Nunawading Football Club not despondent about big losses in Eastern Football League

ITS reserves team might have been belted by more than 400 points on Saturday, but Nunawading Football Club is far from beaten.

Nunawading Football Club president Wayne Devene (second from right) says they are not letting some beltings on the field get them down. Picture: Ian Currie

ITS reserves team might have been belted by more than 400 points on Saturday, but Nunawading Football Club is far from beaten.

In fact, the Nunawading Lions are in great shape and in high spirits, according to new club president Wayne Devene.

The reserves lost 63.26 (404) to 0.0 (0) against Ferntree Gully on Saturday, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table with a percentage of just 2.81 after four games.

Two weeks ago the seniors conceded a league record 350 points.

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But Devene and the rest of his committee aren’t worried.

“Any publicity is fine by us,” Devene said.

“We know it will be a struggle on the field this year, but we don’t mind taking the piss out of ourselves.”

The Lions may have had their struggles fielding senior and reserves teams in the Eastern Football League Division 4 this season, but gate takings are up on last year, former players are returning to get involved and the financial crisis recently facing the club is quickly being rectified.

Nunawading players (from left) James Guillot, Stefan Krakowiak and captain Joshua Persson are fighting on, despite some one-sided games. Picture: Ian Currie

Devene, 40, who is also reserves coach and played in Round 1, said 67 players were on the Lions’ list, including more than 15 who hadn’t played since juniors and Nathaneal Boyle, who had never played the game.

Six players have also come out of retirement to fill spots in the reserves, including 46-year-old Andrew ‘Fizzer’ Ferlazzo and club games record holder John Krikas, who has added two more to his record tally of 310.

“It’s the opposite of sombre, it’s actually exciting at the club at the moment,” Devene said.

“We’ve got a couple of sponsors and our Roaring Lion Fund is up to $7500, so we expect to be well on track financially by the end of this year,” he said.

“We’re all still learning, not just the players but the new committee.

“It will be a long process, but to see generations of former players returning to the club is wonderful.”