WAFL: Round One Match Preview vs Perth

Subiaco will be looking for a strong start to 2023, when they take on Perth at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday March 8. A clash against the Demons looms as an intriguing battle in more ways than one, when the clash gets underway at 5:10pm.

The battle of the coaches box will be on full display, with two Subiaco Premiership coaches going head to head. Beau Wardman is again at the helm for the Lions, and will be looking to take the team back to the pinnacle of the competition, as he did in 2021. He’ll be up against Peter German, the coach of the Lions in the 2004 and 2006 Premierships. There’s the potential for the Demons to play in the style of the Lions of old, with Darren Rumble, Matt Priddis, Brad Smith, and Allistair Pickett all holding roles with the club. It’ll be something the Lions will be aware of when the two sides go head to head.

LAST TIME THEY MET

It was a fairly one sided contest when these two took to Leederville Oval in Round 19 last season. In Lachlan Delahunty’s last game, the Lions sent him off on a high, winning by 63 points. Stef Giro was influential in the contest, with 33 disposals and two goals, while skipper Leigh Kitchin amassed 36 disposals and eight inside 50s. It was the 12th win in a row for the Lions against Perth, with Subiaco’s last loss against them coming in 2016.

ONE TO WATCH

Round One is a special milestone for Subiaco defender Angus Dewar. The 30-year-old will notch up game number 100 in the WAFL. He played 25 games for Hawthorn and one for West Coast in the AFL, and represented his state in 2018. Dewar has had a wonderful career to date, and has been a mainstay in the Lions backline. He’s been a leader of the group for a number of seasons, and will have an important role to play going forward.