Tara Murray
Caroline Springs is in new territory in the Western Region Football League division 1.
Having been around the mark the last couple of seasons, the Lakers have now become the pace setters and are the only undefeated team after six rounds.
Lakers football manager Marc Raak said the feeling around the whole club was really good, with all their sides doing good things.
“We’re certainly not complaining,” he said. “It comes off the back of some hard work, getting the structures right and getting in some good recruits.
“We didn’t think we would be in this position, but we will take it. We thought we would have maybe one loss, two at most but we have a clean sheet for now.”
The challenge now for the Lakers is to keep the momentum going, as they’ve become the hunted, not the hunter.
Raak said the focus doesn’t change for them and they will continue to work hard and turn up each week.
He’s realistic though knowing that there will likely be a loss at some stage.
“We know a loss will come at some point, it’s rare you will go through an 18 round season and go undefeated.
The Lakers achieved a first on Saturday as they beat Werribee Districts for the first time since the Lakers joined division 1.
Raak said that alone was incentive enough to try and get the win. They had already got first win against Altona earlier this season.
The margin was 22 points at half time, with Raak saying the game was still anyone’s to take, with the margin only 16 at the last change.
A seven goal to nil final quarter sealed the 15.19 (109)-6.8 (44) win for the Lakers.
Steven Kyriazis kicked four goals for the winners.
Kyriazis was one of the best according to Raak.
He was also impressed with the game of Lachlan Mellon, saying it was one of the best games he’d seen him play.
Nathan Aidonis and Jamie Ristoski were two others that had played good games.
Raak said the most pleasing thing about that was they had all come through the juniors.
He said having got in the right senior players, it was having a flow on affect.
“They were all juniors at the club and are finding their feet really quickly in division 1.
“We’ve got experience around the ground and they don’t panic. They’ve played a lot of division 1 footy and it helps the younger guys between 18 and 22.”
The Lakers this week face Sunshine. Raak said it was also hard to win against Sunshine at home.
In other results, Altona beat Point Cook, 22.15 (147)-4.7 (31).
Spotswood was too good for Sunshine, winning 22.24 (156)-11.5 (71), while Deer Park beat Yarraville Seddon Eagles, 14.17 (101)-11.8 (74).
The Lakers’ division 1 women’s team had a bye as part of the split round. They will face Manor Lakes on Saturday.
Their division 2 side got a win, with North Sunshine forfeiting.
In division 1, Newport, North Footscray, Parkside and Point Cook Centrals were the winners.
