Sam Rexhepi discusses Lalor return, resurgence and goalkicking success

The Lalor revival is gathering steam under Lance Whitnall and leading the charge is Bloods favourite son and evergreen goalkicker Sam Rexhepi.

Sam Rexhepi lines up for goal for Lalor. Picture: Field of View Photography

Lance Whitnall’s return to Lalor this season rightly stole the headlines over summer.

However, another favourite son’s return has been just a critical to the Bloods’ resurgence – Sam Rexhepi.

The gun forward is a club junior and former senior captain, best-and-fairest, leading goalkicker and league Team of the Year member.

Rexhepi has made an instant impact this season and leads the NFNL Division 3 goalkicking charts with 25 majors.

The veteran forward kicked two goals in the drought-breaking win over Kilmore and booted bags of six against Reservoir and five against Old Paradians.

Sam Rexhepi applies forward pressure against Fitzroy Stars. Picture: Field of View Photography

After a couple of seasons away at Craigieburn, he said coming back was a perfect match.

“Lance gave me a call, we had a meeting and a couple of drinks,” Rexhepi said.

I talked to (Craigieburn coach) Shane Jacobs, he’s another ex-Lalor player, and I thought Lalor would be a good fit for me being a key forward at 38 years old and he was cool with it.

“We’ve got Big Sauce Lance Whitnall, he’s amazing and set the standard, he just wants to get the culture right and the boys feeling confident together and so far it’s going really well.”

Lalor has won two games this season, beating Kilmore in Round 3 to end a 44-game losing streak.

The club has also been significantly more competitive this season.

The losing margin in its five defeats so far this season is 52.6 points, down from an incredible 117, which included three 200-point defeats and a 300-point humiliation.

Importantly, Lalor’s scoring has almost doubled, going from just 27.1 points a game last year to 55.6.

A string of impressive recruits has given the club a major boost.

“Speaking to Lance, we were in the game against Epping at three-quarter-time, the Turtles (Old Eltham) as well – we just lost our legs in the second half – and Fitzroy Stars at half-time we were with them,” Rexhepi said.

“On Saturday against Ivanhoe, at three-quarter-time we were down by eight points.

“We’ve just got to execute a little bit more and run out games a bit more.

“Nathan Parkes in the backline is just a general and nothing gets by him when you’re 6’7 and can mark, kick and handball.

“Hayden Hunt comes in from North Heidelberg, he’s inside and outside and has good foot skills.

“Then Heath Patton, he’s an absolute jet, he just runs all day – I don’t know how he does it.”

Rexhepi leads the league goalkicking, two goals ahead of Kilmore’s Ethan Derrick and four in front of Old Eltham Collegians’ reigning award-winner Matthew Williamson.

Lalor heads to its bye this weekend.

The Bloods return to action on June 1 against Kinglake at Lalor Reserve before a league-wide King’s Birthday bye and then a clash against Mernda.

The Lakers are yet to win a game this season, while the Demons will be a strong test after inflicting that 300-point loss last season.

No matter the result this season, Rexhepi is enjoying his time back at Sydney Crescent in what could be his last hurrah.

“As Lance says, it’s not all about stats and goals, it’s about team goals and that’s coming from a big forward himself,” he said.

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“Without the midfielders and the coaches’ strategies we wouldn’t get those opportunities, they’ve put the players in the right places for us forwards to get a lot of chances every game.

“I played juniors at Lalor Bloods, won a flag in the under-12s, and now I’m back and this is where I’m going to retire.

“This is probably my last season, family commitments you know, it’s not easy sometimes with Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays and family is more important.

“We’ll see how the season goes and how I hold up, I’m holding up alright for 38.”