EFNL 2021: How Lilydale plans to cover loss of key names

Lilydale coach Brendan Fulton explains why he’s confident his club can make strides and cover for the loss of star names in season 2021.

2019 Division 1 Team of the Year ruckman Beau Mitchener. Picture: Field of View Photography

Lilydale coach Brendan Fulton says his new-look group will embrace the “underdog” tag in season 2021, following the departure of key names.

The Falcons’ most recent exits include speedsters Lachie Wilson (Barwon Heads) and Samuel Baker (Mooroolbark).

Wilson, who joins the Bellarine league’s defending premiers, was named in the Team of the Year across 2018 and ‘19, accumulating 104 goals across 88 games. He links up with former Falcons teammate Ryan Harvey, who joined Barwon Heads ahead of 2019.

Baker earned selection in 2019’s Division 1 Team of the Year following a breakout season as one of the division’s best small forwards and joins close friends at Heights Reserve.

“We’ve certainly had some recent changes to personnel. I knew coming into the job that there were players who had made the decision to depart, although I am unaware of the circumstances from before my time,” Fulton said.

“With the exception of Samuel Baker, the remaining number changed clubs due to lifestyle-related moves.

“Although Lachie’s father holds the footy operations manager position (at Lilydale) it wasn’t an easy decision for Lachie, but he wants to move down the coast.”

Fulton, who took over the Lilydale coaching job last year following the departure of Ben Neagle, said his players were more than happy to work hard and fly under the radar.

Lilydale opens its season with an away clash against Mooroolbark on April 10. Picture: Field of View Photography

“We’ve talked about how we’ll be playing a new and unknown brand of football, a different look with a different game-style, different coaching and as a group, we’re just going to embrace whatever comes our direction,” he said.

“We haven’t brought in a bunch of high-dollar recruits because the talent’s coming through our under-19s and the junior pathway is good enough to compete with the best of Division 1.

“If we can execute our game plan as a team, that’s going to put us in good stead.”

Fulton earmarked the emerging talent to take the club forward as he looks to cover for the loss of Wilson and Baker.

“We’ve consciously made it a focus as a group – Lilydale’s always backed the youth – and that’s something that we’re going to continue to do,” he said.

“From a club perspective, we’ve got great talent coming through, I’m really happy with how our young guys are tracking –Jesse Ebert, Jordan Jaworski, Eden Champion, Jack Bateman, Josh White and Jackson Flint, they’re keen to learn and are going to be outstanding senior footballers.

“Oscar Aliotta and Jayden Wilson who’ve come from Blackburn are talented and quick, along with (under-19 product) Riley Clausen – those guys are smashing the conditioning program so the guys coming through are going to add pace and endurance.”

With a tinkered game-plan expected, Fulton is confident the Falcons would surprise external naysayers in 2021.

“We’ll look to have a lot more structure forward of the footy, but we’re not going to take away the natural flair of the side which is run-and-gun – without giving too much away, we want to play high-energy pressure football,” he said.

“We’re just going to believe in our plan and our systems, and the rewards will come.”