Byrnes plays his 300th game

By Rob Popplestone & Tayla Kershew

WITH wins hard to come by for both clubs throughout the season, Hill End and Stony Creek approached the weekend believing the victory was theirs to grab.

The Rovers on their home deck with two wins from their past three matches were slightly favoured against a Lions team that had come close to a win more than a handful of times only to time and time again fall agonisingly short, however the visitors did what they have rarely done this season, flexing their muscle and showing what they indeed are capable of kicking.

Troy Shepardson, Stony Creek coach “Great for our boys today to play four quarters of the footy I know we are capable of playing, and to get back on the winners list.”

The Lions have shown “patches” of what they are capable of throughout the season, but these moments have only kept  them in games rather than have them winning them. 

One player though, who has shown his dedication throughout the ups and downs is Lucas Byrnes who played his 300th game for the club on Saturday.

Lucas launched his career at the club in 1999 as a grand final netball player in the U13s before jumping over to the footy field to play in the Fourths.

He has been an asset to club, fulfilling the roles of player, coach and team manager over.

Over the years, he has been named Most Consistent across the Fourths, Thirds and the Reserves.

He was awarded Best and Fairest in the Reserves in 2014 and received Most Improved in the Seniors in 2009.
Lucas has coached the Thirds across several seasons, guiding and mentoring the next generation.

He is a popular figure at club, and the members congratulated him for reaching this incredible milestone.

The Rovers in many ways have also shown at times what they are capable of with a core group of experienced and talented players, surrounded by a young group who will take time to reach the level required to add to their rare wins this year.

Adrian Burns, Hill End coach “Having a young group, a long season, it all means you will have results like we did on the weekend, every week I’ve felt the boys have given their best, and it all helps, win or lose, their development for the season ahead.”

Hill End like their weekend opponents in the Lions have won far less games than they would have liked, but every weekend, the opposition teams also respect that they will have a fight on their hands.