Boland, Delahunty give Lions power
Committing to the long move west was simply about getting a game for Victorian-born Matthew Boland, let alone any thought of playing finals.
Now with a top-two spot sewn up, Subiaco's leading goal kicker will not be content with anything less than a premiership to start his WAFL career.
The 23-year-old has booted 48 goals in his first season at the Lions as the spearhead of their multi-pronged forward line.
He said winning a flag with close friend Lachlan Delahunty, who moved to WA at the same time, would be "unbelievable".
"He's one of my best mates and we made the big decision to come over here," Boland said.
"We thought when we spoke to the footy manager and the coach that this would be a side that would be pretty successful.
"We've obviously put in a lot of hard work during the year. All we want to do is win that flag."
Boland decided to pack his bags after several seasons spent battling for a game as a top-up player firstly at St Kilda's VFL affiliates Sandringham and then for Collingwood's reserves side.
He was contacted by Subiaco coach Jarrad Schofield, having learnt of Subiaco while playing alongside past Lions premiership players Mark Haynes and David Robbins in Melbourne.
The 193cm forward remains an outside chance to win this season's Bernie Naylor Medal as the league's leading goal kicker, trailing South Fremantle's Ben Saunders by six goals with one round to play. He said the move to Perth's bigger, harder grounds had suited his game. "You tend to get a few more one-on-ones and you get a bit more space, which has helped definitely," he said.
"When you're playing in a forward line in the VFL full of big ruckmen, you don't tend to get a huge amount of opportunity to mark the ball because you're just flying in packs all the time."
Boland has not given up on the "faint glimmer of hope" of earning an AFL opportunity, but is planning to stay in Perth for at least five years regardless.
He said Subiaco's forward line was capable of troubling premiership favourites East Perth in the finals.
The two sides are guaranteed to meet at least once in September, starting with a second semifinal.
Delahunty is expected to be fit for next month's finals, with the 23-year-old named to return from a knee injury against East Fremantle at Medibank Stadium tomorrow.
"Sometimes if you've got that one forward that you rely on and they have a quiet day then you're in a bit of strife," Boland said.
"I'm sure we're a bit of a handful sometimes for the opposition.
"Hopefully we can keep it that way.
"We don't know what side they (East Perth) are going to come out with in finals.
"Obviously they're a quality side, but we think if we can play our best footy then we can beat them."
