‘Lakers on the rise’
For anyone who has grown up following Horsham District Football League there has always been something nostalgic about Dock Lake Reserve.
The reserve, across the road from Green Lake, is one of the league’s great natural amphitheatres and has provided the stage for many big football occasions and performances.
Being only 10 minutes out from Horsham, the reserve is like a home away from home for many either taking part in or spectating at football games.
Dock Lake Reserve is also the home of historic Taylors Lake, a club that despite enduring tough seasons on the playing arena might well be on the cusp of a significant resurgence.
The Lakers have a new coach in former Glenthompson-dunkeld leader Brandon Weatherson and critically, an influx of new players are set to join him in the camp.
Weatherson is upbeat and confident that the Lakers would improve markedly on last season, revealing that ‘at least’ 10 or 11 recruits from across Victoria and interstate would step into a senior line-up.
“I’ve been impressed with the club. Taylors Lake has battled during the last couple of years but the committee is keen to get things right off the ground and, with me, hope to get things right on the ground with new recruits, a fresh game plan and new direction,” he said.
“With players travelling across from my old area of Maryborough and Ballarat and players coming across from Western Australia with Travis Mackley, all who have played a pretty good level of footy, it’s going to be a different looking team that’s for sure.”
Former Minyip-murtoa player Kirsten Hunter is among players travelling from interstate, joining ruckman Heze Mccorry and Christopher Griffiths. Ricky Howard who played TAC Cup with Gippsland Power last year is also in the group.
Weatherson said he realised the Lakers were ‘coming from a long way back’ and fell short of predicting where the team might finish this year.
“I have a game plan I’ve carried through since coaching juniors based around pressure and discipline,” he said.
“If you don’t train two nights a week you’ll most likely be in the reserves.
“If you don’t train pre-season it will be the same. It will be a wake-up call for players.
“It will be big challenge and the expectation is for us to be competitive for longer, to beat the bottom four sides and be competitive with the next rung.”
Lakers president Tammy Mcdonald was also feeling buoyant about the Lakers’ fortunes.
“Brandon is bringing a fresh new approach into the club,” she said.
“He has fantastic ideas on how to develop players and has been recruiting quite heavily.”
The Lakers plan to have two assistant coaches working with Weatherson and has confirmed experienced John Kelly will be one of them. Former coach Jye Smith will stay on as a player.
Mrs Mcdonald said the club had built itself into a strong off-field position and was delighted that long-time supporter Hotondo Homes was continuing as major sponsor.
“We are a family-friendly club and pride ourselves on looking after our players, supporters and volunteers,” she said.
“We’re working towards improving our success on the field.
“There is a very positive vibe around the club and everyone is looking forward to the season.
“We don’t expect miracles but we won’t be having the heavy losses we experienced and expect to get a few wins on the board. Enthusiasm is extremely high. This year our hashtag is ‘Lakers on the rise’.”