By Christopher Kourtis.
Fairpark have turned their season around, winning their last three matches on the trot.
Fairpark struggled early in the season, picking up just one win in their first eleven games, coming in Round Five against Warrandyte.
But a recent run inform sees the Lions looking to end their season on a high, as senior coach Sean Stanton announcing that he will part ways with the club at the conclusion of the season.
Appointed in 2017, Stanton stands as the club’s longest serving coach, having won Coach of the Year awards in Division Four (2019) and Division Three (2022) to go along with a drought-breaking Division Four premiership in 2019.
Stanton says that despite the hardships of the season, the team’s morale has never wavered.
“We probably didn’t lose faith at any point in time,” Stanton said. “Particularly early on in the year, we were close, but we couldn’t pinch a win… the last seven weeks, to be honest, have actually been really pleasing.”
The Lions have now won three on the trot, beating Silvan and Oakleigh at home before winning away at Warrandyte.
“The last three weeks have probably been the first time we’ve got our best team on the park,” Stanton said. “It’s great that things are starting to turn, but it’s not lost on us [that] on our run home we play four of the top five teams.”
The side’s change in form has come off the back of strong seasons by Mason Byrne (12 times in best) and Jay Rankin (19 goals in 7 games). Identified in pre-season as ones to watch, Stanton has been impressed by the roles that each have played in the team.
“[Jay Rankin’s] a super talent,” Stanton said.
“I spoke with [Mason Byrne] at season’s end last year, and I felt that we were only scratching the surface with what he was able to bring to the table… he’s been an absolute standout”
The Lions will host Knox tomorrow in Round 14, the Falcons currently sit in fourth on the ladder.