The Subiaco Colts Succession

From the bottom of the ladder to a place in the top four. The Subiaco Colts have produced one of the most impressive turnarounds of the 2026 WAFL season.

The season did not start as planned for the Subiaco Colts, sitting bottom of the ladder with just a single win next to their name. The sudden resignation of former coach John Mansbridge saw the Lions call upon their Senior Assistant and Forwards coach David Hay to step into the interim role as Head Coach for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Subiaco however did not let the difficult start define their year. The Lions then proceeded to go 8-3 for the remainder of the home & away season, finishing in fourth spot heading into the finals series.

When asking interim head coach David Hay about the sudden change in results for the group he stated “I learnt so much over the previous three seasons in the system under John Mansbridge. He was a great mentor to me and one of the best motivational speakers I have learnt from. So, we didn’t want to change a whole lot but rather make some tweaks. Part of that process was seeking feedback from the playing group, increasing some load to a couple of sessions each week, and always driving standards and culture amongst the group as we always have here at Subi.”

The initial transition between coaches did not go as smoothly as hoped, with the Lions suffering a 75-point defeat to Swan Districts in their first game under the new coaching structure. When discussing this initial difficult phase and how the coaching group worked around it, Hay stated, “We got so much support from the senior program in Jarrad Schofield (Senior Head Coach), Tom Lowndes (Reserves Coach), Nigel Hamilton (Senior Assistant Coach) and Tim Marley (Football Operations Manager) early on and we layered up so many additional improvement opportunities that we started to fortunately see results.”

This turnaround has not just reflected on the scoreboard, but also in the belief and confidence in the group. Players have continued to buy into the coaching groups’ expectations, while the increased standards at training have translated into improved performances on game day.

When asking Hay about his assistant coaches and how they have united as a group, he stated “The coaching staff have a strong relationship with one another. Having close relationships and understandings with the players has allowed them to consider stuff with a more knowledgeable approach which I believe is an important part of our success”. He then further stated “They have been so important and helpful this season and we would not be in this position without them”.

Finals Football

The Subiaco Colts will take on West Perth in the Elimination Final on Sunday, August 30, at Fremantle Community Bank Oval. The last time these teams met, Subiaco were victorious in a crucial four-point win.

After everything the Colts have been through this season, there is no better way to begin their finals campaign than with a strong showing of support from the Subiaco faithful. Now, they need the Subiaco community behind them.

Whether you’ve followed the Colts all season or haven’t watched them play before, this is the perfect opportunity to get down to Fremantle Community Bank Oval and support the next generation of Subiaco footballers. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Wear your Lions colours and get behind the boys from the first bounce.

Buy tickets to the elimination final here