Tara Murray
Taylors Lakes was left shattered after its grand final hopes went up in smoke in the Essendon District Football League division 2 competition.
After finishing second on the ladder, the Lions were keen to make it to the final game of the season.
The Lions suffered a first up finals loss to Oak Park but having matched them after quarter time were confident ahead of Saturday’s preliminary final against the Sunbury Kangaroos.
The Lions started well and led by 19 points at the first break, before the Kangaroos got back into the game in the second quarter.
There was nothing in the game at half time and again at the final break.
The Kangaroos would lead by seven points late in the final quarter, with the Lions having opportunities to first reduce the margin and then level the score.
Unable to convert the Lions fell short, losing 12.10 (82)-10.17 (77).
Lions coach Steve Burns was bitterly disappointed after the game.
“I’m not happy at the moment,” he said. “We tried our hardest and we had another three guys go down which really hurt us, two of our best defenders, which made all the difference.
“They took a couple of marks late which hurt us, unfortunately we’ve fallen a goal short which is really disappointing.”
Burns said they continued to push until the final siren, with the ball in their forward line when the siren went.
He said he is really proud of the group.
“We were still coming forward when the siren went,” he said. “To be one player left on the bench and still trying and going through what we were doing, I was pretty proud of them.
“I really came here today expecting to win and wanting these boys to win, to get something out of their season that deserved.
“It didn’t happen, make us even better and bigger for next season hopefully.”
Raafat Rachrache was the only multiple goal scorer for the Lions, kicking two goals.
Christopher Vulic, Jack Burns and Mitchell Jones were named the Lions best.
While the Lions had achieved their goal of making finals this season, Burns said the final outcome would burn deep for the group.
“We wanted another chance at Oak Park,” he said. “That is footy and I’ve been around for a long time and I’ve been disappointed a lot. It makes winning better when you do
“I’m really proud of the boys. They gave it their all that you can ask for.”
The Lions will still have one team on grand final day, with their reserves having already won through on the first week of finals.
Burns said the club was starting to get back to where it wanted to be.
“We won a couple of junior grand finals as well which is great,” he said. “We’re on the rise again which is what I came here to do and try to get the club back on the map.
“I think we’ve managed to do that and hopefully most of them will come back next year and we can build our list and get bigger and stronger.”
