Williamstown is set to welcome the world-class Ben Newman back to the fold as it moves closer to clinching the Lacrosse Victoria men’s state grade minor premiership.
It is scary to think the Fearons could get any stronger, such has been their dominance over the top tier this season, but Newman is a player of unmatched talent at the club by the bay.
The centre-attacking midfielder is raring to go after following in the footsteps of his father, Dennis, and representing Australia at the world lacrosse championships in Colorado last month.
According to Fearons coach Mark Lewer, “in terms of pure lacrosse talent” Newman is arguably the best player in Australia”.
“Athletically, he’s unbelievable. He’s extremely quick over the first five or six metres,” Lewer said, “and he has good agility, evasive skills, great lacrosse skills”.
“He’s a very difficult player to match up on, probably unbeatable on his day.”
The Fearons will enter Saturday’s home clash with Chadstone as the runaway ladder leader, but they know that will mean nothing come September.
Last year, they finished the regular season on top, only to shockingly bow out of the finals in straight sets.
Lewer expects the competition to intensify this month with other premiership contenders pining for a return of their own international stars.
“There’s a lot of players away overseas and when they come back it will get that little more tougher,” he said.
“The competition will improve because it’s not only the players who make the [international] sides coming back, it’s the ones who go over and watch them.
“There’s sides like Footscray, who have had a lot of players away … they’ll be a lot stronger come finals. We’ve just got to keep going, keep trying to win, keep trying to get better.”
The Fearons have certainly passed the depth test in Newman’s absence.
They didn’t miss a beat, incredibly defending top spot in the top four men’s grades.
They even hammered local rival and defending premier Footscray 16-3 at home on Saturday.
Youngsters on the fringe of the top team got a chance to be exposed to top-flight play.
“Fortunately, when you look at Williamstown, state league, division 1, division 2, division 3 teams, they’re all on top, so we’ve got a lot of depth and we’ve got a lot of players hoping to get their chances in the higher grade,” Lewer said.
“Our under-18s have won the last two premierships, so there’s a lot more coming through.”
In women’s state league, Williamstown beat Eltham 12-3 to book a place in the finals.
