Left: Lyndale coach Jason Young is completing his final year in the role.By Glen Atwell
LYNDALE Football Club president Murray Collard says the
club is rebuilding its playing list.
“After the preliminary final last year, we lost nine senior players
through various reasons,” he said.
“When you lose half the side, it makes things difficult.”
Lyndale’s 60-point loss to the Canterbury Cobras on Saturday
has left the Pumas stuck in unfamiliar territory on the Southern
Football League (SFL) Division Two ladder.
With three wins from 16 matches, the slide from a preliminary
final finish last year has left the club with much work to do before
next season.
Formed in 1987, the club was born from the Lyndale Junior
Football Club, which preceded the senior team for 25 years.
The Pumas’ first seasons were spent in the South East Suburban
Football League (SESFL), and a move to the Eastern Suburb
Churches Football Association (ESCFA) in 1989 brought success.
When the SESFL and the ESCFA merged in 1993 and became
the SFL, the Pumas’ first premiership was imminent.
Winning the Division Five premiership in 1995 under Roger
Andrew, the club moved to Division Four, and a premiership fol
lowed in 1997 with Steve Reiger at the helm.
In 2000, both the senior and reserve teams won their Division
Three flag, sparking a move to Division Two and another dual grand
final appearance in 2001.
This time, however, both teams were beaten by Ashwood.
Jason Young, a former Lyndale best and fairest, is in his third
and final year as senior coach.
“Young has done a terrific job, but has probably done all he can
with the current list,” Collard said.
“We hope to get Young on the committee. The club needs that
sort of talent to stick around.
Collard said the club would advertise the coaching postion, and
already had a few ideas about the role.
“The success we are looking for won’t come overnight,” he said.
“But we’re happy in Division Two and are optimistic about
rebuilding the success.”
A first-minute goal on Saturday did enough to stir some hard
ened Lyndale supporters from the warmth of the Puma clubrooms,
but the Cobras were quick to strike back.
The quarter-time Cobra lead of 10 points quickly blew out to a
47-point belting at half-time.
Failing to take advantage of the wind in the third quarter, the
margin only narrowed by three points before the Cobras kicked
away comfortably in the last quarter.
The going won’t get any easier for the Pumas, who take on sec
ond-placed St Kilda City at Barry J. Powell Reserve on Saturday.
