TAYLORS Lakes will sport a fresh look in its first season back in Essendon District Football League B grade after relegation from the top flight.
The Lions have offset a high volume of departures with a long list of recruits they hope will get that winning feeling back into the club.
Lions coach Steve Burns told the Weekly the depth on the playing roster was not as strong as seasons past, but the quality of recruits and remaining players on paper is exciting.
“We’re in an unknown world,” he said of his side’s prospects. We’ve lost a lot of players, but we’ve recruited a few as well. We’ve brought in six or seven quality players and if they click we’re a top-three candidate.
“If they don’t click, we could be fighting to stay in Bgrade at the cut off.”
What is for certain is the Lions will win their fair share of games this season.
Last year among the Agrade elite they failed to register a single win.
Burns says it was exciting leading into Agrade for the first time because “it was all new”.
This time there is a different buzz, one of anticipation and expectations of being around the finals mark.
“We have much higher expectations of where we can go this year,” Burns said.
Even though it turned into a mind-numbing winter for the Lions with loss after loss, the Lions will be better off for having had the chance to confront the best sides in the flesh.
Burns says the club will be more professional than it was two years ago when it won the Bgrade flag, they will be better coached with the man himself admitting to having his eyes opened by trends brought in by other coaches in the top tier and will return with more tricks up their sleeve.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in three premierships and it was tough being on the other end of the score line,” Burns said.
“It was a learning experience.
“We were in awe of what our opposition were doing last year. It just goes to show how rapidly it’s evolving and I’m hoping after the experiences of last year that I will evolve as a coach.”
The Lions’ destination could hinge on the output of their midfield. They have put together a ruck and on-ball brigade that has served them well in previous years.
Mark De Sousa is back as captain.
The Lions will host West Coburg in the Bgrade match of the day at Lionheart Reserve on Saturday.
EDFL
Round 1
A grade: Oak Park v Keilor, Essendon Doutta Stars v Pascoe Vale, Greenvale v Avondale Heights, Craigieburn v Maribyrnong Park, Strathmore v Aberfeldie.
B grade: Taylors Lakes v West Coburg, Hillside v Roxburgh Park, Moonee Valley v Keilor Park, East Keilor v Jacana, Tullamarine v Hadfield, Airport West v Glenroy, Westmeadows v Northern Saints.
