There was a point where life looked sweet for Lake Wendouree.
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The Lakers had upset North Ballarat, muscled past Ballarat, and put Melton South to the sword to have three wins to their name after six rounds.
They were fifth and the game plan was clicking. Things were looking good.
Then COVID made its first appearance of the season.
The story of Lake Wendouree's season is one best told in three parts - the lockdown, the recovery, and the resignation.
For a young group still finding its synergy and so dependent on momentum, the constant interruptions of 2021 were debilitating.
From the beginning Lakers had it harder than most, forced to sit on the sideline with the bye, while the rest of the competition celebrated a first game in 574 days.
When Lake Wendouree did return, it wasted little time, racing out to a three-goal halftime lead against reigning premier East Point.
The might of the Roos would ultimately prove too strong, but the showing provided a confidence boost heading into one of the shocks of the season.
Lake Wendouree's seven-point win against North Ballarat stands as one of the year's outlying results, handing the minor premier its only loss of the season and thrusting the Lakers into the finals conversation.
A win against Ballarat the next weekend was soured by a subsequent loss to Sebastopol, and the Lakers were soon at a juncture.
Looking back its hard to see how a meeting between the ninth and 10th-placed sides could be one of the most important games in the season, but when Melton South arrived in round six the winner had the chance to crack the top four.
Within three minutes Nick Rippon had Lake Wendouree two goals ahead and the rest of the day became somewhat procedural as the hosts entrenched themselves into a finals place with a 67-point win.
Rippon, in his first full season with the club, proved to be one of the Lakers' key figures this year.
The former VFL best-and-fairest winner was his side's leading goalkicker, with 12 majors, and was named among the best in all but two games.
Despite Rippon's obvious brilliance, there's little influence he can have when alongside all Victorians he's cooped up at home, unable to play football for three weeks.
In hindsight, the season's first COVID interruption was the start of the slide for Lake Wendouree.
The competition's return was marked by a dire three-point opening quarter, while opponent Redan piled on seven goals.
The next weekend was draining.
After battling so hard to stay in the contest, the Lakers had to resign themselves to a four-point loss to Bacchus Marsh.
Lake Wendouree then welcomed Darley for a must-win game, but a positive result looked in doubt when a second-quarter slip-up saw the hosts' lead fall to just nine points.
But, the Lakers recovered, holding on to stay one of five clubs on 16 points, sharing finals ambitions.
Lake Wendouree's next two fixtures would see it trek down the highway. First to take on second-placed Melton, before visiting Sunbury's fortress Clarke Oval.
The Melton venture went as expected - revelatory performances from young recruits Timothy Collins and Angus Gove the only positives in a 56-point loss.
Sitting ninth, four points off the pace, Lake Wendouree needed to return from Clarke Oval victorious.
Before the Lakers even got a chance, the competition sunk into a second COVID-forced recess.
With each week spent inside, Lake Wendouree's finals hopes dimmed.
No-one knew that the last weekend of July would be the final round of the home-and-away season. Had Lakers done, things might have just gone differently against Sunbury. A three-goal first-quarter lead fell to two points come half-time, before the Lions' stormed away to a 10-goal win.
Just like that, in dispiriting fashion, the season was over.
The raw materials are there for Lake Wendouree - youth, talent, desire - now it's down for someone new to put it all together, with coach Dale Power stepping aside.
A ninth-place finish for the Lakers, but one win off a finals place.
RECORD
9th, 4 wins, 6 losses, 16 points, 78.99 per cent
Rd 1: BYE
Rd 2: def by East Point, 7.8 (50) to 14.13 (97)
Rd 3: beat North Ballarat, 14.15 (99) to 13.14 (92)
Rd 4: beat Ballarat, 9.12 (66) to 9.7 (61)
Rd 5: def by Sebastopol, 4.10 (34) to 16.10 (106)
Rd 6: beat Melton South, 16.16 (112) to 7.3 (45)
Rd 7: def by Redan, 7.7 (49) to 13.11 (89)
Rd 8: def by Bacchus Marsh, 8.15 (63) to 10.7 (67)
Rd 9: beat Darley, 11.9 (75) to 6.5 (41)
Rd 10: def by Melton, 6.5 (41) to 14.13 (97)
Rd 11: def by Sunbury 5.5 (35) to 13.17 (95)