Caroline Springs is officially a premiership contender.
Less than a month after signing three-time AFL premiership player Brian Lake, the Lakers have landed another vital signature in their push for WRFL division 2 premiership glory in 2016 – gun full-forward Mathew Sutton.
Sutton crosses to the club after a decorated career in the Ballarat Football League with Melton South.
He was a multiple winner of the Panthers’ best and fairest award and was named in the BFL team of the year on five occasions.
Sutton, who has coached at Melton South, plans to boost on-ground leadership at the Lakers.
Caroline Springs football manager Marc Raak says the signing is a coup for the club.
“We’re really rapt to have Mathew on board,” he said. “I’ve known him for quite a while and to get him over the line really means we have that key forward at the club.
“His on-ground leadership will be huge for us; that’s something we really wanted to improve this off-season.”
The signing gives the Lakers incredible flexibility at the key position level.
A forward line of Lake and Sutton is sure to be among the best in the league.
But with his experience at AFL level coming in the defensive half, Lake could also push to the rear to support the back six.
Raak isn’t giving any hints as to how the senior side will line up, instead choosing to keep opposition clubs guessing.
“They can easily play in the same forward line,” he said of Lake and Sutton.
“Mat has committed to playing for the whole season.
“Brian wants to play up to 10 games so it gives us a lot of flexibility. Brian might even go in the ruck.”
The positive off-season only adds further weight to Caroline Springs’ push to join the WRFL’s division 1.
“The guys we are recruiting are more than just division 2 footballers,” Raak said.
“We’re putting these guys on two- and three-year contracts because we think they are also division 1-calibre footballers.
“That’s where we want to be as a club. We’re building for that.”
Caroline Springs will begin pre-season training this week.
Liam Twomey
