How Taylors Lakes signed Lachlan Rayner ahead of new EDFL season

Taylors Lakes were already some people’s tip for the EDFL Division 2 flag, now the Lions latest signing has some labelling them as “certainties”. Here’s how it happened.

Lachlan Rayner is a key last minute recruit for Taylors Lakes.

Even Taylors Lakes coach Steve Burns admits he’s a little shocked by the club’s last minute recruit.

The Essendon District Football League Division 2 club has landed arguably its biggest signing of the off-season, just days out from the start of the season, with the arrival of Lachlan Rayner.

A VFL player with Brisbane and QAFL premiership star with Aspley last season, the brother of Brisbane star Cam, Rayner became available after making the decision to return home to Melbourne.

His arrival at Lionheart Reserve sees him return to the EDFL where he has previously played for East Keilor and at Hillside where he was coached by Burns.

“It’s been a bit of a surprise to me, it happened very quickly,” Burns said.

“Our families are very close, my best mate is his old man. He’s really ticked the last box in terms of our list profile.

“What he’s going to bring off the field is just as important as what we can add on it. He’s still only young and has plenty of good footy ahead of him.”

Throughout his career, Rayner has established himself as a strong key defender who often goes head-to-head with the opposition’s best forwards.

But Burns is determined to use him in a similar position he did at Hillside.

“I’ve always found him to be a great ruckman,” he said.

“But he’s just happy to play wherever his magnet lands, that’s the type of person he is. Wherever he plays, he’s going to really benefit his teammates who will be able to learn off him.

“He’ll get a decent crack in the ruck and I think he’ll be super competitive against the guys in our division.”

Rayner’s signing is only the latest good news to emerge from the Lions who enter the 2024 season with a much healthier list compared to this time last year.

They’ll final their round one preparations with a practice match against Division 1 outfit Moonee Valley this weekend.

“This time last year our injury list was as long as your arm,” Burns said.

“We’ve got a few who won’t play this weekend but we’re in a much better position. We’re hoping for a bit more luck like every side.

“We’ve got good depth in our reserves and our thirds are putting together a decent side. We’ll have three super competitive men’s teams.”

Many onlookers have the Lions as premiership favourites and those predictions have become stronger since the arrival of Rayner earlier this week.

“Some people have said to me we’re certainties but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Burns said.

“It’s a quality competition, it’s crazy just how even it is. I don’t think the standard is too far behind Division 1 and the gap is closing quickly.

“Looking around, a lot of sides have recruited well so they’ll all be backing themselves to make a deep run. We made finals last year but didn’t win one so we know we’ve got a lot to learn.

“Hopefully we can give it another red hot crack.”

Taylors Lakes opens its season with a home game against Sunbury Kangaroos, another side tipped to be at the pointy end of the ladder, on April 13.