Taylors Lake coach Justin Beugelaar has hailed his team as ‘a far better side’ than last season after the Lakers earned their first win of 2025 against Kaniva-Leeor United on Saturday.

Taylors Lake finished ninth on the ladder last season with four wins and a percentage of 54, but despite failing to secure premiership points in its first three matches this season, Beugelaar said it was clear his side had made progress.

He said a difficult draw – with games against reigning premier Harrow-Balmoral and 2024 finalists Pimpinio and Swifts in the first three rounds – had masked the Lakers’ improved play.

“Round one was a 120-point swing against the reigning premiers who we lost to by 160 points last year and we only went down to them by 40 points,” he said.

“We can’t pick the draw, it is what it is, but I’ve got to be happy with the effort the boys have shown, and they were rewarded for it on the weekend.”

Taylors Lake’s 11.11 (77) to 9.9 (63) win over the Cougars was not without its challenges however, with Kaniva-Leeor United jumping to a 10-point lead at quarter time.

“It would have been a four-goal breeze going their way in the first quarter after they won the toss,” Beugelaar said.

“I said to the boys we just have to stick fat and play the football we knew we could play. To their credit we stayed right with them and we swung it around the next quarter.”

Helping turn the match in the Lakers’ favour was the outside run of players such as Jye Brown, Coby Mines and Brayden Gebert, while Jayden Scott and Harry Hall gave the team drive from the back line.

Beugelaar played the first half on Cougar full forward Jacob Eats before going off with a hamstring injury at the end of the second quarter.

With Riley Hall also lost to a groin injury in the last quarter, Beugelaar said it had been a test of his team’s resilience. 

Leading goal kickers were Alex Baker for the Lakers and Jonty Brown for the Cougars, each kicking four.

The match of the round was played at Pimpinio, where the hometown Tigers came from behind to defeat Kalkee 11.11 (77) to 11.7 (73).

The Kees were underdogs entering the contest, and while Pimpinio’s Tom Baker slotted the first goal of the game it was the visitors who grabbed the early ascendancy.

With skipper Patrick Mills leading from the front as usual and the likes of Matt Nield and coach Andy Devereaux also prominent, kicking two goals apiece, the Kees led by two goals at quarter time and 14 points by the half.

But Pimpinio dragged itself back into the match in the third quarter, kicking 3.6 to 2.0.

When Devereaux was injured in a marking contest early in the last quarter and taken from the ground in the hands of Kalkee’s trainers, the match continued to turn in Pimpinio’s favour.

With Daniel ‘Boony’ Baker holding sway in the back line and brothers Jason and Adam Westley coming to the fore alongside Matt Rosier, the Tigers hit the front and held on despite a late goal from Douglas Grining giving the Kees life.

Laharum produced arguably its best performance of the season on Saturday, defeating Swifts 12.14 (86) to 8.12 (60) on the road at North Park.

The Demons led by 16 points at quarter time and never surrendered their advantage, with young forward Chase Whelan and Horsham recruit Brodie Mines starring up forward, while Shannon Argall turned back the clock in a ruck duel with Brett Hargreaves.

For the Baggies, Jordan Motton and Chris Freeman made themselves dangerous up forward and Sean Mantell accrued plenty of the ball, but the team was unable to sustain enough momentum to mount a challenge.

Elsewhere, Natimuk United earned its first win for the season, downing Rupanyup 12.8 (80) to 9.6 (60) on the road.

The Rams came from 21 points down at half time, holding the Panthers goalless in the final two quarters as Adrianne Lupton starred with six goals.

At Quantong Recreation Reserve the Noradjuha-Quantong Bombers were far too good for Edenhope-Apsley, winning 22.22 (154) to 7.7 (49).

Brock Orval kicked seven goals for the Bombers, but it was Leigh Stewart who stood out with a best-on-ground performance. Adam Hood was the Saints’ best performer, while Boyd Packer kicked three goals.

This weekend will see the Saints host the Panthers, Taylors Lake at home to Noradjuha-Quantong, Kaniva-Leeor United on the road against Laharum, Swifts travelling to Kalkee and Harrow-Balmoral returning from a bye to host Pimpinio.

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