Former Colts Having Impact In Senior Program

After tasting the ultimate success as Colts premiers in 2018, a number of Subiaco’s Colts premiership players of last year have made an instant impact in their first senior pre-season.

 

Over a dozen of last year’s Colts premiership side have advanced strongly through the senior pre-season, with a strong possibility that this group will have an impact in reserves and league football later in 2019.

 

Embracing the Subiaco culture, the work ethic and the standards set and maintained by the coaches and senior players, this group of colts is making every effort to ensure they have their own impact in 2019.

 

In terms of individual accomplisments, few Subiaco Colts players have experienced a season like Liam Hickmott.

 

Hickmott became the premier midfielder of the WAFL Colts competition, taking out the Jack Clarke Medal as the Colts best player, backing up with a second Taylor Medal as club best and fairest as well as winning a premiership medal.

 

With a thirst for the contest and a desire to have an impact on the inside, Hickmott has been one of the Subiaco Colts to benefit being around arguably the strongest midfield group in WAFL football.

 

It is the experience of his fellow midfielders that is having the greatest impact on his first pre-season.

 

“The intensity of training has been a lot higher than that of Colts football,” Hickmott said.

 

“A lot is expected of you as a player to buy into the system and lift your game to meet the standard that the senior boys set.”

 

The intensity and player driven standards are something that budding key forward Jack Mayo has also seen.

 

Mayo who was the WAFL Colts leading goalkicker in 2018, was an unlucky draft omission late last year, but has enjoyed the standard and working with his new senior teammates through pre-season as he looks to raise his game in 2019.

 

“I have really enjoyed the intensity that each training session brings,” Mayo said.

 

“It is enjoyable going out every night and looking to earn the respect of your teammates by meeting the standards that are set.”

 

Another player who has enjoyed the pre-season and has grown in confidence throughout a long program is Kyle Stainsby.

 

The versatile Stainsby was one of the key members of the Colts program last year proving pivotal in a number of roles, with this same versatility noticeable through Subiaco’s pre-season.

 

“You build confidence throughout the pre-season the more connected you get to the players and the game plan,” Stainsby said.

 

“You get accustomed to nicknames and its been enjoyable getting to the speed that the senior boys get to.”

 

For key defender Sam West, getting accustomed to the game plan and the way in which the Subiaco senior pre-season has operated has brought out the best in him.

 

An unheralded but key part of a league leading defensive group last year, West has shown considerable promise as a one on one defender and abilty to read the game.

 

“It is a driven environment within the senior program and that has been really good for me,” West said.

 

“It is probably the best pre-season I have had, I have really enjoyed being in such a professional environment and training standard.”

 

Another who highlighted the professionalism of their first pre-season with the Subiaco senior program is Duane Oxenham-Smith.

 

Oxenham-Smith was one of the unlucky members to miss out on last years Colts premiership, however has put in a strong pre-season, fit and ready for the start of the 2019 season.

 

“This is the fittest I have ever been,” said Oxenham-Smith.

 

“The professional environment has been good for my footy and its been great to be part of a team where the boys get around each other and help lift each other to the required standard.”

 

Zane Shellabear-Healy was one who expected the increase in intensity and output from the senior pre-season, but has enjoyed the program and pre-season.

 

Shellabear-Healy had a strong impact in Subiaco’s finals run last year and has continued to have that same strong impact around the senior group.

 

“You kind of expected the step up in intensity, but even expecting it, it is still a real high standard that the boys set,” Shellabear-Healy said.

 

“Personally I have enjoyed the past few weeks where you get into the game sense and you see all the training we have done come together.”

 

As for the impact that these premiership winning Colts can have in 2019, look no further than Mach Deng, where the club’s ruck situation continues to offer opportunity to anyone who is prepared to take it.

 

Deng formed a formidable partnership in ruck last year with Xavier Peacock and has embraced the senior pre-season with a sense of enjoyment.

 

“It’s been same as colts, the enjoyment you have with training,” Deng said.

 

“You feel welcomed in the group which is great, you want to do well for the team.”

 

Even for Jordan Faraone who has spent the pre-season in the rehab group, the professionalism within the team has been seen.

 

“It’s been a good lesson being in the rehab group, just making sure you do your rehab properly,” Faraone said.

 

“The professionalism in the whole group include rehab makes you want to make sure you are fit before you go back out there and make sure you don’t end up back injured.”

 

Last year this group of Colts showed the passion and culture of the Subiaco Football Club, lifting to just the third Colts premiership in club history, now they are determined to be a part of the next success of Subiaco’s senior program as both the league and reserves defend their premiership titles in 2019.