By JARROD POTTER
EVERYTHING is in place for the Lightning’s first strike.
Lyndhurst has done everything it could in the inaugural pre-season to attract the numbers and with 70 on the list, it makes for a couple of sides in its Southern Football League debut.
Brad Ferri and Jake Ward will lead the side into 2016 and Lyndhurst coach Paddy Cooke said their impact throughout the pre-season made them obvious choices for the top mantle.
“Both go about it slightly different with the way they approach it but both are great leaders,” Cooke said. “Both really put themselves into the position and from our whole group those two were stand-outs for their leadership qualities.”
Where that core group can take the Lightning in 2016 remains up for debate, though, because the list is fresh to football or, at the very least, light on for true experience.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenging season, it really is,” Cooke said.
“Hopefully we can surprise a few sides and be competitive but where that competitiveness goes, only time will tell.
“I think we can surprise a few but we’re not expecting it to be easy and we know there’s a lot of hard work ahead for us.
“We’ve done all the preparation we can to put ourselves in a good spot and I guess what happens, happens.
“We don’t know too much about the opposition so we’ve just got to worry about our own structures and set-ups and if we can stick to all our things it can pay off for us.”
From its three practice matches, Lyndhurst was put to the sword by Templestowe but fared much better against South Mornington to round out its summer schedule.
It all starts with a local showdown as the Lightning battles regional rivals Hallam in its inaugural SFL Division 3 clash on Saturday from 2pm at Marriott Waters Reserve, Lyndhurst.
LYNDHURST FNC LEADERSHIP GROUP: Co-captains Brad Ferri and Jake Ward, vice captain David Ford, deputy vice captains Andy Friend and Jeremy Jakupi.
