On Saturday, 12 April, a home crowd not seen since 1995 witnessed the Kinglake Football Club‘s return to the YVMDFL second division after 12 years in the DVFL. The club also fielded netball teams for the first time when it played Yea for the inaugural Gary Wilson Shield.
It was the first time Kinglake has ever played Yea for premiership points and was a great day for the club and Kinglake community.
It was also the debut of the new unique club jumper based on a design by Middle Kinglake Primary School student, Trent Allen, who was presented with the Number 1 jumper and match ball.
Well done Trent for a great design idea that sees the club wear a jumper that represents Kinglake so well.
The club also witnessed the return of supporters to the old club room end of the ground, where past players have set-up their “Crocodile Club” and they now have a Lakers crowd at both ends of the ground.
On this historic day for the club both the seniors and reserves football teams won, while their debut netabll teams couldn’t win, they were competitive in their debut YVMDFL matches.
It was the first senior football win since Watsonia in Round 16 (August 5, 2006).
As they have returned to country football, coverage of the Kinglake Football/Netball Club has been great.
Next week Kinglake will travel to Alexandra for their second away game of the season.
The club looks forward to seeing its supporters at their next game or if you can’t get there, come along after the match to the club rooms (home games) or to the National Park Hotel – after away games – where the Best on Ground awards will be awarded to players at 8.30 p.m.
First published in Mountain Views Mail, 29 April 2016, p.38.
