Brandon in charge
New Taylors Lake senior football coach Brandon Weatherson faces the challenge of turning the Lakers around as he takes the reins in 2019.
The Lakers named Weatherson as their new coach last week, replacing Jye Smith after two years in charge. Smith will stay with the Lakers as a player.
Taylors Lake has endured two tough seasons in Horsham District Football Netball League, going winless this year and winning only one match in 2017.
Weatherson is coming off a successful year as coach of Glenthompson-dunkeld in Mininera and District Football League, taking the Rams from ninth to third on the ladder last season.
Weatherson said he hoped to spur Taylors Lake to a similar improvement.
“I think one of the things that helped Glenthompson-dunkeld improve last year was that we had a defined game plan and stuck to it,” he said.
“We want to keep the game plan fairly simple here, and hopefully the team will be able to stay in games a bit longer than it has been.”
Weatherson said the first priority for the Lakers was to re-sign the core of last year’s team.
He said he had discussed recruiting with the Taylors Lake committee and already had a few targets in mind.
“We think we can add a bit more height around the ground,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to a few players from back my way in the Maryborough and Ballarat area, and we think we might be able to get a couple of Wimmera league players across.”
Weatherson said he looked forward to experiencing Horsham District league for the first time.
“It should be one of the stronger leagues I’ve been involved in,” he said.
“From what I’ve heard it’s pretty quick and dry, and the grounds are a bit bigger.”
Taylors Lake president Tammy Mcdonald said the club was excited about Weatherson’s ability to develop junior footballers.
“We are looking forward to the year ahead with Brandon at the helm,” she said.
“The club has a great amount of young talent within the current playing group and Brandon will be able to further develop that.”
The Lakers also announced Gab Mcculloch would continue as A Grade netball coach next season. Mcculloch has coached the Lakers for the past two seasons after they failed to field an A Grade side in 2016 due to lack of numbers.