FOUR-TIME club champion Ben Taylor has returned to Lake Wendouree.
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The star midfielder has signed with the Lakers in the Ballarat Football League for next season, after three years away from the club.
Taylor played for Victorian Amateur Football Association side University Blues this year, which followed two years of travelling overseas.
He was a key member of the Lakers’ premiership side in 2010.
Lakers’ president Dave Clifton said Taylor would provide a big boost to the club.
“Ben is super professional with his preparation,” Clifton said.
“He recently ran a marathon in the last couple of weeks to get in tip top condition. He just has that desire to win.
“On match day, he just hunts the footy. Adding him to (Stephen) Clifton in the midfield will really give us a lot more grunt around the packs.
“Something Stephen lacked this year was another player to help him out and release him a bit – he’s got that now.”
Taylor grew up playing with the Lakers as a junior, before becoming a star at senior level.
According to Clifton, the ball-magnet still maintained a close relationship with Lake Wendouree even after leaving at the end of the 2012 season.
“Ben has always been a Lakers’ boy,” Clifton said.
“He has always attended our various functions and has remained good friends with people around the club. It was an easy decision for him to make.
“He certainly wasn't going to go to any other Ballarat club!”
Taylor’s acquisition coincides with the announcement that Lucas Anderson will now fulfill a full-time role at Lake Wendouree.
Anderson, who will serve as a playing assistant coach, was listed with the North Ballarat Roosters this season but played the majority of his games with the Lakers.
Clifton said the mobile tall would have a significant impact now that he can spend more time with his team-mates.
“He’s a great bloke, ‘Chooka,’” said Clifton.
“Now he will be around the club a lot more at training. His ability to be with us full-time will have a big influence on the training track.
“He just has a burning desire to be successful.”
Lake Wendouree also signed defender Tom Littore earlier this month.
Littore was a member of St Joseph’s premiership team in the Geelong Football League this season.
Clifton was optimistic about what the new recruit could provide.
“Anyone that can have played 100 games of GFL will be a big asset,” he said.
“The standard of football down there (in Geelong) is certainly a step above, so it really bodes well for us.”
Meanwhile, in a busy off-season for the Lakers, netball premiership player Madison Davis has also returned to the club.
The mid-court specialist was part of the inaugural Sovereigns’ squad in the Victorian Netball Association.
She was also a key member of the Maryborough Rovers for a number of years in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football Netball League.
The club expects Davis will bring strong experience and leadership to their netball brigade next season.
“It’s just fantastic news to have Madison,” Clifton said.