By Tara Murray
There’s a positive outlook at Lancefield Football Club this season.
While the club is aware it might be tough on the field for its seniors and reserves, there are plenty of reasons to smile.
Senior coach Chris Collins said the shining light this season was that the club was fielding an under-19s team for the first time since 2013.
“To have three teams each week is huge,” he said. “The seniors and reserves will struggle a bit, but there’s some high hopes for the under-19s. They’re a great group … mates who are also great footballers.
“It’s amazing to have them back up and running.”
With the senior side, Collins said the club continued to focus on playing locals.
He said no players were being paid this season.
“It’s all about the locals again,” he said. “We haven’t spent dough chasing
players. It’s about trying to rebuild the culture.
“They are playing for the love of the club and jumper, which is what it should be.”
Collins knows that with that approach they are unlikely to match it with the top sides on the field and said the club is realistic about where it sits.
Last season, they finished 10th with three wins.
“On the scoreboard, there’s no doubt we’ll struggle at times,” he said.
“The focus has been on getting the young guys in and developing and working with them.
“Other games could be a struggle, but if we get it right we could take a scalp this year and beat a side above us. That’s the goal.”
The Tigers had the weekend off due to the Easter break, which Collins said couldn’t have come at a better time for a side dealing with a number of injuries to key players.
The Tigers will this week face Riddell.
