LALOR coach Steve Marshall says his side is where it should be in preparation for its Round 1 meeting with Epping ahead of a season he admits is about regaining respect.
The Bloods finished 2013 with four wins and seventh place on the Northern Football League Division 2 ladder, narrowly avoiding relegation.
Club legend Marshall, who took over the coaching role from Damien Zanic, said 2014 was about getting Lalor back where it belonged.
“As far as the attitude and commitment to train the boys have been really good,” Marshall said.
“The game plans are starting to come together.”
He said a finals appearance this season would mark the start of Lalor’s resurgence.
“Obviously what I’m after is a premiership, but it’s more so just to get the club back on track,” he said.
“I want to finish in finals but we did finish second last so it’s a big step up.
“If it all stays together and we keep everyone on the park we should be pretty successful.”
Marshall said the club had been buoyed by its success in the recruiting market, gaining North Heidelberg’s Jarrod King as an assistant coach, Whittlesea’s Tom Bonson and former Lalor player Tim Keily.
He said Keily would offer invaluable experience around the ground after returning to the club from the Mid Gippsland Football League.
“A bit of strength – he’s an older player, so he’s got the knowledge,” he said.
“He’s mature and will lead the young blokes a bit.”
Marshall said Bonson would bring a strong knowledge of Division 2 football to the club despite being restricted to four senior games by injury last year.
“He broke his wrist last year and missed out on the second half of the year,” he said.
“He’s the midfield type we’d been looking for.”
He said the club’s 11 new recruits had fitted in seamlessly and given their teammates confidence about a rise up the ladder.
Lalor tackles Essendon District Football League club Glenroy in a practice match on March 22.
The Bloods host Epping to open their 2014 campaign on Saturday, April 5.
This article is courtesy of Leader Newspaper.
