Taylors Lakes bounce back from flat month to hammer Hadfield in EDFL

A WEEK after suffering a shock loss to Oak Park, Taylors Lakes returned to form in style with a crushing win over Hadfield in Essendon District Football League Division 1 on Saturday.

Hadfield’s Matt Patane taps the ball away against Taylors Lakes on Saturday. Photo: Angie Basdekis

A WEEK after suffering a shock loss to Oak Park, Taylors Lakes returned to form in style with a crushing win over Hadfield in Essendon District Football League Division 1 on Saturday.

The Lakers, who had been through a flat patch over the past month, were never really challenged as they all but booked their ticket to the finals with an impressive 21.18 (144) to 7.11 (53) win at Lionheart Reserve.

The margin stood at 32 points at the first change and only grew in the second half, the home side finishing the match with a 5.12 to 0.1 last quarter.

It was just the response Taylors Lakes coach Steve Burns had been looking for after the previous week’s defeat.

And it was a result the coach hopes will spark his team back into form as it begins to eye the finals.

“Hadfield had a hell of a lot of players out so I think the result was probably what we should have got anyway,” Burns said.

“But we played really well. We played four quarters of footy for a change and stuck to our structures.

“It was pleasing. It was a lot better effort than what we’ve dished up over the last couple of weeks so we were very happy with that.”

Adrian Longo, Jackson Wright and Bekim Memedi (three goals) led the way for the Lakers, who had 13 individual goalkickers.

“Our forward line hasn’t functioned really well for a few weeks but we had multiple goalkickers which was great,” Burns said.

“That’s what the good sides do. You have a look at West Coburg and with their goalkickers there’s no one major each week.

“That’s what we want, to get as many goalkickers on the board as we can and give ourselves a variety of options.”

Taylors Lakes will face an unbeaten West Coburg at Shore Reserve this Saturday ahead of a clash with Tullamarine, a bye and a meeting with Craigieburn to see out the regular season.