On Easter Friday a new chapter in the history of the Lang Lang Football club starts when it will unveil their new ground at the Lang Lang Recreation Reserve at Caldermeade road where they will be out to takedown well fancied 2021 Premiership aspirant Poowong.
This match has been brought forward from round 10. The same clubs were scheduled to play in opening round of 2020 before Covid intervened six days before the first bounce of the season.
All teams on the day will be brimming with excitement if not to play on the new ground then just to play football after no 2020 season at any level last year.
In recent years the Magpies have had the better of the Tigers – currently boasting a four game winning streak. In 2019 Poowong finished 3rd with 13 wins and Lang Lang 9th with only 2 wins.
While only two victories in 2019 did not look good on the ladder it was not an accurate reflection of the Tigers efforts as it was very competitive for two or three quarters in most matches. Furthermore it never fielded anywhere near its best side in any match due to many injury.
Lang Lang will enter the game with new found optimism. Expect the big day and new ground to rouse plenty of emotion amongst the Tiger players and diehard fans but it faces a difficult task as the Maggies look to be one of this year’s benchmarks. It fields one of the best midfields in the competition led by dual Alf Walton medallist Jack Hazendonk and strong support from Nick Visser (from Catani), Tom Wyatt and Karingal recruit Steve McInnes. In defence Jayden Sullivan has proved to be one of the best intercept marks in the league in recent years but without young gun Jai Newcombe (Box Hill VFL & Warragul) and the experience of Tim Hancock (Drouin) the Magpies may not be as strong behind centre this season however the arrival of Patrick Harmes – a dual best and fairest defender from Devon Meadows may go a fair way to offset their departures.
Lang Lang look to have recruited well since the end of the 2019 season and surely have its best depth in over a decade. Expect Coach Josh Collie to again be a prime mover in and around the midfield, Pakenham recruit Tyler Guan shapes as a great pick up and hard at the ball midfielder Josh Brown will be a welcome inclusion after he missed most of the 2019 season due to an ankle injury. Luke Collie, Liam O’Connor and Troy McPherson will offer their usual strong resistance down back. Former GWS and Carlton midfielder Liam Sumner should give the forward line a shot in the arm.
It would be unwise to dismiss Lang Lang but a Poowong victory seems the most likely outcome however got a hunch their there will be less than 10 points separating the teams come siren time.
Last Modified on 30/03/2021 22:48