Co-captain Reid Clarke says he expects another close competition in the 2016/17 season, and that playing the club's kids would continue the club's reign at the top of the WDCA ladder.

“We haven't really recruited, we're pretty happy with how our younger players have come along over the last couple years,” he said.

“We've won the last three under-16's flags, that's provided us with some good talent.

“The average age of the squad would be somewhere around 21.”

Having the likes of Matt Knight, Josh Vagg and Lee Fraser at the club to help develop their young guns had been crucial to the Lakers’ success, Clarke said.

“We've still got those good, experienced, players at the club, but we’ve been able to surround them with good developing players like Corey Pearn and Corey McIntosh,” he said.

“The competition is really up for grabs this year, a lot of clubs have good young players through.”

The Lakers are set to face the Beechworth Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.