Lakes Entrance will kick off its 2025 East Gippsland Football Netball League campaign this Saturday against Lucknow at the Lucknow Recreation Reserve.
The Seagulls got their man over the off season when they signed experienced and successful local coach Darren Martin for three years.
Steve Cole will coach the reserves and Jordan Cullen the thirds, the trio hoping to bring some much-needed success back to the Lakeside Oval.
Training numbers have been excellent over the pre-season with Martin and the club excited to welcome back a number of former players to the fold.
The draw hasn’t been kind to Lakes with leading premiership contenders Lucknow and Boisdale Briagolong their first two assignments, which will mean they will play both sides three times which is less than ideal.
Active in the recruiting window, the Seagulls will welcome back Liam Carroll junior (Springvale Districts) and Bryce Collings (Moe), and have added former Port Adelaide player Mitch Banner, Scott Latta (Paynesville) and highly-decorated South Eastern player Sam Brown.
Unfortunately Collings, Banner, Brown and Sam Nickless (calf) will all miss this week, while brothers Emmett and Liam Carroll won’t be suiting up this season, opting to travel.
The Seagulls will hoping the enthusiasm and emerging skill of youngsters such as George Ioakim and the Stevens brothers, Max and Angus, will rub off on their teammates and propel the club forward.
As tough as the draw is early, Martin is realistic and he will get an early gauge of where the club is at.
“It will be a tough start but we are keen to test all the hard work we have done against two well-oiled machines,” Martin said.
The Magpies will this week roll out high profile Bairnsdale recruits Link McKenna and Matt Corbett, who they hope might be the finishing touches to a potential premiership outfit.
Martin has watched plenty of football during his coaching sabbatical and is keen for his side to shift the ball off the line.
“There is so much structure in East Gippsland football these days, its pointless kicking down the line, you will get crucified, you need to pick the way through the cracks,” Martin said.
Play will start at the Lucknow Recreation Reserve from 10.30am.
