2019 RECAP
Things could have gone belly up for Taylors Lakes after Sam Tankard departed as coach during the 2019 pre-season, but new coach Charles Cuzzupi quickly re-established some stability.
Four victories were enough to avoid relegation by season's end, with the Lions showing plenty of heart in close wins over Hillside and Roxburgh Park.
However, Lakes struggled against the top four, losing all eight contests against last year's finalists by an average margin of 11 goals.
BEST & FAIREST TOP FIVE
1st - Jake Hobbs
2nd - Harrison Tanner*
3rd - Adrian Crawford
4th - Mark Polycarpou
5th - Trent Forbes
GOAL KICKING TOP FIVE
35 - Rhys Deacon
23 - Jake Hobbs
23 - James McGrath
15 - James Vistarini*
9 - Josh Vassolo
DIVISION ONE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Jake Hobbs (half forward flank)
*players not returning in 2020
2020 PREVIEW
Coach: Charles Cuzzupi (2nd season)
LIST CHANGES / LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Patrick Rose (Altona), Scott Harding (Avondale Heights), James Cimbaljevic (St Albans), Kyle Treloar (Keilor), Trent Skelton (Aberfeldie), Jack Twomey (Therry Penola) & Josh Zakhour (Northern Saints)
Out: Harrison Tanner, Lachie Tanner & Nick English (all Waverley Blues), Rory Alexander, James Vistarini & Nick Franzi (all Woodend-Hesket), Matthew Morelli (Hinterland Blues), James Karvelas (Deer Park), Jason Cuschieri & James Todoroski (both Keilor Park) & Evan Giannoukas (East Keilor)
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
Taylors Lakes may be one of Division 1's big improvers in Season 2020, much in the same way Westmeadows was in 2019.
Like the Tigers did a year ago, Lakes has added some quality experience in EDFL Team of the Decade sharpshooter Patrick Rose and ex-Brisbane Lion Scott Harding and with coach Charles Cuzzupi now in a far more settled position than he was when he replaced Sam Tankard halfway through the 2019 pre-season, the Lions are primed to climb the ladder in 2020.
The new-look forward combo of Rose and Rhys Deacon, with Jake Hobbs and James McGrath playing key support roles, will be sure to give opposition back lines plenty of headaches and if Lakes can get a clear run at it, then the top four should be well within its sights.
