the Grand Final.

"We are fortunate enough that our reserves are playing early in the morning at 8.40 and it will be interesting what we do with selection," he said.

"Realistically there are five or six players from our first 22 in our first final that could definitely put a case forward for selection and we had a few boys who obviously played on the weekend in the reserves final. 

"I'm sure we'll pick the right side with a good balance of versatility and whoever does pull on the jumper will definitely have deserved it that's for sure."

Subiaco were able to watch both of West Perth's games with South Fremantle this finals campaign at Fremantle Community Bank Oval which couldn’t have provided more contrasting results or performances from their Grand Final opponent.

West Perth did lose the qualifying final by 98 points before turning things around last Sunday to win the preliminary final by 26 points by displaying tremendous intensity and application to get the job done.

Schofield is now expecting a West Perth team that will be tough to overcome in the Grand Final this Sunday.

"It didn’t surprise me at all. Obviously we watched their first final and it was probably just one of those days that didn’t go right for them and South Fremantle played really well," Schofield said.

"But going to that game last Sunday after we played South, we knew it was a tough game and that South would have to get out of the blocks quickly. To West Perth's credit, they're a proud club we knew they were going to respond watching from afar and they were impressive.

"We are really looking forward to what will be a tough contest and nothing is guaranteed in life. Just because we won 19 straight doesn’t mean we will walk in on Sunday and be handed the cup. 

"We're going to have to go get it against a side who has played really good football over the last couple of weeks, and who have responded and shown some resilience."