Lions put South in the doghouse
Boasting a swag of fresh faces, Subiaco ensured South Fremantle paid a high price for their inaccuracy at Medibank Stadium on Saturday.
The Lions made 14 changes to their side from the most recent meeting between the two clubs, in round 20 last year, when the Bulldogs won by eight points.
Rhys Waters, one of the surviving eight from that match, shone with five goals in Subiaco's 17.9 (111) to 9.19 (73) twilight fixture victory.
The other seven - Chris Phelan, George Hampson, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson, Brett Mahoney, Abe Davey, Clancy Wheeler and Darren Rumble - also contributed as the Lions opened their 2014 account.
Phelan was one of the prime movers, finishing with 32 possessions, six marks, five tackles and five inside 50s, while Hampson had 20 disposals.
Former VFL players Lachlan Delahunty (Frankston) and Matt Boland (Collingwood) were outstanding.
Boland kicked four goals and Delahunty, selected in the VFL's 2012 team of the year, created plenty of opportunities in attack when he wasn't relieving former West Perth big man Frank Stockley in the ruck.
Dual Subiaco premiership midfielder Shaun Hildebrandt slotted seamlessly back into the team after two years with Swan Districts, while his former Swans teammate Wayde Twomey was a dominant defender.
Stockley showed he would be a valuable asset with 14 possessions, six marks and 30 hit-outs and former Falcon Joel Latham was one of four players to impress on debut.
Shane Yarran stood out with three goals, but Latham, Hayden Kennedy and Josh Deluca all did enough to indicate they could develop into league regulars.
Impressed by what he described as "a good team effort", Subiaco coach Jarrod Schofield predicted a bright future for Yarran, who is originally from South Mandurah.
"He's got that bit of X-factor about him," Schofield said.
"As the weeks go on, he's obviously going to feel more at home.
"We are only going to see exciting things from him because he can take a mark and kick goals."
Former AFL trio Ashton Hams, James Sellar and Ryan Cook and one-time Fremantle squad member Haiden Schloithe tried hard to lift South Fremantle but the Bulldogs were left to rue wayward kicking.
They had 17 more inside 50s than the Lions and two more scoring shots.
"He's got that bit of X-factor about him … We are only going to see exciting things from him …"" Subiaco coach *Jarrod Schofield *on Shane Yarran
