EFNL 2021: Lachie Wynd fires up forward in Rowville debut

Rowville debuted a host of names in Round 2, with the son of an Eastern league great making his mark. But there’s also been an injury toll.

L-R: Kurtis Flakemore, Tyler Edwards, Jarrod Healy, Jonte Duffy, Lachie Wynd, Chayce Black, coach Ben Wise, Brock Coleclough, Cooper McDonald. Picture: Rowville FC

Eight new names took the park for Rowville in its season-opening win over comp newcomer Berwick – with the son of an all-time Eastern league great making his mark on debut.

The Hawks led the Wickers from start to finish to run out 60-point winners with young gun Lachie Wynd playing a starring role up forward with four goals in his first senior outing.

And he’s the son none other than legendary league spearhead and current East Burwood coach, Stuart Wynd, who kicked more than 1000 goals in his career spanning more than 300 games, featuring in multiple senior flags.

Wynd kicked more than 1000 goals across a stellar career with East Burwood, Knox and Forest Hill.

Rowville senior coach Ben Wise has seen former Hawk junior Lachie develop into the centre half-forward position in time for this season, having “probably grown six inches in three or four years.”

“He’s sort of come from the clouds a little bit from the year off from his under-18 year which probably allowed him to develop and grow a little bit,” Wise said.

“He’s come out and grown in stature, with the way he attacks the footy, his work-rate and he’s got himself really fit, and he’s got a real appetite to do well.”

Much like his dad during the 1990s, 2000s and early 2010s, Lachie had no trouble pulling in the marks, and Wise has him touted for a big future.

“(Lachie’s) pretty wiry and agile, and he’s got long arms – he took six marks on the weekend, and probably dropped another 10 just in the contest, so once he starts halving that, he’s taking 10 or 12 contested marks a game,” Wise said.

“He’s going to be a beast, but he just needs a bit of time to put on a bit of weight, get a bit stronger and he’ll be right.”

Kurtis Flakemore, Tyler Edwards, Jarrod Healy, Jonte Duffy, Chayce Black, Brock Coleclough and Cooper McDonald made up the band of new names on show for the Hawks on Saturday, with Healy the only name to have played at senior level, having come from Lilydale.

Edwards finished with two goals and was named among the best with Brock Coleclough and Wynd.

Wise said his youthful side’s leg-speed and spread hurt the opposition on the outside as they raced to a commanding 33-point lead at quarter time to set up the victory.

“We came in with a really good plan of how they moved the footy,” Wise said.

“Their (Berwick’s) bodies are really mature, they’ve got a lot of guys around the 25-27 age range and they’re thicker set.

“Obviously we’re a young group, but I just simplified it for them and let them know that if we’re strong in the contest, our leg-speed and run might get them on the outside and it sort of played into our hands a little bit.”

But the Hawks’ maiden win of the season has come at a cost, with experienced names Alex Frawley and Jackson McDonald suffering injuries.

Alex Frawley takes a kick for Rowville. Picture: Rowville FC

Frawley suffered a tweaked groin from a tackle according to Wise, and is expected to “miss a couple”, and McDonald has injured a tendon in his hamstring and “might be out for three months”.

The pair had been on the comeback trail from injury and had recovered in time for the 2021 campaign, and Wise said McDonald’s case was “shattering, and putrid luck” for the A-grader following two ankle operations among other injuries across the past four years.

Wise is hopeful McDonald could return for the back end of the year.

With a vast injection of emerging talent, Wise said he wouldn’t be putting a cap on what his side could achieve this season following Saturday’s win.

“The sky’s the limit for them as well, and I’ve been trying to push that for them over the last month – let them know that they’ve done the work, and have the belief. They’re capable senior players at this level.

“Our established players really gave them confidence and it was a really even spread of contributors all over the ground.”