Tara Murray
Caroline Springs knows things can quickly change in the Western Region Football League division 1 competition.
The Lakers were sitting on top of the ladder after seven rounds, with just one loss for the year. The club’s second side, which plays in division 2, is sitting in third with their eyes on finals too.
Lakers division 1 coach Dean Ellis said having a second side had really stepped things up.
The club is the first to have two women’s sides in the WRFL competition.
“We’re definitely happy, but there’s still a long way to go,” he said.
“With two sides there’s now a bit of competition for spots. You have to perform or you play twos.
“It makes everyone accountable.”
Ellis said they formed a second side this season, after not having enough players for an under-18 team.
He said they wanted to make sure there was a side for everyone who wants to play.
“We had about 13 to 14 girls, with a number not coming back after COVID,” he said of the under-18s.
“We had five or six hang around and they’re now playing senior football. We’ve got a good frame for the future and we’ll have under-18s again next season.”
Ellis said they had seen a number of a new players had come to the club which had made things easier as well.
He said the return of Alex O’Shea, who had won their last three best and fairest awards, had been a big bonus.
Some of the younger players who have come up from the under-18s had also impressed.
Jacinta Kondis, Charlize Sindoni, Hayley and Hannah Herring are some of those that have really stepped up.
The Lakers sit third in division 2.
Ellis said it had been really good to see.
“Finals is the aim for both divisions,” he said. “It gets a bit harder when there’s things like injuries.
“We haven’t had the numbers we were after every week, but that’s okay.
“We’re had a few under-16s fill in the last couple of weeks as well.”
Ellis said they weren’t getting ahead of themselves in division 1. He said there’s still a long time to go before the season is over.
The side will face Werribee Centrals on Saturday.
“I don’t like to predict things,” he said.
“We want to be in the top two by the end of the season and then take finals week by week.
“You’re only a couple of injuries away from struggling.
“We play each game on its merits, Every game is hard and we have to be on our game each week.”
