Football
9 April, 2024
Taylors Lake 2024 Season Preview
A look at Taylors Lake's 2024 season in both football and netball and a message from President Stuart Hall.
The Lakers are heading into the 2024 season with a new coach who has been a familiar face around the club.
Justin Beugelaar takes over from Kyle Pinto. Beugelaar joined the club last year as a player and before that was involved with Dimboola as a player and coach.
"When I came here last year to play, the itch came back to coach and I was luckily enough to be given the gig this season," Beugelaar said.
The Lakers have recruited well in the off-season. Bray Cullinan has come across from Newcomb in the Bellarine Football League. He is a former Minyip Murtoa player having grown up in this area.
Brayden Gebert is joining him from Newcomb and with his brother, Ryan, playing at the club, the brothers are looking forward to playing with each other.
Former Warrack Eagle player Mitchell Crough has also joined the club and will bring strength as a key position player.
Of the returning brigade, Koby Westerland will captain the side and Hunter Campey has been looking good in the pre-season as well as Brendan Healey returning from injury as well as Connor Healy who Beugelaar said is looking fit.
"Those players have impressed in the pre-season. I am especially excited about Hunter Campey as I think he will bring his game to the next level," Beugelaar said.
"Hunter is a kid that wants to learn and I love working with guys that want to learn as they have the right attitude.
"He can play half-back and in the middle and can also play a lockdown role, but he has leg speed and loves to take the game on so we will see him dash a lot off halfback and hopefully can provide that burst in the midfield."
As for the season goals, Beugelaar just wants to build that team culture and win a couple more games than last year.
"Our core group of players are under 23 years of age and first and foremost we have to win more than two games and with our team that is very achievable," Beugelaar said.
"If you look at last year we lost marginally to Pimpinio who pushed for finals as well as Edenhope before the injuries hit us.
"This year we have a lot of depth and I just want us to be competitive."
"With the list and culture we are building, who knows what can happen this season, but if we can turn those two games last year into five or six, we could push for finals. You just never know. The future is exciting."
Taylors Lake open their season at home against Edenhope Apsley.
CREATING GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR NETBALLERS
Last season was the Lakers' first year back in A Grade and they won four games and were involved in a couple of tight losses, and with Lydia Schneider coaching them again, they are in a great spot to improve.
There haven't been many recruits from outside the club, with mostly a lot of B Graders and a few juniors stepping up this season.
Schneider is also coaching B Grade and said Zoe Gray and Isabelle Hedt are just some of the names to watch this season.
"I am excited for Isabelle playing in defense and Zoe has looked good in pre-season," Schneider said.
"Lilly Weir in the midcourt is exciting too. She is a beast. She does a lot of CrossFit and it's always amazing what she achieves in her CrossFit journey and Chloe Kelm as our assistant coach is also looking good."
This season, whilst beating last season's win record would be ideal, for Schneider it's about enjoyment.
"It would be great to be able to beat four wins but I am not putting pressure on the girls. There has been a lot of movement in the club and it will be interesting to see how the grades across the season stack up," Schneider said.
"My goal last year was that I wanted the girls to enjoy the whole season and not pack it in. We haven't stopped chatting in the off-season about that.
"I just want the girls to enjoy themselves and make sure everyone wants to come to training. We have worked on our fitness a lot and the atmosphere around the club is positive and everyone is ready to play."
FROM THE PRESIDENT