NFL 2018: Lalor claims hard-fought win over Reservoir in Northern Football League Division 3

LALOR’S rebirth took a major step forward on Saturday when the club sung its song in its new colours for the first time after a 32-point win over Reservoir.

THIS was the watershed moment Ben Charles had dreamt of.

The Lalor president was the driving force behind a rebuild which has been tested several times this year.

The Bloods’ rebranding included adopting a new logo and jumpers, which were still on order when the club claimed a 27-point victory over Reservoir in Round 1 of the Northern Football League season.

After nine consecutive losses, Lalor triumphed for the first time in its red, white and blue strip on Saturday.

The club’s 9.18 (72) to 5.10 (40) win over Reservoir had all the hallmarks of the club Lalor wants to be known as — hardworking and resilient.

The Bloods were down to two fit players on the bench in the last quarter yet kicked 4.5 to 0.1 to record their second win of the Division 3 campaign.

“We have been speaking about it for a few weeks now, to hopefully get a win when we can in the new Lalor jumper,” coach Dean Grainger said.

“To get it at home and to do it the way we did, to be challenged at three-quarter-time, was really pleasing.”

Lalor’s Michael Russell celebrates a goal during his side’s victory over Reservoir.

Lalor was crippled by an exodus of senior players during the off-season and requested to be relegated to the NFL’s third tier.

Its results have reflected the rebuild it has been forced to undertake, but there have been reasons for optimism in 2018.

The Bloods outscored flag favourite St Mary’s in the last term of their Round 10 defeat and pushed Kilmore (21 points) and Mernda (five points).

“Outside the club you probably look at the scores and think we have been smashed a lot of weeks,” Grainger said.

“The stats week in, week out have been showing there’s improvement there.

“A lot of these guys are playing their first or second year of senior footy.”

Jackson Freebairn of Lalor charges clear of a Reservoir opponent.

Nathan Stavridis, Tim Murphy, Todd Anderson and Demetrios Constantinou were crucial for Lalor on Saturday.

Daniel Moore, Isaac Edgar and Jake Langborne have been other key figures in the club’s rebirth.

“It was really good to see the boys dig deep in the last quarter and see the joy on their face and the supporters and the committee,” Grainger said.