Pakenham last weekend took out the reserves State League 5 competition.
A last round 5-4 win over Aspendale confirmed Pakenham would take out the league, ahead of Seaford.
Both sides lost just one game for the season, but Pakenham’s superior goal difference ensured they would get rewarded for a stellar season where 56 players were cycled through the side.
“At the start of the season, we set out trying to win a flag and we did it,” coach Stuart Woolf said.
Wani Suliman scored the match-winner in the 81st minute.
It was just his fourth game for the club, joining to play alongside his brother.
Suliman’s story represents the transience of the reserves lineup, with plenty of changes every week due to high participation numbers across the whole squad, with plenty of people attracted down to play under senior coach Dean Alburey.
“It’s been great because we’ve been able to give kids opportunities we didn’t think would get opportunities,” Woolf said.
“Each week there would be five or six changes so we gave everyone a chance.
“It was tough to coach with that many players but the resilience of the boys got them over the line in the end which was great
Woolf gives the ougoing Alburey plenty of credit for the success.
Last season, the reserves scored 22 goals and conceded 109, with the score line similarly dire for the seniors.
This year, the seniors improvement into the top four has been mirrored by the reserves, which conceded 20 goals and scored 105, entirely flipping the script.
The seniors and reserves trained together during the week which gave the mostly young reserves side an insight into what it takes to play at the level.
“When we played (the seniors) on a Tuesday or Thursday night (at training), they were never embarrassed,” Woolf said.
“Players knew they could play at senior level and getting exposure against them really helped their development.
“There’s been a massive turnaround at the club and hopefully it gives them a good platform to step up and have a crack next year and win the seniors.”
