Laurimar coach Jimmy Atkins discusses the Power’s preparations and expectations

Laurimar knows what it takes to win a NFNL Division 3 flag, it did it in 2023. The Power returns hungry for success after last-season’s heart-breaking relegation.

Jacob Lawson in action for Laurimar. Picture: George Sal

Been there, done that.

Laurimar knows what it takes to win a NFNL Division 3 premiership and is confident it can make a swift return to Division 2 after relegation last year.

Critically, the Power has retained the vast majority of its playing list from 2024, when it was cruelly sent down in a final round loss to Watsonia.

It has also added two big names in Northern league goalkicking great Patrick Fitzgerald and respected midfielder Steve McCallum.

In another boost, Northern Knights graduate Carter McCall will also be a full-time addition after five games last season.

Kaiden Arthur gets a kick for Laurimar. Picture: George Sal

Having guided the team to the highest of highs and lowest of lows, Jimmy Atkins knows it won’t be easy to repeat its 2023 success.

“We’ve been able to retain 95 per cent of our list, which is massive after going down – we had a lot of commitment from our group before the final game,” Atkins said.

“It’s about our standards really, we were lucky enough to be there two years ago.

“We know what it takes to get yourself into the top part of the ladder and give yourself every chance.

“It’s a long season and you need a lot of luck but you need to work hard and set a standard, so if we’re doing that I’m sure the results will look after themselves.

“We had a young group in Div 2 last year and they got some really good exposure to some quality opposition.

“Coming back, we’re in a really tough competition, it’s a lot tougher than when we were back here two years ago.”

Only Team of the Year defender Nathan Andrew (Whittlesea) has departed, while long-time leader Mitch Thompson and key forward Jacson Cecil are weighing up their playing futures.

Atkins revealed the club has regularly had 90 players at training over summer with a selection squeeze looming.

After having a pre-season camp at Ocean Grove, Laurimar will play two practice matches, facing Lower Plenty and its Division 2 replacement Old Paradians.

Ethan Bateman takes a strong mark for Laurimar. Picture: George Sal

The Power will kick off its campaign with a potential grand final preview, hosting Fitzroy Stars at Laurimar Reserve on April 5.

The usual suspects have been leading the way at training but Atkins has been impressed with a couple of potential new faces.

“Kaiden Arthur has been fantastic, Luke Wilson as always and Joel and Jacob Lawson have been really good,” he said.

“I’m loving the look of Carter McCall, we got him for a handful of games last year but he’ll be full-time this year, he’s almost like a recruit.

“Jake Francis I’ve been really impressed with, he’s come across from Eltham College.

“I think he won a goalkicking award in the twos at Collegians but he’s very fit and been working his butt off, so he’ll get some opportunities.”

Atkins has also been pleased with the buy-in from Fitzgerald and McCallum.

Fitzgerald kicked almost 800 majors in more than 250 senior games for Montmorency over 17 seasons and is a three-time NFNL Division 1 leading goalkicker, two-time Montmorency best-and-fairest and 10-time Division 1 Team of the Year selection.

McCallum, meanwhile, arrives from Essendon District Division 1 club Tullamarine, won a Calder Cannons best-and-fairest in the 2009 premiership season, played 100 VFL games at Williamstown and won a best-and-fairest at Montmorency.

“I’d been trying for a long time, so it’s great to be able to get the opportunity to get our hands on them,” Atkins said.

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“They’ve been fantastic for us so far and I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can do for us on the ground.

“They’ve got some serious years under their belts, they know what it takes, so it’s great having that experience – I don’t think we’ve got anyone that’s played over 90 games.”

In a stacked Division 3 competition, Laurimar faces a tough welcome back.

After tackling the Stars, the Power faces big off-season improver Epping, preliminary finalist Mernda in their first meeting since the epic 2023 grand final and Old Eltham Collegians.