It’s been a frustrating season for Taylors Lakes in the Essendon District Football League.
At times, the Lions have looked like a side destined for a deep finals run as they slam multiple goals past some of the competition’s most well-credentialed sides.
But maintaining that high level of play has proved elusive.
Fadeouts lasting for between 10 and 15 minutes have cost the Lions dearly and the division 1 club looks likely to miss finals for the first time since 2011.
Taylors Lakes coach Sam Tankard said it had been extremely frustrating.
“You’re not always going to have control of the game but you do need to realise what you need to do when opposition sides are kicking goals,” he said.
“We need to defend a lot better and probably our turnovers are hurting us.
“We’re moving forward but then we turn the ball over and it goes the other way twice as quickly.
“If we can be a little bit better with the football and then defend better, that would make a big difference.”
Despite the tough run, Taylors Lakes has been able to avoid relegation pressure.
The Lions all but secured a place in division 1 next season with a fighting 14.14 (98) – 11.13 (79) win against Glenroy at the weekend.
After 11 rounds, the Lions are in seventh place with a 3-7 record.
“I just want us to get back to playing our best football,” Tankard said.
“In the second half of the season we will go into most games thinking we can win.
“We just need to get that confidence back and then I think we’ll be OK.”
Tankard also weighed into the premiership debate, with the competition’s standout sides, Craigieburn and Essendon Doutta Stars, to square off this week.
The top-of-the-ladder Eagles go into the match with 10 wins in 10 matches, while the Stars have had one loss and one draw.
Tankard gave the advantage to Craigieburn because of goal kicking brothers Jason and Cameron Cloke.
The pair is in first and second spots on the competition’s goalscoring list.
“When we played Craigieburn, we stopped one of them, Jason … Jackson Wright did a brilliant job on him. But we couldn’t stop Cameron,” he said.
“I don’t think they have a weakness whereas I think Douttas probably have a weakness in defence.
‘They’re going to struggle to hold the Clokes on a nice dry day.”
