WRFL 2021: Caroline Springs set to be boosted by return of star names in hot race for finals

It’s the tightest finals race in years for the WRFL’s Division 1 – with the Lakers set to be boosted by the return of star names in the run home.

Brian Lake is touted to return alongside Lewis Tudor for the Lakers for this week’s monster clash with Altona. Picture: David Smith

It’s a hot race for the Western Region top-flight finals with three rounds to play.

Caroline Springs leapfrogged its way into the Division 1 top five on Saturday, knocking over Spotswood which fell from fifth to sixth. The Lakers’ 16-point win moved it to a 6-6 record on 24 points – equal with Spotswood, and St Albans (seventh), which accounted for Point Cook by 28 points.

And with Werribee Districts (second) defeating Deer Park (fourth) to the tune of 52 points, just four points separate fourth from seventh on the ladder in what’s being touted as the WRFL Division 1’s most even finals race in years.

Caroline Springs football manager Marc Raak said Saturday’s victory provided a major lift for his club to set itself up for a finals tilt.

Key defender Lewis Tudor is set to return this weekend. Picture: Aaron Cook

But it’s tasked with two of the toughest assignments in the division in the final three weeks, clashing with ladder-leader Altona this weekend, before taking on Werribee Districts and Sunshine (ninth).

It’s a run home that reads as arguably the most challenging of the three clubs vying for fifth spot.

Spotswood takes on Yarraville Seddon (eighth), St Albans (seventh) and Point Cook (10th), while St Albans meets Hoppers Crossing (third), Spotswood (sixth) and Altona.

The Lakers fell agonisingly short to the Vikings in Round 7 by five points.

“We know exactly what needs to be done, it’s going to be hard but we’re embracing it,” Raak said of the finals race.

“We always want to play the best teams and perform well – win, lose or draw. We’ve been a bit unlucky this year, we’ve lost three games under a goal.

“We’re going in confident and we’re going to throw everything at Altona, and we respect them immensely and it’s a good challenge for us and we’re looking forward to it … we match up well (with Altona).”

Raak said Caroline Springs could be boosted by the inclusion of a pair of key names for this weekend’s match, with defender Lewis Tudor set to return after he was unavailable last week, alongside swingman and former AFL star Brian Lake.

Lake last played in Round 11 in the club’s two-point loss to Yarraville Seddon, where he’s since battled a calf injury, but was “touch and go” to play last week.

Raak said the list was nearing full fitness at the business end of the season.

“We have the quality of Lewis Tudor, Brian Lake (returning) and a couple of our under-18s performing really well at the moment and keep pushing their name up,” Raak said.

“We had no injuries from the game on the weekend … it’s really hard to get into our senior side and you’ve got to play good football to keep your spot and that’s what we’ve wanted to get to over the years and I think we’re almost there now.”