Premiership stars hoping to help Subiaco back to gloryThursday, March 13, 2014 - 12:48 AM - by Chris Pike

TWO experienced WAFL premiership players will be running around in Subiaco jumpers in 2014 hoping to lead the Lions back into the finals – one a familiar face to the club and one not so much.

Coming off a surprise grand final appearance in 2011, Subiaco has struggled the last two seasons winning just 13 of 40 matches but the Lions have not been the dominant team so far this century for nothing with four premierships and three other grand final appearances.

First-year coach Jarrod Schofield learned plenty in his rookie season in charge in 2013 including a horror run of injuries as well with the likes of Jason Bristow, Rob Forrest, Callum Sinclair and Ben Randall among the key players forced into limited roles.

The Lions haven’t rested on their laurels in the off-season, though, with the recruiting efforts including the signing of Lachlan Delahunty (Frankston), Matt Boland (Collingwood VFL) and Frank Stockley (West Perth) while Kyal Horsley, Justin Joyce and Reece Blechynden all return.

And then there is the signing of two experienced premiership stars from Swan Districts – Wayde Twomey and Shaun Hildebrandt.

Obviously, Hildebrandt is no stranger to Subiaco returning after two years with Swans to the club where he played previously 118 matches including the 2007 and 2008 premierships.

Twomey, meanwhile, arrives after originally coming to WA to play with Swan Districts in 2008.

He starred in Swans' premiership win of 2010 and was subsequently drafted by Carlton where he spent just the one season playing two AFL games before returning to Swans for the last two seasons.

However, the 28-year-old who has played 98 WAFL games now and won the State game Simpson Medal last year for his five-goal haul against Victoria was looking for a fresh challenge in his football career and could see no better place to do that than at Subiaco.

"I thought they were a club on the rise with a mix of good young kids, older boys and some new recruits, and I thought I could help. It hurt to leave Swans but I needed a change to keep the mind fresh," Twomey said.

"I loved the fact that the boys were so dedicated to their training, especially in the gym, it's normally a really hard thing for young guys to commit to the type of weights program that's in place here.

"We will see the benefits of that pay off big time throughout the year. Also the organisation throughout the club is first class."

Hildebrandt, meanwhile, was feeling unfulfilled with his football at Subiaco in 2011 and as a result after the grand final loss to Claremont, he left the Lions and signed up with Swan Districts.

He immediately fitted right in at the black-and-whites in his usual role on the wing and has been outstanding the last two years averaging 25 possessions over his 42 matches with Swan Districts.

However, Subiaco was where his heart was and he now returns to add to his 118 games with the 29-year-old still having plenty left in the tank despite now having played 220 WAFL matches in total between Peel Thunder, Subiaco and Swan Districts.

"I did miss the club when I left a couple of years ago. It's the most professional club I've been a part of and there are a lot of great blokes here with great coaches and the chance to achieve life membership would be a huge honour as well," Hildebrandt said.

"To win another premiership would be nice because 2007 and 2008 were the highlights of my career. I think with the list have now as well and the coaching staff we have in place, I think we can definitely give it a shake this year."

Subiaco opens its 2014 WAFL season in Round 1 against South Fremantle on Saturday March 22 at Leederville's Medibank Stadium with bounce down at 4.05pm.