AE Hoskins & Sons Talent Update with Talent Manager Michael Farmer

With the Christmas break now behind the Subiaco Lions, our Talent teams, represented by the Subiaco Colts and 16s are beginning to ramp up their preparations ahead of round one matches.

The 16s season commences in early March while the Colts commence their 2018 season on Good Friday against East Perth. Subiaco Talent Manager Michael Farmer sits down to give an insight into the preparations of our talent teams ahead of these opening season matches in the first of our AE Hoskins & Sons Talent Update.

How has the pre-season been tracking for the Subiaco Colts, are you happy with the standard and progress of the group?

The Pre-season has been solid with the standard at a reasonably high level. We’ve welcomed back Beau Wardman as our coach and Scott Stanton as an experienced assistant while we have brought in some new assistant coaches in Jason Hoskins and Chayce Creedy who bring a good level of enthusiasm and experience to the group which has had a positive effect. Beau has continued where he left off in 2017 driving the players to be better in 2018 and has concentrated on building the level of professionalism and application from the players early on.

Always an interesting period with the boys having a few weeks off over Christmas, were you happy with professionalism of the boys over the break and have they come back in good shape for the build up to Round One?

That Christmas break can always be an interesting time and after a gruelling 4 week period through November and December, players welcome the break. Having said that, our S & C team lead by Matthew Olds put together a really comprehensive program for players to follow. You can always tell which players have applied themselves over the break but the coaching staff and myself seem reasonably happy with the players application. Round 1 is only 10 weeks away so the group will continue to build over that time.

As always a healthy mix of returning players and new players, have you been impressed with any of the senior players and their ability show more leadership with that extra experience?

We’ve been fortunate that many of the players coming into this year’s pre-season have either been involved in the Colts from last year or our Lion’s Pride Academy and development squads so there has been some level of exposure so the standards of training from last year. Having said that, you always want your returning players to drive and lift the standard. Luke Foley and last year’s Taylor Medallist Liam Hickmott and his younger brother Wil have been impressive with their application to pre-season, Xavier Peacock has returned from his AIS Camp to Darwin and looks ready to go in 2018. Jordan Faraone and Tristan Hobley had good starts before illness took over but will be welcomed back to the main group shortly along with Madoc Plane who’s leadership is important to the group.

With the remainder of pre-season, is it simply a solid training base workload, or are there going to be other elements that fit into the pre-season i.e. a camp, leadership training etc…?

Our Pre-season camp will take place over the weekend of the 16th which will have a heavy focus of team building and bringing the group closer together. The camp last year set the tone for who wanted to step up as leaders and no doubt will have the same effect on this years group. Andrew Dawe, our wellbeing officer, has been working with the group on their leadership and will have an impact on players looking to lead. Other than the camp, its training as usual as we expose the players to more education and fundamental skill based and game simulation training.

A couple of months in to the change in structure for Talent here in WA football, what have been the real positives that you have seen in this early stage that will benefit Subiaco’s next generation of players and the Subiaco Football Club?

With a larger focus on a smaller squad will see players receive more development and one on one time with their coaches. This is paramount in the development stages to footballers who need that constant education and exposure. I also see the level of education and access to vision that our players will receive this year will enhance the level of development in our players throughout the year.

Just over a month until pre-season commences, are there any players that fans will be impressed with once pre-season and the season gets underway?

Our 3 state 17’s players from last year in Wil Hickmott, Tristan Hobley and Xavier Peacock will impress and certainly be ones to look for as the season starts. Liam Hickmott and Luke Foley will look to capitolise on good years in 2017 and take their games to a higher level. Jake McKinnon is new player who looks to excite while Duane Oxenham-Smith is an exciting prospect that can turn games by his explosiveness and hard edge at the contest. We will get an opportunity to see how Mitch Georgiades plays before heading back into the PSA system in the first few rounds and Jaxon Bilchuris looks to have an impact early on.

The 16s are also nearing in on their season commencing, how has the performance of the 16s been so far?

The 16’s have trained well in the lead up to their carnival commencing on the March weekend of the 9th against West Perth. They have brought a good attitude with them and the quick turnaround from a successful development carnival means they have come in with a good energy and willingness to learn and apply themselves with the higher intensity and level of training. Tom Lowndes, Stuart Page, James Hughes and Kevan Sparks have provided them with great learning tools and plenty of experience.

Likewise, are there any players in the 16s that would be well worth Subiaco fans getting in early and taking a look at during the early part of the season?

We have a really exciting group of 16’s this year with currently 5 players in Ezekile Bolton, Tyler Broughton, Cameron Dean (son Subiaco great Warren Dean), Sandon Page and Taj Schofield (Son our League coach and past player Jarrad) training with the State summer Academy which is a fantastic achievement but the promising sign is the number of younger 16’s players in the Year 10 group that will look to have an impact this year. Add some exciting country players such as Khan Wyatt, Bryce McDonald (both Esperance), Jaseppie Garlett and Ethan Brunalli (both Kalgoorlie) and the squad should have some success.