Kinglake’s timely reminder to rivals with stunning upset against Epping in NFNL Division 3

Kinglake sent a timely reminder to its NFNL Division 3 rivals with a stunning upset of a Brent Macaffer-less Epping at Epping on Saturday.

Kinglake captain Bailey Robinson. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Kinglake sent a timely reminder to its NFNL Division 3 rivals, it won’t be an easy pushover this season.

The Lakers produced arguably the biggest upset of the young season on Saturday, knocking off Epping at Epping Reserve by 18 points.

The Pingers were without star ex-AFL recruit Brent Macaffer due to a calf injury and struggled to fill the void.

Veteran forward Les Adams (four goals) and big man Michael Florance shone as the visitors left with a 13.10 (88) to 11.4 (70) victory.

After a Round 1 bye, Kinglake is now two wins from two games, joining Fitzroy Stars as the only undefeated teams.

Damian Pywell celebrates a goal for Kinglake. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Lakers coach Dave Florance said momentum was building.

“Certainly from an outsiders point of view it might be a shock but we had full belief we were going to win,” Florance said.

“All these naysayers around the traps, thinking we’re going to be also-rans might need to check themselves.

“We’ve only played the two games and the boys are champing at the bit still.

“With the week off, the momentum from the first game (Round 2 against Lalor) was kind of halted, so we thought let’s start the season again.

“We had some late outs on Thursday, some key players, but the boys were right up for it.”

Kinglake jumped out to a seven-point quarter-time lead.

Both teams made the most of their opportunities in the first half, Kinglake kicking 8.1, while Epping responded with 6.2, the visitors taking an 11-point half-time lead.

The Lakers accuracy deserted them in the third term, kicking 2.6, but they still extended the margin to 21 points.

Epping finished strongly but the deficit was too much to reel in.

Adams finished with four goals for the Lakers, while Damian Pywell added three.

Kinglake coach Dave Florance. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Les played out of his skin, the old fella,” Florance said.

“Those sort of blokes, when the pace isn’t as hot, they can still find the footy and use their smarts to get around the ground.

“Les manages to take marks he probably shouldn’t and converted his opportunities, he was right up for it coming up against his old club.

“Michael was probably the most influential player on the ground, especially late in the game when it was really hot.

“He was able to take a couple of marks down the line and really settle it down for us.

“Bailey Caldow was really good around the ball all day and Bailey Robinson does what he does best, gets as many clearances as he can.”

For Epping, Daniel Rahklin finished with four goals, while Seb Latina was named best afield, along with Mitch Henwood and Luke Li Rosi.

The Pingers are now 1-2 but face last-placed Lalor next weekend.

Kinglake will travel to Kilmore for the Country Cup.

Florance is pleased with the strong start to the campaign.

“The momentum and confidence is building,” he said.

“We identified the start to the season we had last year hurt us from a confidence point of view.

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“Unfortunately, we’re not a side that has all these star players that can come in and we can bank on them winning each game so we’ve got to take each week as it comes.

“What it is for the boys, you can see the buy in in what we’re trying to do.”

Elsewhere in Division 3, Laurimar smashed Mernda by 61 points in the first rematch of the 2023 grand final, Reservoir humbled Lalor by 101 points to secure its first win of the season and Kilmore topped Heidelberg West by 20 points.

On Anzac Day, Eddie Betts’ five goals fuelled Fitzroy Stars’ 131-point win over Old Eltham Turtles.