2022 CAROLINE SPRINGS PREVIEW

By KEL ROWE

Despite a premature finish in 2021, the Caroline Springs Senior Women’s side ended their season with a strong win over the previously unbeaten Spotswood — and are using that performance to drive their preseason in 2022.

Dean Ellis— back to lead the side as coach for a second year — flags that win as a highlight in a tough season and is keen for his side to continue to challenge their competition in Victoria University Polytechnic Division 1.

“We were building up to finals quite nicely. As a team, we are hopeful for an uninterrupted season, as last year was very frustrating,” Ellis said.

“We are looking forward to playing every team in Division 1, as I think each team will have improved and each game, we will have to be at our best to win.”

The Lakers have a long been a top performer in the short history of the VU Polytechnic Senior Women’s Competition, and 2021 proved no different, with four players featuring in the Team of the Year.

This year, Ellis’ squad has an injection of new faces from their Under-18’s pathway, and a fresh, positive vibe around the team.

When asked about players to watch, he was reluctant to single anyone out.

“Every player has been training the house down over the preseason, but in saying that, you can’t go past the ever-reliable Alex O’Shea, a seasoned performer,” Ellis said.

As they prepare for their season opener, Ellis is encouraging ‘every player to contribute, no matter what — to give each other their best effort and everything else will take care of itself.’

Don’t miss the Lakers in action against Hoppers Crossing in Round 1.

---

By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS 

Now in his fifth year as coach, Brodie Holland says this year will be a failure if Caroline Springs don’t play at least one final in TIV Division 1.

Holland’s senior side boasts some exciting young talent, who are poised for another big season. However, the Lakers have also recruited a number of experienced players, including Courtenay Dempsey, Ryan Allan, Jake Mould and Josh Cubillo – all of which are ready to help the Lakers take the next step.

“We have been building towards it (finals) for five years. On paper we are a team that can certainly play finals,” Holland said.

“It will be a failure if we don’t play finals, that is the goal. We have recruited well, and we have found the help and with that the young guys have improved. We have the plan; we just have to execute it now.”

Holland said the focus for this pre-season was about getting the team to enjoy training and getting footy’s in the hands of players more often.

“We have changed tact over the past couple of years with no footy and no finals on the line. It has been a lot of work for no result, so pre-season has been about enjoying training a little more. A few less running sessions and more skills,” Holland said.

With less than a week to go before the first bounce, Holland said the final few training sessions are about fine tuning everything before a big clash with Deer Park.

“We have been scratchy in both our practice games, but we have been able to run out the games really well,” he said.

“We aren’t far away from putting our best side together.

“We are all excited to have footy back, it feels like the world is opening up and we are getting closer to normality. We just want to get out there and enjoy it.”

Caroline Springs takes on Deer Park on Saturday.