Tara Murray
When Steve Burns returned to Taylors Lakes, he wanted to get the club back to where it once was in the Essendon District Football League.
He did exactly that on Saturday afternoon as the side won its second senior premiership, beating Westmeadows.
The club’s only senior premiership coach, Burns came back to the club midway through the 2022 season.
After being relegated at the end of 2021, the club was struggling back in division 2.
“I don’t think it was great,” Burns said of the club in 2022. “They weren’t winning games and had no one coming to the club.
“The club was closed at 6pm on a Saturday night, which is rubbish.
“The juniors weren’t going great, so to come back and be able to turn it all around just through culture standards and running of a place like a football club should run
“It’s credit to these players, the seconds guys especially, for the work they do and coming to training and making it be 40-45 players at training every night.
“Very much a team effort from everyone.”
The Lions entered this season as favourites.
They were knocked out of finals in straight sets last year, but added a couple more pieces of the puzzle to get that premiership glory.
Burns said they learned from those finals losses last year and they used them in both of their finals wins.
On Saturday at Windy Hill, it was Westmeadows that stood between the Lions and premiership glory.
The Tigers were full of momentum after two come from behind wins to make the grand final.
The conditions also suited the way they like to play.
At quarter time it was game on with the Tigers leading by two points. In their two finals wins, they had struggled early.
It was then a real arm wrestle for most of the second quarter.
Raafat Rachrache then kicked three goals in 90 seconds to break the game open. It would eventually be the difference in the game.
Rachrache entered the grand final week under an injury cloud after hurting his hamstring in the semi final.
Burns said he was ready to go.
“He trained the house down,” Burns said. “We put him through an unbelievable fitness test because of his age and he delivered.
“It gave us a little bit of a break which we had all game and he ended up kicking five and it was a great game by him.”
Having held the Tigers off in the third and early in the fourth, the Lions were able to run the game out stronger to win, 8.14 (62)-5.13 (43).
Burns said it wasn’t their greatest game of football, but it doesn’t matter as long as you get the win.
“We didn’t play our best football at all, but that’s due to them and their pressure was a really high contested ball game and to come away with it in the end was just amazing and well-deserved.
“Credit to Westy, Ash [Flavel] coached a great game… They played really well and they shut us down a lot so it’s credit to them.
“But at the end of the day we were too good and we got the job done and I think we fully deserve it. I won’t hide from that fact.
“I think we were the best team all year and to win it is credit to everyone for the hard work.”
Chris Vulic was awarded the Ian Price medal as the player adjudged best on ground by the umpires.
Burns said he had a great game.
“His last quarter when it was up for grabs, he was best on in that last quarter.”
Burns said he thought Aaron Vendramini was best on ground across the whole four quarters.
Burns said it was nice to see the guys who have stuck around the club when it’s struggled for success to get some reward.
For Burns personally, he said it was pretty special to add the premiership to the 2010 one.
“It was 14 years ago,” he said. “Pretty proud to have been able to do it for this great footy club.
“I love the footy club and even when I was at Hillside, I still had a soft spot for the club. To be able to do that is really pleasing.”
The Lions will now be back in division 1 next season.
“Back where we belong,” Burns said.
