Gary Cutler is setting the bar high for Lalor in 2021, with the Bloods’ senior men’s football coach putting finals on the radar.
The Bloods have won just four matches over the past two seasons in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 but are putting in the hard yards as they strive to jump up the ladder.
Speaking to NFNL.org.au, Cutler said the players had started pre-season early following last year’s cancelled season to ensure they are well prepared for the 2021 campaign.
“We got back into things pretty early, we got back as soon as the restrictions got lifted. We’ve been training since November,” Cutler said.
“We had to have a month offsite at Mill Park Central College, but now we’re back on the ground training two nights a week and numbers have been really good.”
Despite limited on-field success in recent seasons, Cutler wants his side fighting for finals in the eight-team third division.
“I always say that if you’re not aiming to play finals then you shouldn’t be going around,” Cutler said.
“I understand that we are coming from a mile back but we’re hoping to get things together and have some luck and hopefully we’re more competitive this year.”
Boasting a youthful side during his first season at the club in 2019, Cutler understood the need to bring in experience ahead of the new campaign.
Two-time North Heidelberg premiership players Pasquale Saccuzzo and Louis Hill will add much-needed experience, alongside fellow recruits Justin Bentley and Dominic Saccuzzo – with the quartet all signing prior to the 2020 cancelled season.
Braybrook goal kicker Nathan Smith, Yarroweyah’s Taylem Stretton, Reservoir’s Dylan Potter, along with Whittlesea youngsters Steven Alabakis and Matthew Cooper have also been approved transfers to Lalor Reserve in recent months.
Though there is still a youthful presence within the senior team, Cutler said he was pleased by the array of new faces joining the club.
“We needed experience and recruited a couple of older guys as we had a squad that was very young,” Cutler said.
“Some of the younger guys have brought guys so we’re going to have a lot of new faces.
“With 30 new faces, we’re maximising the playing squad and making sure the boys can get to know each other.”
One youngster who has caught the eye of Cutler during pre-season has been Nathan Gioffre, who has impressed on the track since crossing from St Mary’s.
While there is a lot of upside in the recruiting, the club is still without an official captain since the departure of its former skipper Jackson Freebairn – who returned to junior club Epping following the 2019 season.
Cutler is trialing a group of players for the role and is hopeful one of them will be the right leader.
“At the moment we have three or four guys that are vying for the captaincy,” Cutler said.
“All those guys will get an opportunity to captain in a practice match to see how they handle the role under game pressure.”
Lalor will play VAFA side Richmond Centrals in a practice match on March 13 and EDFL outfit Keilor Park on March 20 ahead of its Round 1 away clash against Mernda on April 10.
