For the second consecutive summer, a GFNL club is fighting a battle for player numbers.
After North Shore picked itself up off the canvas ahead of the 2025 season, K rock Football understands Lara is facing a similar issue.
A meeting of the Cats’ board and the Lara Sporting Club has been called for tomorrow (Wednesday) night at the club’s Bisinella Oval base to discuss a strategy going forward.
Several senior players have left the club, including co-captain Aaron Stone, who has joined Connor Linehan-Cunningham at Werribee Centrals, Cody Beckley (Bell Post Hill), Ryan Bell (Anglesea), Jack Borchard (Thomson), Dan Lowther (Newtown & Chilwell), and Josh Sanders (St Mary’s).
Talented youngsters and Cam Edwards and Tom Gunther have been linked with a move to rival GFNL clubs, but Gunther is understood to be under contract to the Cats.
It follows the departures of stalwarts Mitch Day, Dan Weigl, Bayley Cockerill and Dylan Jose in the previous pre-season.
Lara has battled in senior football since its last finals appearance in 2013, winning just 18 of a possible 191 matches in that time.
The Cats narrowly avoided the wooden spoon in 2025, beating North Shore in the final round to jump above the Seagulls into 11th spot
AFL Barwon is understood to be aware of the situation. Lara has been contacted for comment.
X: @krockfootball
