EFL 2019: Fairpark recruits help Lions to 2-0 start in the Eastern Football League

Fairpark is enjoying one of its best starts to an Eastern Football League season in the past 30 years after winning its opening two games.

James Gough has a shot on goal. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Fairpark is enjoying one of its best starts to an Eastern Football League season in the past 30 years.

The Division 4 club has won its first two games of the season for just the third time since 1992.

The 2-0 start has Fairpark tracking for its first finals appearance since 2008 after landing a bag of recruits during the off-season.

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EFL: MONTROSE ENCOURAGED BY START TO SEASON

EFL: NORWOOD HANDS NORTH RINGWOOD ANOTHER BIG DEFEAT

EFL: UNDERMANNED WAVERLEY BLUES POST FIRST WIN OF THE YEAR

The Lions have finished no higher than sixth in the past 10 seasons but an injection of new players has lifted the vibe of the club.

2008 was the last time Fairpark started the season with 2 wins. https://t.co/hBbb6SjCIC

— Noel (@statsbench) April 16, 2019

Coach Sean Stanton said the addition of more than a dozen recruits had created competition for spots.

“We didn’t have a huge amount of depth, which as a result blokes probably took their foot off the pedal thinking they could cruise through and be given opportunities,” Stanton said.

“We now have blokes that have missed out in consecutive weeks and getting a run in the twos because of the depth and number of players we have on our list.

“The selection for the first round on Thursday night, you couldn’t get a seat in the place. The joint is really jumping.”

A swag of players joined Fairpark from Southern league club Mt Waverley, which went into recess for 2019.

Fairpark coach Sean Stanton. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“There’s quite a few guys who have come over to the club expecting to play senior football, and they will at some point, but they’ve had to start off in the twos,” Stanton said.

“What I’ve said to the guys is we have 30 to 32 blokes who are capable of playing senior footy and expect to be playing senior footy.”

Stanton said training numbers were “through the roof”.

“In the middle of November, to get 45 to 50 blokes on the track, I could sense we’re heading on the right direction,” he said.

“You inject some really quality players … and I felt we had the makings of what could be a really good group for the level we’re at and have a successful year.”

Fairpark hosts Surrey Park under lights in Round 3.

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