Round 1 Preview v Subiaco

ALL signs point to South Fremantle being a vastly improved outfit in the 2014 WAFL season but those predictions count for little once the Bulldogs run out against Subiaco needing to put those high hopes into action at Leederville's Medibank Stadium.

South Fremantle finished the 2013 season in impressive fashion beating both grand finalists West Perth and East Perth on the way to winning four of its last six matches, but the whole campaign still only brought about six wins following a seven-game losing run to start things off.

However, through a combination of the majority of key players remaining at the club and being fighting fit, a host of young players looking to step up and some strong recruiting has South Fremantle deservedly confident of a strong 2014 season.

Ashton Hams, Steven Verrier and Haiden Schloithe all return to the Bulldogs full-time in 2014 after being on AFL lists at West Coast, Richmond and Fremantle respectively.

Then there are those new to the club with James Sellar, Brock Higgins, Steve Mills and Josh Pullman all looking as though they will make a huge, and immediate impact at South Fremantle.

All four have been named to play Subiaco in Round 1 at Medibank Stadium and add plenty of size, quality and experience to the Bulldogs' line-up.

Sellar brings with him 44 games of AFL experience at Adelaide and Melbourne, and the 196cm 24-year-old is capable of holding down the ruck following the departure of Sean Tighe, but also will be more than handy in key position roles at either end of the ground.

Higgins arrives at Fremantle Oval having previously played 30 league games over the last three years with East Perth. The versatile 195cm big man can also fill a variety of roles for the Bulldogs capable of holding down the ruck, but also a key post either forward or back.

Mills arrives from Queensland having played the last two years in the NEAFL including some appearances for the Gold Coast Suns reserves team, and over the pre-season he has impressed to the point where he looks set to be given a chance as a key defender in Round 1.

Pullman is also no stranger to the WAFL despite having played the last three seasons in Queensland.

The former Swan Districts colts premiership captain played 23 league games for Swans between 2008-2010 and kicked 31 goals including a bag of seven in 2010 against peel.

He is a natural centre half-forward who works hard, leads well and is tremendously strong. The 24-year-old is also a natural leader and will fit in tremendous in the Bulldogs' forward-line that will include Ben Saunders, Paul Mugambwa, Kris Miller and Adam Guglielmana.

It isn't just the new arrivals who are giving the Bulldogs reason for optimism coming into 2014 though.

The back-line will again be strengthened by Dylan Ross, Nick Borovac, Craig White and Adam McIntosh.

Captain Ryan Cook will again lead the way through the middle along with Hams, Jacob Martinez, Tim Kelly, Schloithe, Brendan and Steven Verrier, and wingman Shaun Bewick who has been in outstanding pre-season form after injury ruined his 2013 campaign.

Then there are the young players looking to make the most of their league opportunities in 2014 including Zac Strom, James Laurino, Marlon Pickett, Ben Sokol and Jason Maskos.

South Fremantle has had a pre-season where virtually everything has gone exactly to plan and the Bulldogs head into the season proper with virtually a full squad to pick from.

That's highlighted by the strength of the reserves team to play Subiaco that includes Toby Bairstow, Mitch Carter, Anthony Collica, Alistair Gillespie and Jarrod Parry.

All of that suggests the Bulldogs will head to Medibank Stadium to face Subiaco on Saturday full of confidence, but the Lions aren’t going to hand over the four points.

Subiaco has added Shaun Hildebrandt, Wayde Twomey, Lachlan Delahunty, Mitch Boland and Frank Stockley to its team in 2014 that still includes quality players like Darren Rumble, Chris Phelan, Jarrod Kayler-Thomson, George Hampson, Brett Mahoney and Jason Bristow.

The league match at Leederville's Medibank Stadium on Saturday bounces down at 4.05pm.

RESERVES SQUAD

T Bairstow, M Banks, T Bennell, M Bolger, S Borovac, J Branchi, M Carter, A Collica, J D'Vauz, A Gillespie, M Gundry, J Hall, L Harvey, K Hogan, J Laurino, J Louthean, L Lucev, K Matera, M Nicholson, N Olds, S Panizza, J Pantano, J Parry, T Stewart, Z Strom, J Symmans, J Tartaglia, B Verrier, M Walley

COLTS SQUAD

C Ah Chee, M Ah Siu, B Colbung, B Collier, J Culleton, J Depane, B Donaldson, J Dragovich, B Fimmano, W Frampton, J Garlett, C Loersch, B Matera, J McComb, G McLeod, J McMaster, B McPhail, J Mirco, D Moore, A Nodari, L Pearson, J Pickett, C Salmon, O Sexton, K Stewart, N Strom, B Truss, T Wheeler

By Chris Pike