Development key to Laurimar’s success stepping up to NFNL Division 2

The continued development of Laurimar’s clutch of young guns will be key to the club’s hopes of success as it steps up to NFNL Division 2 for the first time.

Bailey Macleod in action for Laurimar. Picture: Hamish Blair

New year, new challenge.

It’s Laurimar’s mantra as it steps up to NFNL Division 2 for the first time in club history.

The Power claimed a historic Division 3 premiership last season with one of the all-time comeback victories.

The club put its trust in its young talent to deliver a flag and it will do so again this season to cement itself at the next level.

It has been a quiet pre-season for the promotion-winners with Matt Ryan the only announced recruit.

Luke Wilson gets a kick for Laurimar. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Premiership coach Jimmy Atkins said the club’s internal development had it well placed to come up and compete.

“It’s exciting, it’s a new challenge – we talk about it all the time, new year, new challenge,” Atkins said.

“It’s fantastic to get an opportunity to play in a higher division.

“That’s been the plan from day one, make sure our kids get the opportunity to play higher footy.

“That’s where the excitement is coming from more than anything, the guys are frothing at the bit to get up there and play good footy in Division 2.

“We just concentrate on what we’re doing, we don’t care what other teams think about us.

“We just want to make sure we’re at our best every week and if we can do that we’ll get results.”

Atkins revealed the club had also picked up Aidan Doolan from Rowville and Jobe Somerville from East Gippsland club Wy Yung, with the pair impressing in a practice match against Old Paradians on Saturday.

Captains Mitch Thompson and Luke Wilson continue to lead the way in pre-season, while Kaiden Arthur has been elevated to vice-captain and touted as a future club captain.

The trio were all named in the Division 3 Team of the Year last season, along with Nathan Andrews, Noah Mooney and Ethan Bateman.

Mooney, Bateman and fellow young guns Jai Langford, Joel Lawson and Micah Vecchio will be key players in the Power’s season.

“The stock standards (are leading the way), Kaiden Arthur has been fantastic, Jai Langford and Noah Mooney,” Atkins said.

“Luke Wilson and Mitch Thompson and Nathan Andrews, the experienced guys are going just as good – they’ve got to pick it up as well with all the young guys catching them.

“It’s an opportunity for (the young players), they’re all capable.

“We’ve been working on our fitness over the summer, knowing we’re stepping up a division, and they’ve come along for the ride definitely.”

After flirting with retirement, Jacob Lawson is expected to return to the club but Mitch Lucas has decided to step away after last year’s premiership win.

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The Power claimed a pre-season win over Old Paradians in the first hitout of the pre-season.

It will wrap up preparations with matches against Eastern club East Burwood and Division 1 club Macleod before a Round 1 clash with local rival Whittlesea.

“It was good to get out there and get a hitout, there were a lot of positives for us,” Atkins said.

“We got a game into a lot of young kids that have been putting in a lot of work over pre-season, it was good to see our ball movement working – getting the ball moving as quick as we can.”