Things all starting to click for Lions early in 2014Friday, April 18, 2014 - 10:05 AM - by Chris Pike

TERRIFIC recruiting, a stronger leadership group, better ball use and a forward-line more potent and that is kicking straight are all major reasons why Subiaco coach Jarrad Schofield has overseen an unbeaten start to the 2014 WAFL season for the Lions.

Subiaco unexpectedly made the 2011 grand final before losing to Claremont but then struggled in 2012 winning just seven games, and then also struggled last year in Schofield's first year in charge winning just the six matches.

However, everything is clicking so far in 2014 with Subiaco having recorded wins over South Fremantle, East Fremantle, Claremont and Peel Thunder to be sitting on top of the ladder as the last remaining undefeated team heading into the traditional Good Friday clash with East Perth.

Subiaco has struggled to find the goals in recent years but that hasn’t been a problem so far in 2014 and neither has accuracy with the Lions having scored a combined 67.52 over the first four matches while having just 34.59 kicked against them.

Schofield has obviously enjoyed the start to the season.

"There's a lot more enjoyment around the club than when you are losing games that's for sure. It has been a wonderful improvement from the fellas when we only won six games last year," Schofield said.

"To get off to a good start is great for the confidence of the whole playing group, but we know it is still a long season ahead."

When Schofield was appointed coach of the team he played in premierships with in 2006, 2007 and 2008, he knew that there would be no quick fixes to trying to build Subiaco back into a premiership threat.

However, last year there was some groundwork laid and now those plans are beginning to pay off early in 2014.

"I knew coming into the job that it wasn’t going to happen overnight, and I wasn’t looking for quick fixes. I had a plan in place and obviously getting some recruits, not only in players but also the new coaches, has really helped. Things have come together," Schofield said.

"We have a healthy list with our injuries at the moment as well and that plays a big part in it. At the moment everything is going along nicely, but we are only four games in and we are definitely not getting ahead of ourselves.

"My message from day one was to make sure we lifted the level of professionalism and dedication to football. I understand that these guys work 9 to 5 jobs and we have a lot of tradesman, so it's important to manage them while making it enjoyable and giving reward for effort.

"The biggest improvement from our playing group from last year is the development of our leadership group. They have really stepped up this year and demanded of their teammates, and we have a good mix of young and older players in our leadership group."

A host of recruits are having a big impact for Subiaco so far this year including big men Matt Boland, Lachlan Delahunty and Frank Stockley, medium-sized forward Shane Yarran and experienced premiership duo Wayde Twomey and Shaun Hildebrandt.

One who has flown under the radar, though, is Joel Latham who has arrived from West Perth where he played 58 reserves games the last three years without cracking it for a league debut.

However, he has slotted in nicely across half-back for Subiaco this year in the four matches to do date averaging 16.5 possessions a game. His coach has been delighted with what he has shown early in his Subiaco career.

"Joel has been fantastic. Joel was one of those players who had played a lot of reserves footy and he probably battled a little bit with injuries over a period of time, but I got good advice that he was good enough to play senior footy," Schofield said.

"I felt we just had to give him an opportunity and I went through it as a player myself, when one door closes another one could always open and I've always had that belief with someone like Joel that he can play senior footy. He is doing his job each week, is playing good footy and is getting more confident in his ability. He has been good so far."

Fresh off playing the Fremantle-partnered Peel and now taking on the West Coast-partnered East Perth, Schofield does admit to it being a little harder to prepare for those sides than a usual WAFL opponent, but he is confident nonetheless that the Lions are ready for the Royals on Good Friday.

"It can be hard to prepare to play those sides. Last week against Peel we were only speculating who could possibly play for them pretty close to game time," Schofield said.

"It is tough this week again against East Perth when they could have anywhere from five to seven players with players like McGovern, Oakley-Nicholls, Lycett, Sinclair, Naitanui and all these type of players being talked about as a chance to play.

"It makes for an interesting match committee, but we feel like we prepare ourselves with not only looking at last week but the weeks leading up to it to make sure we have all bases covered."