Tara Murray
Taylors Lakes is starting to build into the Essendon District Football League division 2 season.
After a number of close misses last season, the Lions under new coach Steve Burns were one of the big players in the off season, signing a number of key recruits.
The Lions, who had a bye on the weekend due to a split round, have started the season with a loss followed by two wins.
Burns said the first few weeks had been a bit mixed but they were starting to play some better football, but needed to put it together more consistently.
“The Oak Park game we weren’t great, we didn’t pick the side that we should have,” he said. “I take blame for that.
“The last two weeks we’ve been okay and done the job. It’s been nice days and fairly nice size grounds which suit us.
“We’ve had good first and last quarters, but not consistent within games.”
Burns said they were still getting games into the younger players, which was a key focus of theirs as they added a bit of experience around them.
He said with so many new players they expected it was going to take some time.
“We’re still trying to gel,” he said. “Some of the guys who are out are new as well.
“Eventually they will come into the side and it will be more about gelling again.”
Burns said the split round probably came at a good time for them. Just two games were played in division 2 on Saturday.
“We have a few out and I don’t think we’ll get anyone back after the bye, but it’s one less game they will have to miss,” he said.
“We haven’t been able to get anywhere near a full team. Someone comes back and then another goes out and it keeps going.
“We’ve got some long term injuries, but hopefully they’ll all be back up round nine or 10 and we don’t have any other injuries, we’ll be close to a full team.”
There was a lot of unknown heading into the season, with Burns saying that every team was capable of beating everyone.
The Lions this week face Burnside Heights, which is 1-2, but could have won all three games.
“We have a fairly competitive side when everyone is available,” he said.
“It’s got the feel of the old division one set up which I coached in for a long time when there were no easy games.
“East Sunbury were competitive and will be better as they gel. The Sunbury Kangaroos have played three games they could have won.
“Every game is an eight point game.”
In matches that were scheduled for the weekend, Keilor was set to play Aberfeldie in premier division, while in division 1, Hillside was to play Roxburgh Park, Deer Park was to play Tullamarine, Keilor Park was to host Rupertswood and St Albans was to play West Coburg.
