Bristow says Lions have started roaring
Milestone man Jason Bristow believes Subiaco will look back on their rousing 48-point win over Swan Districts as the turning point in their season.
The league's early pacesetters were on the slide heading into Saturday's clash at Steel Blue Oval, having lost three of their previous four matches.
And their chances of toppling Swans looked even more unlikely with the visitors entering the contest off a five-day break.
Then, Subiaco ruckman Frank Stockley injured a hamstring in the first half.
Those hurdles, coupled with Bristow's 100th league game, instead proved a motivation.
The Lions outlasted and overpowered the lethargic Swans to knock them off top spot with a 22.10 (142) to 14.10 (94) victory.
Subiaco booted the game's final seven goals in only 18 minutes. The victory left them in third spot, but firmly in the race for a top-two finish, trailing East Perth and Swans by one game.
Bristow, whose league career started towards the end of Subiaco's recent golden era, said the current group was capable of delivering another premiership.
"We definitely reckon our best footy is good enough," the 30-year-old said.
"There's no doubt. If you're going to challenge for a flag, you've got to believe you can win it. There's a belief amongst the group, but we're definitely not getting ahead of ourselves.
"We've got a number of guys out at the moment. It was great that our depth could pull through in a game like that.
"The bigger picture was that it was a big turning point for our season."
Some of Subiaco's most influential players worked themselves back into form.
George Hampson had just four disposals to half-time, but burst to life during a third term in which the Lions seized control with five unanswered goals.
The 24-year-old had 13 possessions for the quarter and kicked two goals in a purple patch as Clancy Wheeler filled the breach in the ruck to swing the momentum in his side's favour.
Rhys Waters showed just how much he had been missed during a two-week suspension by kicking three clutch goals, while captain Kyal Horsley gathered a season-high 27 disposals.
Shane Yarran also continued his impressive debut league season by booting four goals.
The challenge is now to manage the Lions' injury list, with Jarrod Kayler-Thomson (AC joint), Stockley and Lachlan Delahunty (corked knee) all hurt in the win.
Swans had too many passengers in stumbling to just their second loss of the season.
A brilliant Ryan Davis brought the hosts within five points at the 15-minute mark of the final term with consecutive goals before the floodgates burst at the other end.
Davis and Tim Geappen combined for nine goals, but Swans were soundly beaten around the stoppages.
"If you're going to challenge for a flag, you've got to believe you can win it."" *Jason Bristow *
