Jarrad Schofield has begun his assignment as coach of Subiaco a second time around.
Schofield held the reins with the Lions, coaching the side to premierships in 2014, 2015 and 2018 before working as an assistant coach in the AFL for Port Adelaide and West Coast.
The club has gone through significant change recently, welcoming a new board, president, and CEO as well as plenty of changes to the team including new coaching staff, recruits and head trainers.
Schofield joined Sports Breakfast this morning to speak on how his time in the AFL has shaped him as a coach, and to discuss the direction he wants to take Subiaco in 2026.
“I suppose my seven years of learning in the AFL is how to manage the different personalities,” he said.
“We’re a young group, I think we’re the second youngest on average in the WAFL… I’ve learned how to soften and find the balance between both sides, really supporting the player, helping educate them.
“How they presented themselves on day one of preseason showed me they’re ready to get to work… I want the Subiaco Football Club to be that powerhouse club again.”
Schofield sat in on players’ exit meetings this year to understand what his expectations as a coach are and to gather an idea of how he can lead the club heading into the future.
He has already identified a strong leadership group, also focussing on improvement in the midfield and backline.
“I’ve already identified about 12 players that I believe are the core to really grow this group… my job is to really encourage those leaders and support the leaders to walk side by side with me,” he said.
“I’ve gone over the game plan with them, I’ve gone over my philosophy and my expectations moving forward and they’re really embracing that.
“Attack is a by-product of how good you can be in the contest and in your team defence… if you’re not good in the contest and you don’t defend well, you’re at the mercy of any side in any league.”
Two new players from Richmond’s VFL side in Will Bravo and Nick Girolami have joined Subiaco for the 2026 season, and Schofield is hoping to import more young talent who want to come over to WA.
The Lions have also brought back some old talent, welcoming Jack Petruccelle from the Eagles and convincing Ben Sokol to come back out of retirement.
“Once I met with Ben, and I had a great relationship with him in my time, and I sort of sold him my vision and how I could manage him as a 30 year old, it was a pretty easy decision,” he said.
Schofield has long advocated for midfield time for Petruccelle in the AFL, but strongly believes he can shine in the forward line with the Lions.
“We have a strategy that we’re looking at where I think he could be someone that kicks us 40 to 50 goals,” he said.
The 2026 WAFL season will be welcoming the same new rule changes as the AFL, including the discontinuation of the centre bounce and removal of the substitute.
Schofield is hoping to use this extra player on the bench strategically, but also to expose young players to a senior level of footy.
Subiaco finished ninth on the ladder last year, but with a complete revamp to the club, the Lions are looking to break into the top five once again under Schofield’s leadership.
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