Taylors Lakes legends to coach kids

Taylors Lakes has welcomed two legends of the club back into the coaching ranks for the 2015 football season.

However, Nathan Franzi and Nathan Sposato won’t be taking the reins of the senior team; they’ll be looking after the juniors.

Franzi and Sposato returned to Taylors Lakes this month in what is the first of many steps the club is taking to strengthen the link between its seniors and juniors.

Junior coaching co-ordinator Noel Sawdy says this is the way forward for the club.

“The names Franzi and Sposato are famous down at the Lions’ den,” Sawdy said.

“Both are champions of the club and both their fathers are ex-presidents.

These guys are fresh out of the game and their input will benefit the players’ skills.”

Franzi played representative football with the Western Jets, while Sposato made a name for himself as a forward at Taylors Lakes.

Lions’ president Peter Gavos says it’s vital to have the juniors and seniors working together for the club’s survival.

“The foundation of a successful local football club is to have a very strong junior program,” Gavos said. “We need to continue to provide resources into it to reap the benefits as a family club.”

The Taylors Lakes seniors will kick off their Essendon District Football League season on Good Friday in a blockbuster against Hillside. It will be the first time the Lions have come up against former coach Steve Burns since he departed the club.

Burns, a premiership coach at Taylors Lakes, jumped to the Sharks in the off-season.

The Lions will also be unveiling their brand- new scoreboard at the match. “It’s great for us to have a new scoreboard and our sponsors have helped us achieve this,” Gavos said.