By Russell Bennett
THE Lang Lang faithful will stop at nothing to watch their proud football club roar again.
The Tigers are entering into an exciting new era under new senior coach and returning favourite son Clint Evans, new president Norm Lansdown, and a host of new coaches at Under 16, Under 18, and reserves level.
Brad ‘Pumper’ Palmer has returned as the Tigers’ Under 18s coach and he’s being assisted by two senior players – Sam Kendell and Ben Boulton.
The Under 16s, meanwhile, will be under the tutelage of co-coaches – Mark Anderson and Tim Elmes.
The structure is in place, now all Lang Lang needs is junior players ready to step up to the plate and join the Tiger army.
Pre-season training is already underway for the senior sides and the club is urging young players of all levels of experience – from 15 to 18-years-old – to come down and one of the junior teams.
The Tigers’ junior coaches are also attending senior pre-season training and are encouraging any junior players to come along and join them for the chance to improve their fitness and skillset heading into the new season.
At this stage training times at the Lang Lang Showgrounds are Monday and Wednesday nights from 6pm to 7pm.
“Our main priority is to get a group of kids, and to work with them,” Palmer said.
The Tigers are buoyed by the prospect of their new facility coming online in the not-too-distant future, and have a clear direction from the president down to their youngest players.
“If you’re not prepared to put in the hard work as a club, you’re going to get nowhere,” Lansdown said.
“All you can do is give it your best shot.
“We all love the game of footy and we love seeing the young blokes coming through, and they’re what you need to survive.
“This is my first year in the job – I only came down here a year-and-a-half ago from Rosebud – but I love the place.
“It’s got a terrific bunch of people, so I’ll be putting everything I can into it and everyone else will be to.”
All of the Tigers’ junior coaches are united in their mission – it’s about having fun on the field, and being part of a proud, sustainable club off it.
Lang Lang’s final training session for 2016 will be on Wednesday, 14 December and will double as a Christmas break-up and barbecue.
All players, friends, parents and potential players are urged to attend.
For more information call committee representative Ryan O’Beirne on 0418 143 219, Brad Palmer on 0414 717 867, Sam Kendell on 0410 656 623, Ben Boulton on 0407 449 555, Mark Anderson on 0413 899 967, or Tim Elmes on 0438 390 986.
