WA Football

THE time was always going to come when Subiaco had to rebuild after the club's most successful era over the last decade and dual premiership forward and reigning Bernie Naylor Medallist Blake Broadhurst is enjoying being one of the leaders left to help an exciting young group along.

Only Broadhurst, Aidan Parker and Darren Rumble played in Saturday's thrilling two-point victory over West Perth that played in premierships for Subiaco between 2004-08 highlighting just how big the turnover in players has been in recent seasons.

There were signs that the rebuilding was beginning in 2010 and the first half of 2011 following mass departures through retirement and some key players being drafted, but a resurgence last year saw the Lions make an impressive and surprising run all the way to the grand final.
Further retirements, injuries and moves interstate have made 2012 one that has seen Subiaco now transform into an incredibly young side with Saturday's team that beat West Perth having played an average of just under 44 WAFL games.

With Broadhurst (139), Parker (209) and Rumble (171) making up more than half of those, though, the average minus those three was just 24 and the 26-year-old Broadhurst is enjoying helping the young group now develop.

"We were an older team and getting into the end of an era so now it's important that it's all behind us so we can start afresh and try to start doing something with this batch of players," Broadhurst said.

"It's a pretty young group now that we have. Rumba and Benny Randall are our second oldest players and they are only 27 and Parks is the oldest now that Dessy is gone so it's a really young group.

"Our oldest player is only 29 so coming from the 2009 grand final when 29 was probably closer to our average age it has been a big turnaround. Getting involved with a fresh batch of guys now makes things exciting around the club."

With a young side there is always going to be up and down times and that has seen the Subiaco team of 2012 win the first four games then lose six straight, win two of three, lose three in-a-row and then bounce back with an exciting two-point win on Saturday at Arena Joondalup.

That win saw Subiaco bounce back from 31 points down in the first quarter against West Perth, to kick six goals in nine minutes in the third term and then boot the last goal of the game in the dying stages.

That goal came courtesy of 17-year-old Chris Deluca and Broadhurst played a big hand in the victory as well booting five goals to take his season tally to 28.

"It was awesome to get a win. It has been a tough couple of months for us and we had a pretty ordinary first half again this week with West Perth running hard and playing awesome footy," Broadhurst said.

"They showed us how it was done but all credit to the boys because we had a bloody young side in and it was good that we were lucky enough to come away with the win. It was close, but we got the points.

"It was just about reiterating the basics at half-time. We just had to play good one-on-one footy and everyone had to play their role. We then won more footy through the midfield, got it in the forward-line quick and we were able to capitalise."

As for teenager Deluca, he has shown exciting signs through all of his six games so far this season and Broadhurst has no doubt he has a bright future.

"Delucs was awesome all day and those young guys have been really good for us up forward. He is a great talent and got to the right spot, and it was a great finish. Sinclair thought he could kick the winning goal from 80 metres out, but luckily enough Delucs came through to kick it for us," he said.

"Who knows what the future holds for him, but he's got all the talent and I look forward to hopefully see him play at AFL level. To already make an impact at this level at his age, no doubt he's got plenty of improvement left in him as well."

Not only Deluca, but fellow youngsters George Hampson, Rhys Waters, Abe Davey, Rowen McDonnell, Matthew Cullen, Justin Joyce, Alliston 'Buddy' Pickett, Myles Smythe, Daniel Leishman, James Garcia, Rory Muller and Dominic Sheed have all shown exciting signs for the future.

"At least the young kids is one positive we can take out of this season. By throwing them in the deep end, you can find out a lot about players. Dom Sheed came up straight from the colts this week and it's good to give them a chance to see what they can do. These young boys are holding their own which is fantastic for us and them," he said.

"The biggest thing for us is that the second, third and fourth-year players are the key to depth like they are in any side. If they can keep improving then that's the key. You have the top-end players and young boys, but it's those mid-range players that are key to your depth. Georgey, Joycey and boys like that have been fantastic.

"It's just a matter of getting some more work into those second and third year players, and then the guys that have debuted this year will be in their second year so hopefully they can continue to improve. That will go a long way to making us a good side again. I think we will lose a couple of them to AFL level, but hopefully the rest stick around and keep improving to become good footballers for Subi."

Subiaco's forward-line has consisted of some big names this year with Brant Chambers and Des Headland joining Broadhurst, Jack Anthony, Callum Sinclair and Rhett Kerr for much of 2012.

However, with Headland now gone, Chambers playing reserves and Sinclair holding down the ruck, Broadhurst and Anthony have worked well together as of late and that was illustrated well on Saturday as they combined for nine goals.

Broadhurst admits to not quite having the season he did in 2011, though, coming off a summer where he had to rest his troublesome and he took the chance to travel overseas.

"We've probably been both a bit all over the shop so far this year. Jack's spent a bit of time down back and I've been a bit all over the shop as well. We both had a role down forward all day this week and managed to kick a few goals, which was good. Jack has been fantastic coming back down to us and he always does the right thing by us and has a crack," Broadhurst said.

"It's hard to say because over the off-season I had three and-a-half months off with no running as well because of my groin so that was hard. I was never going to really be super fit early in the year either way.

"It has been a bit tough and I've been a bit up and down, but it's hard to put a finger on why. As a team, we haven't been going too well and that's made it a bit tough up forward and I've been a bit all over the shop with my form. I haven’t been as consistent as I would like, but hopefully I finish the year off with a few good games."

Subiaco now is preparing for the final co-tenant battle at Medibank Stadium with East Perth this Saturday and after putting a big dent in West Perth's finals hopes last week, Broadhurst would like to do the same to the Royals.

"They got us earlier in the year and we go them last time. It's always good games against them and we have a great rivalry there. We share the oval and it's always good fun so we're looking forward to it," he said.

"It's nothing personal, but the fact that you can still have an impact on the competition is something to still strive for. It's also good to blood the young guys and you have to have a purpose about you.

"Upsetting their finals chances is a bit of motivation as well, but that stuff all takes care of itself. Both West Perth and East Perth are competing for each other so it will be interesting how it turns out. Hopefully after they both have lost to us."