The development of Caroline Springs younger players has been the difference for the Western Football League division 1 side this year.
After making a grand final in 2022, the Lakers missed finals all together last season.
The Lakers didn’t look to make too many changes to their list in the off season and the decision has paid off with the side sitting in second spot with three rounds to go.
Football manager Shaun Rainer said their playing group had made massive inroads this season.
“We didn’t bring much in from last year,” he said. “We’ve got a fit and firing squad which is the best part and we’ve been playing some good football.
“We’ve been able to get that consistency and that has helped produce some results.
“The turnaround from last season has been the younger guys that have stepped up.
‘Some have been in the system a couple of years like Jamie Ristoski and Alipate Bryant. They’ve playing pretty confident football.”
Rainer knows while things have been going their way, it can pretty quickly change.
This year has produced one of the more even division 1 seasons, with every team having won at least three games so far and a number of close games.
Rainer said it would be an exciting few weeks before finals.
“We want to make sure we lock away the double chance,” he said. “We’ve seen so far in results that you can’t just rock up and think that you’re just going to win.
“Every team you’re playing could be a side you’re possibly playing in finals.
“We want to go into the finals on the back of some good results.”
The Lakers are set for a big test this Saturday against Altona.
The Vikings have been one of the inform teams in the competition.
“It’s an eight point game,” Rainer said. “They’ve had some really good results and really turned around their early season form.
“We definitely won’t take that game lightly.”
