Lakers players Claye Kelson and Charles Edmonston at training last night.
THE pool of experience at Lake Wendouree ran dry late last season due to injury and unavailability.
But there has since been a trickle of players back from injury and healthy flow of newcomers at the Red Onion Ballarat Football League club.
Ruckman Matthew Tuminello and defender Tim Malone are back in the green and on the park after returning from overseas, while Charlie Edmonson (shoulder) and Andrew Pitson (knee) are virtually new recruits.
While Ben Taylor and Billy Anderson have moved on from the Sectrol Lakers, coach Gavin Webb says the boys in green are in a better place than this time last year. “Our numbers are really healthy. Since university has been back we’re averaging 45 at training,” Webb said.
“Most of our players have re-committed from last year plus we’ve got about six or seven uni boys. Last year we struggled with depth and, even though we’ve lost Ben Taylor (overseas) and Billy Anderson (to Bungaree), in terms of numbers we are much better off.”
Since Lake Wendouree’s pre-season camp at Point Lonsdale in January, the Lakers have been on the track and training solidly ahead of the new season. They will have their first practice matches against North Warrnambool on April 6 and, in a departure from usual practice, fellow BFL club East Point on April 13.