Lions down Bulldogs in pre-season openerMonday, March 2, 2015 - 3:34 PM - by Chris Pike

SUBIACO has opened the WAFL pre-season with a 30-point win over South Fremantle at Medibank Stadium on Friday night with the Lions using the chance to give their new recruits an early taste of playing for the reigning premiers.

Subiaco ended up beating South Fremantle 12.8 (80) to 7.8 (50) at the Leederville venue on Friday night despite the Bulldogs starting strongly and kicking five goals to two in the first quarter.

However, South Fremantle managed just the two more goals for the rest of the evening while Subiaco booted 10 to end up winning by 30 points.

The Lions took the chance to play a host of young players as well as recruits during the clash as well.

Recruits Sam Menegola (Fremantle), Leigh Kitchin (Frankston), Jordan Lockyer (Sydney) and Scott Hancock (East Fremantle) all played their first games in Subiaco colours while Michael Wood lined up for the first time with the Lions since being delisted by the Dockers.

Sudanese-born ruckman David Madut was also impressive in the middle and showed that he might be up for the challenge of playing league football during 2015 following the retirement of premiership big man Andrew McDougall and a season-ending knee injury to Frank Stockley.

The Bulldogs were playing their first game under new coach Todd Curley with the former Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and West Perth defender, and West Perth senior coach and Fremantle assistant coach having taken over the helm for the 2015 season and beyond.

Friday night was the first chance for Curley's men to test themselves against real opposition following a strong pre-season training performance, and it was an opportunity for recruits, senior players and young players alike to see where they sit three weeks out from the season opener.

Fresh off an outstanding 2015 season where he claimed the WJ Hughes Medal as South Fremantle fairest and best, and the disappointment of not finding himself back in the AFL set up, Haiden Schloithe was tremendous for the Bulldogs winning plenty of the ball and kicking three goals.

South Fremantle's other goalkickers on the night were Tim Kelly, Ben Saunders and Craig White.

Blayne Wilson was lining up in Bulldogs colours for the first after coming off West Coast's AFL list, and he was terrific in defence and was well supported there by Adam McIntosh and Matthew Gundry.

Tim Kelly and Shaun Bewick ran hard through the middle all game long and racked up winning plenty of the ball.

Meanwhile, the reserves beat Subiaco by two goals also at Medibank Stadium on Friday night with Kyle Hams, Josh Branchi, Lewis Harvey and Brad McPhail among the standout performers.

And at Fremantle Oval in the colts fixture, South Fremantle managed to beat Claremont by 44 points in a terrific performance.

The WAFL pre-season gets fully underway over the next two weekends heading into Round 1 of the 2015 McDonald's Premiership season starting on Friday March 20 when South Fremantle plays West Perth at Fremantle Oval.

WAFL PRE-SEASON FIXTURES
SATURDAY MARCH 7
Perth v Subiaco, Lathlain Park 2.15pm
East Fremantle v West Perth, ATOM Stadium 2.15pm
Swan Districts v Peel Thunder, Steel Blue Oval 2.15pm
East Perth v Claremont, Medibank Stadium 2.15pm

FRIDAY MARCH 13
South Fremantle v East Perth, Fremantle Oval 7.30pm

SATURDAY MARCH 14
East Fremantle v Perth, ATOM Stadium 2.15pm
Swan Districts v West Perth, Steel Blue Oval 2.15pm
Peel Thunder v Claremont, Bendigo Bank Stadium 2.15pm