East Perth’s young list needs to learn how to dig in and fight when the going gets tough if they want to bounce back from their poor round one showing against Subiaco, according to Jarrod Brander.

The Lions owned the early stages of the contest and kicked the game’s first three goals within five minutes of the first bounce to seize all the momentum at Leederville Oval.

Subiaco feasted off their early ascendency and continued to pile on the pain as they kicked away to an insurmountable 59-point lead at the half-time break.

Brander said East Perth’s inability to arrest the Lions’ early supremacy cost them dearly.

“Subi got off to a pretty quick start and had us on the back foot, similar to the practice match against Peel a week ago,” he said.

“They got off to a fast start and we didn’t respond quick enough. We weren’t getting it done at the contest early. From the middle of the first quarter to the middle of the second quarter we started getting back into the contest, winning some more contested ball and getting some better ball movement. I think we started to score a bit as well, although we still weren’t connecting that well.

“Our team defence wasn’t great and they started scoring again. It felt like we were in the game a bit more, but the lead wasn’t really decreasing that much.”

East Perth fielded a relatively inexperienced side compared to the back-to-back grand finalists, but Brander said that was no excuse for what they dished up.

“It shouldn’t be an issue,” he said regarding the age differential.

“We had 15 AFL-listed players in the team, so we should be physically capable of taking it up to those blokes. We are quite a young side, but we have been training all pre-season. To get beaten by 118 points isn’t really acceptable.

“They are a good side, but you’ve got to play to your strengths and not just roll over. You’ve got to play to the trademark your group has come up with. You also need to have a 'plan B' when things aren’t going your way. You need to reset and go again to get yourself back into the contest.”

The 19-year-old was one of few Royals who tried to get the game back on East Perth’s terms.

He collected 12 disposals, seven marks and kicked one goal in a promising WAFL debut.

“I thought I started pretty well,” Brander said.

“If I get my confidence up early in games I seem to play well and play to my strengths. I think that’s what I did last Friday. I used my work rate well and flew for a few marks. I thought I got myself into the game with the few opportunities I had.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash with West Perth, Brander said the Royals would simplify their approach and focus on executing their fundamental skills better.

He said the team and players needed to play to their strengths against the Falcons.

“I think we all need to play our role; that’s the thing we took out of the review,” he said.

“That’s the case for all the lines. We need to play to our strengths and do the fundamentals right.”