EDFL 2021: Taylors Lakes locks in star ruckman Matthew Dalla-Libera
The EDFL Division 1 club has locked in a key signing after an 0-2 start, while Lions coach Charles Cuzzupi gives an update on the availability of two other big names.
Essendon
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Taylors Lakes has secured the return of star ruckman Matthew Dalla-Libera in a boost after a 0-2 start to the Essendon District Football League season.
Dalla-Libera was selected in the Division 1 Team of the Year in 2018 despite making only 10 appearances for the campaign.
He crossed to Southern league outfit Port Melbourne Colts the following year, earning six mentions in the best from 13 matches.
Originally from WA, Dalla-Libera is set to take the field against Roxburgh Park at Lakeside Oval this weekend.
Dalla-Libera has been in New Zealand, with COVID protocols delaying his return to football, but he will provide valuable support for fellow big man James Cimbaljevic at the Lions.
“We would have loved to have him for Round 1, but it is what it is with the world we’re living in at the moment,” Taylors Lakes coach Charles Cuzzupi said of Dalla-Libera.
“The boys are pretty keen to get him back in the fold.
“He obviously adds a bit more experience to our young group and some support.
“He complements the reasons why we got (Patrick) Rose, Scott (Harding), Jackson Wright and these other guys around the place to stay the path that we’re on and believe we’re going down the right path.”
The Lions are anchored to the bottom of the ladder with a percentage of 53.97 after back-to-back defeats.
They went down to Hillside by 36 points in their season opener on Good Friday before being on the receiving end of a 74-point thumping from Sunbury Kangaroos in Round 2.
Star recruit Rose will be back this weekend after bagging four goals against the Sharks, while ex-AFL player and assistant coach Harding is a chance to play his first game for his new club.
Cuzzupi, who is in his second season at the helm and has signed until the end of 2022, said he was hopeful his side would rebound.
Since contesting finals in 2014, Taylors Lakes has finished seventh, seventh, fifth, fifth and seventh.
“We’ll just keep working with the young group that we’ve got,” Cuzzupi said.
“Obviously on the weekend Sunbury got the jump on us in the first 10 minutes. If you’re going to start playing senior football at 2.35pm in any week instead of 2.15pm, the result’s going to be what it’s going to be.
“But we’ll keep sticking to our guns and I’m sure we’ll get what we want eventually.”
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