Caroline Springs has emphatically dispelled any question marks over its ability to get the job done in blockbuster matches.
In the past month, the Lakers have brutally beaten all of the other top-four sides, to the point that even the tipsters may be swayed into selecting the third-ranked finalist in this Sunday’s WRFL division 2 grand final against Yarraville-Seddon at Avalon Airport Oval.
The Lakers crushed minor premier North Footscray by 70 points in the preliminary final at Dempster Park on Saturday.
They have beaten Glen Orden twice in three weeks, including a 109-point shellacking in the elimination final, and rounded out their home-and-away campaign with a 76-point annihilation of Yarraville-Seddon.
It’s the kind of form that has favouritism written all over the Lakers, but it’s also hard to look past Yarraville-Seddon, which finished above the Lakers in second position on the ladder and edged the head-to-head battle in the regular season.
The best bet might just be to toss a coin – heads it’s Yarraville-Seddon, tails it’s Caroline Springs.
Lakers football manager Marc Raak said the club’s form was “spot on”.
“We’ve played good football for four weeks,” he said. “We have a lot of respect for Yarraville-Seddon and both sides match up well on each other.
“We just need to bring our A game and hopefully that’s enough to win it.”
Caroline Springs is breaking new ground as a club.
The Lakers had never played in finals, let alone won one, before this season.
To be playing off in the big one is something the Lakers have worked towards for six years.
“We’re rapt to be representing Caroline Springs in our first grand final, not only in seniors but reserves as well,” Raak said.
“We’ve taken the steps to get to the top, while some teams have taken the elevator.
“We’ve improved every single year for the past six years.”
Caroline Springs hardly put a foot wrong in disposing of North Footscray.
It started with the Lakers’ defensive approach, which kept the Devils score-less in the first quarter.
Matt Chapman was nigh on impassable at centre half-back. Whenever he was breached, Blake Richard would mop up at full-back.
David Cavanagh played like his life depended on it on the half-back flank. Cavanagh was the Lakers’ first ever senior captain and has flagged retirement at the end of the season – but he is hellbent on going out on a high.
“He was sensational,” Raak said. “He gave us a lot of drive through. Dave has a lot of respect from our players and club as well.
“He’s told the players this will be his last year of playing footy at Caroline Springs, so we’re trying to win him a flag.”
Tristan Xerri stood up to the pressure of finals football for Caroline Springs.
The young centre half-forward/ruckman has spent most of the season as a bottom-age player with the Western Jets, but returned to the Lakers in time for a premiership push.
“He’ll get a lot of confidence out of today and take that into the grand final,” Raak said.
“He’ll get another year at the Western Jets next year and we truly believe he will get drafted by an AFL club.”
Full-forward Mathew Sutton put the icing on the cake for Caroline Springs with eight goals.
With 75 goals, Sutton will finish the season as the leading goalkicker in division 2 after second-placed Tyren Montebruno, who kicked 64, bowed out of the finals with North Footscray.
