The Under 10 girls are enjoying their best season in a number of years, demonstrating impressive skill development and teamwork, with seven wins recorded so far. Their growth and confidence on the field have been a highlight of the season.

The Under 12 girls continues to exceed expectations, delivering some outstanding performances and securing several strong victories despite being a very new side. There are a number of girls showing great talent, and we look forward to seeing their continued development as they progress into the Under 14 competition next year.

The Under 17 girls team was moved into Division 2 following the closure of Division 3. Despite the challenges of injuries throughout the season, it has been fantastic to see the way the girls have come together, supported one another, and continued to play with determination and commitment.

What a fantastic start it has been to the grading season for our Junior Boys Football program. Our Under 14s and Under 16s have hit the ground running, with all teams showing great determination, teamwork and improvement each week. The effort from players and coaches has been outstanding, and it has been pleasing to see that hard work rewarded with some excellent performances on the field.

A special highlight for our U9 Kelly was a recent visit from Mr Kelly at one of their games. The players were excited to meet the person their team was named after, creating a memorable experience and helping build a stronger connection to the club’s history and community.

Another memorable moment came when Jimmy Allen spoke to the U9s before one of their matches. Jimmy shared his football journey from Lara Juniors through to becoming part of the coaching team at St Kilda. His story of commitment, perseverance and taking opportunities inspired our young players and demonstrated the pathways that can come from involvement in our great game.

Across the junior boys program, many teams have been coming home with well-deserved and hard-fought wins. More importantly, they have been displaying outstanding sportsmanship, resilience and team spirit every week, making the club proud both on and off the field.

Our teams have been enjoying their pizza and hot dog nights. Spending time together and having fun.

None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our families. It has been wonderful to see so many parents and volunteers helping in the canteen and contributing around the club. Your time and effort play a vital role in creating a positive environment for our players and ensuring the season continues to be a success.

Thank you to everyone involved for making it such a positive start to the year. We look forward to seeing our junior boys continue to develop, compete and enjoy their football throughout the remainder of the season. 🏉

Our Senior Women’s Team are currently sitting 2nd on the ladder with the only 1 loss to top of the ladder Torquay.

As we head into the business end of the year, July is going to be a massive month of footy. We face three crucial away games before returning to Bisinella Oval for our final home game under lights at Bisinella Oval Friday 31st July at 7pm.

July also sees us celebrating club history. We are incredibly proud to announce that 3 of our very own homegrown Lara girls are reaching their 50th Senior Game for the club.

A massive congratulations to:

Olivia Mairos, Janelle Nichols & Taiya Morrow

Reaching 50 senior games is a phenomenal milestone and a true testament to the outstanding service and absolute loyalty these ladies have shown to the blue and white.

The Football Section Committee has recently seen important personnel changes, with Dave and Karen Lindorff stepping down from sponsorship management (and numerous other jobs) and John Shehadie handing over management of our Junior football program.

The Lindorffs have been dedicated and passionate co-contributors to the LFNC for around 8 years. They have variously held Executive roles, managed our sponsorship programme for the entire time, managed and planned social functions, run the gameday can bar and managed Top Cats, along with other ad hoc duties as needs arose. Dave has been a highly capable officer of the Football Section and trusted and judicious sounding board for the Football Executive and General committees, while the wider club has  benefitted from Karen’s commitment and willingness to handle many unheralded tasks crucial to the ongoing running of the club. Both built strong relationships with our many valued sponsors, who we are sure will be saddened to see them leave.

John took over as Manager of Junior Programs in January 2024 at short notice. Needing to settle into the role quickly yet not coming from a strong Aussie Rules football background, he showed great adaptability to the varying needs of our junior football program and proved a very capable set of hands throughout the ensuing period. Also a member of the Football Executive and General committees, he will be missed for his strong sense of fairness, calming presence and clear thinking under pressure.

Please join me in expressing our gratitude for their many years of dedicated service in so many different capacities and in wishing them well.