Lakers seniors growing together despite losses

DESPITE a tough season, Lake Wendouree coach Rohan Brown says he is seeing positive signs of growth and development within the senior team and the club as a whole.

While he acknowledges it has been a tough slog for his playing group through 11 straight losses to start the season, Brown insists their endeavour, intensity and spirit has neither waned nor could be called into question.

And like their coach, the playing group remains steadfastly upbeat about the future.

“There are so many positives we have taken out of the season,” Brown said.

“We have ticked a lot of things internally. We have started to give a lot more exposure to our younger kids… started to play some (under) 19s, which is going to hold us in really good stead.

“We know where we are at and what we need, and how we need to go about it.

“It’s just a matter of putting the head down.

“(The game before the break against Bacchus Marsh) was pretty disappointing with how it ended up, but the three weeks before that were sensational.

“I know we got beaten on the scoreboard and people look at that and say ‘It’s been another tough day’ but the East Point game, the Redan game and the Melton game, we played some very good football.

“Obviously it was against some high-quality opposition.

“We are not far away; we just need a few classy players to help us along the way.”

While rebuilding a club presents significant challenges and requires plenty of patience, Brown said the Lakers could take heart from some of their BFNL peers.

“We are confident we will be able to do it (rebuild), given the kids we already have in the system and the players we are targeting,” he said.

“It is hard, but we know it can be done.

“And it can turn pretty quickly. You only have to look at Darley and some of these sides which have done it the last few years. Melton.

“Bacchus Marsh have done it under a really quality coach. Dennis (Armfield) has put a few things in place that he had a bit of a look at in his first year.

“Now they are going really well. Dennis has done a great job there.”

Brown could not speak highly enough about his players resilience and effort.

“I’ve been blessed to coach a few footy sides that have gone out there and won on talent and skill alone,” he said.

“But the group of young men I have now, the way they apply themselves each week is outstanding.

“A few people have asked are they resilient? Well, you only have to watch them rock up each Tuesday and Thursday to get your answer.

“They have a crack, and they never give up. It’s just a matter of getting some help around them.”

Among the bright spots have been the form of Tom Zampatti in the ruck – currently in the top three for hitouts in the BFNL – joint captain Joel O’Connor, who has carried a heavy load in the midfield, and Kyle Anderson and Bailey Ryan, who have stepped up in defence in the absence of Brayden Helyar.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, young tall Jackson O’Brien (broken collarbone) and defender Angus O’Keefe (broken foot) joined a growing injury list following the loss to Bacchus Marsh.

While they will be without up to seven of their best 22 against Sebastopol this weekend, Brown is expecting the Lakers to again bring their trademark intensity and pressure.

“We make no excuses, but we will be undermanned. But we’ll rock up and have a real crack and hopefully make it a good contest and continue to tick off what we need to,” he said.

“We’ve worked really hard with Jesse McLean (from Leading Teams) developing our trademarks and what we stand for at Lake Wendouree.

“If we can tick off our internal goals, that’s a win for us.

“There could potentially be up to five or six under-19s kids rolling around in our side.”

The Burra will be coming off a brave five-point loss to flag contender East Point, which followed a convincing win over Ballarat, with the Swans placed fifth on the ladder at the time, but now having slipped to seventh.

Further cause for optimism for the Lakers is the performance of their netball teams, with A-grade currently in fourth spot, B-grade third and C, D and E and 17-and-under senior all sitting top.

Brown is rapt to see the netballers flying the club flag.

“(Senior coach) Courtney McLean is doing an outstanding job with our netballers; she runs a fantastic program,” he said.

“The club is really proud of her and the netballers.

“It’s great to see them winning and getting reward for their hard work.”