Kinglake surprise AFL Outer East Division 2 leaders after undefeated start to the 2019 season
Kinglake has made a stunning start to the AFL Outer East Division 2 season under new coach Andrew Fairchild, sitting on top of the ladder after the opening fortnight.
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Kinglake’s undefeated start to the AFL Outer East season is no surprise to new coach Andrew Fairchild.
The Lakers finished second-last in Division 2 last year with just four wins but have started 2019 with an upset away triumph over Gembrook-Cockatoo and a massive 201-point victory over Yea on Anzac Day.
Fairchild, a Whittlesea premiership captain in the Northern Football League, recruited strongly over the off-season but credited the club’s existing players for stepping up.
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“We went into Gembrook and I don’t think many people outside our walls would have expected us to go there and win,” he said.
“To be honest, it’s really been the boys from Kinglake that have stood up.
“The likes of Mason McAllister, Jayden Butterworth, and Will Graf are really leading the way.
“Myself, just starting out (as coach) to get a couple of wins and get a bit of faith in the game plan … gives you a bit of belief.”
Chris Horman booted eight goals in the Lakers’ win over Yea, while Fairchild added seven majors and Bailey Robinson bagged six.
Horman was one of Kinglake’s major off-season acquisitions, along with Rohan King, Ethan Robinson and Krystopher Douglas.
“I brought in a few guys with a bit of experience and that’s really helped the young guys with their footy and taken a bit of pressure off as well,” Fairchild said.
“Rohan King has played 100 games of Division 1 footy and he’s come down, training every night and working his arse off and the boys see that and know that’s the level they’ve got to get to.”
After its struggles in 2018, Fairchild said the club was realistic about its expectations this season.
“We’ve only played two games and we had a chat after the weekend that we haven’t achieved anything yet,” he said.
“You want to play finals — everyone wants to be a part of finals — so that’s a goal of ours but expectations wise, we don’t really have any.”
“Whatever we achieve this year, we’ll be better for next year.”
After a bye in Round 3, Kinglake will host Yarra Glen on Saturday.
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