West Preston-Lakeside coach Ian Aitken discusses the Roosters’ expectations

31 for 31: After two seasons without finals, West Preston-Lakeside is eyeing a return to the top-five after bolstering its squad with several impressive recruits.

Bregon Cotchett celebrates a goal for West Preston-Lakeside. Picture: Josh Chadwick

After two seasons out of finals, West Preston-Lakeside has set its sight on a top-five return in 2025.

The Roosters had previously had five years straight of finals actions, winning two premierships, before falling back down the ladder in 2023 and 2024.

However, a solid six-win campaign last year now has the club looking to push back up the NFNL Division 1 ladder.

A busy off-season has bolstered the depth of talent at Moore Park, headlined by premiership player and Collingwood VFL captain Sam Glover.

While the Roosters won’t see a lot of the star midfielder, the likes 2018-19 premiership player Mitch Tobin, 2018 winner Liam McVeigh, Josh Iacobaccio, Jack Evans and Riley Clarke all look impressive additions.

West Preston-Lakeside players run out onto the field. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Exciting mid-season AFL Draft prospect Ajang Kuol Mun while VFL-listed at Port Melbourne.

Second-year coach Ian Aitken said the club was making steady progress.

“I felt OK last year, but I feel like we’ve got more depth, retained our players and recruited reasonably well,” Aitken said.

“Sam I’ve known for many years, he’s the reason I went to West Preston the first time in 2018.

“We’ve had a long relationship and it’s great that it’s come to fruition, he’s obviously the captain of Collingwood VFL so we won’t see him often but anytime we see him it will be a positive.

“Liam coming back, his family are West Preston stalwarts, same as Mitch Tobin and Josh Iacobaccio, who I didn’t get to coach in 2018, but he’s a quality person.”

West Preston had its practice match on Saturday cancelled due to the weather and ground availability issues.

It still has potential hitouts against Essendon District clubs Strathmore and Essendon Doutta Stars on the schedule before Round 1.

West Preston-Lakeside coach Ian Aitken. Picture: Josh Chadwick

The Roosters will kick off their season at promoted Division 2 premier South Morang before facing three-time defending premier Heidelberg, Bundoora and elimination finalist Hurstbridge in a testing opening month.

Aitken believed his club could contend for a top-five finish.

“Basically, (our goal is) to make finals, that’s our ambition,” he said.

“Last year we avoided relegation, had some stirring wins and this year we want to have more wins and challenge for finals.

“I try not to listen too much about what’s going on, we try to just concentrate on ourselves.”

Chris Ryall, Lachie James, Matt Belbasis, Adam Valeri, Liam Hagen, Dante Colosimo, Bregon Cotchett and Regan Uwandu all played all 18 games last season.

In a stellar first full season of senior football, Colosimo claimed the club’s goalkicking award with 53 majors – second in the league – and finished second in the club best-and-fairest.

Colosimo, Harman and Max Dreher were all named in the Team of the Year.

Aitken was bullish about the club’s developing talent, labelling big man Sam McIlroy as a pre-season standout.

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The big man started last year strongly before a knee injury against Eltham in Round 5 all but ended his season prematurely.

“Sam played some senior games last year but hurt his knee at the end of the Eltham game, right on the siren which was unfortunate,” Aitken said.

“He’s a big, strong lad and been tracking really well, there’s a lot of upside to like about him.

“He’s a forward-ruck, he played against Macleod and rucked the whole game when we didn’t have Harmo and did an excellent job.”