By Marcus Uhe
Coach: Paul Carbis
Captain: Jake Barclay
2023: 7-9 (fourth). Lost a semi-final to Woori Yallock.
Ins: Beej Brougham, Caelan Addis (Cora Lynn), Kade Perkins (Cora Lynn), Jai Rout (Cora Lynn), Kaleb Brice (Officer), Cooper Reilly (Garfield), Lachlan Sauze (Garfield), Zac Stewart (injury)
Outs: Koby Grass (UTS Bats/Sydney VFL), Matt Orford (Beaconsfield), Blake Cuttriss (Stratford).
10 to watch: Tahj De La Rue, Zac Stewart, Jordan Stewart, Jake Barclay, Matt Debruin, Joel Sarlo, James Harrison, Cooper Reilly, Bailey Stiles, Jai Rout.
Playing twice: Narre Warren, Berwick Springs, Officer, Emerald, Monbulk, Olinda Ferny Creek, Woori Yallock.
Expected finish: 3rd
FIXTURE
Round 1: Saturday 6 April v Narre Warren (A)
Round 2: Saturday 20 April v Berwick Springs (H)
Round 3: Saturday 27 April v Officer (H)
Round 4: Saturday 4 May v Emerald (A)
Round 5: Saturday 11 May v Monbulk (H)
Round 6: Saturday 18 May v Olinda Ferny Creek (A)
Round 7: Saturday 25 May v Mt Evelyn (A)
Round 8: Saturday 1 June v Wandin (H)
Round 9: Saturday 15 June v Woori Yallock (A)
Round 10: Saturday 22 June v Upwey Tecoma (H)
Round 11: Saturday 29 June v Gembrook Cockatoo (A)
Round 12: Saturday 6 July v Narre Warren (H)
Round 13: Saturday 13 July v Berwick Springs (A)
Round 14: Saturday 20 July v Emerald (H)
Round 15: Saturday 3 August v Officer (A)
Round 16: Saturday 10 August v Olinda Ferny Creek (H)
Round 17: Saturday 17 August v Monbulk (A)
Round 18: Saturday 24 August v Woori Yallock (H)
2024 shapes as one of the most exciting in years for the Pakenham Football Club as Paul Carbis begins his tenure as senior coach.
The Lions were one of the stories of the 2023 season and became compelling viewing as the season wore on, with their ability to run teams down from behind giving them a Collingwood-like aura that could not be discounted.
On four occasions they reeled-in a three-quarter-time deficit, while their elimination final win against Upwey Tecoma saw them overcome a spirited challenge from the Tigers to advance to the second round of the postseason, a feat few would have envisaged at the beginning of the season, and even less when they began the year with three losses.
In an ironic twist, it was an advantage at the final change that they could not maintain in their semi final defeat to Woori Yallock that ultimately drew the curtain on their season, and solidified Carbis’ desire to take the reigns.
With an excellent summer of recruiting and welcoming back some important names, there’s strong belief that Pakenham can return to heights unseen in years, with Carbis telling the Gazette last month that he feels they should be aiming to finish on the Premier Division podium.
Should they climb the ranks, the Lions need to address their ability to put a score on the board.
Only Gembrook Cockatoo scored less points across the home-and-away season than Pakenham, but the Lions made up for it with a miserly defence, the third-best for least points allowed, bettered by only Wandin and Narre Warren.
Swing-man and best-and-fairest winner Jordan Stewart lead the goalkicking with 22 majors, with Matthew Vaiano (19) and Jake Thompson (18) not far behind.
Compare this to Wandin’s top three of Clint Johnson (52 goals), Aaron Mullett (43) and Jordan Jaworski (40), and the gap between them and the benchmark becomes even clearer.
Early-season injuries to Matthew Debruin and Cameron Debruin were contributing factors, as was the need for the likes of Stewart, Josh Haggar and Tom Gamble to play at both ends of the ground when required.
Reinforcements, in the form of Jai Rout, and a change in approach, will be keys to fixing the scoring issue, according to Carbis.
“We’re looking for a bit of, not one forward to dominate, but a combination, and it’s actually worked over the two practice matches that one will bob-up and kick three or four, and the next week it will be someone else,” Carbis said.
“I noticed when I watched them in the finals last year that their pattern of play and the way they moved the ball wasn’t great, and that’s what we’ve tried to change over the summer.
“That will hopefully help us score a bit easier and we have scored from turnover, we have scored from stoppages, not just bombing it in because we haven’t got that big monster who can take that pack mark.
“(Being) a little bit more planned heading inside forward 50 had made a big difference.”
Toomuc Reserve will remain a fortress, where they lost just three times in 2023, all to the competition’s top three sides.
They pushed Wandin for just a 21-point loss at home and fell agonisingly short against Woori Yallock but took care of business against the sides below them on the table.
If the Lions are to make the leap, however, ‘pushing’ those sides will need to turn into defeating them.
