From the Herald Sun
IT'S the club that helped rebuild a community from the scorched earth up. Gutsy footballers who proved there was more to life than their game. But the players who rolled their sleeves up and helped breathe life back into Kinglake have become few and far between.

The crowds of spectators who squashed in against the boundary line fence are gone, too.

The only people remaining are a few locals who bash the fence after each goal, scream at missed opportunities and quietly hope things will get better.

Insiders have their doubts. This season could be the last for the once mighty Lakers as the side struggles to maintain its numbers.

The club already has lost its under-18 squad and fears its senior ranks also might be in danger.

"We are not bushfire victims any more," president John Dowdle said.

"We are just another battling bush footy club. We don't need a handout, we want a hand up."

In the past fortnight, administrative staff cobbled together enough players to make up a senior list, but only after a pamphlet drop alerted the locals.

Coach Luke Nott said there were still no guarantees. He knows that every Thursday he will be forced to do a ring-around.

"I reckon the assistant coach and I make a million phone calls every week, just trying to fill the gaps," Nott said.

Half the squad is sourced from Melbourne's outer suburbs. Players are forced to juggle training and competition with work and travel commitments.

Kinglake managed to attract funding after Black Saturday and has newly laid footy turf and new tennis and netball facilities.

In the weeks following the fires, players gave their all off the field, raising more than $103,000.

"We lost supporters, we lost friends and players," Dowdle said. "But to the boys' credit we got the community and the club back up and running."

The senior squad earned a grand final berth in 2009 and just missed out on the premiership but, four years on, the situation is dire.

Dowdle said it would remain a numbers game.

And, at 58, he will be among them.

"I'll play a few games. I have done in the past and will have to again," he said.

"It's not easy keeping up with the younger guys, obviously, but if it's what we need to do to keep the club alive, I'll do it. We all do what we can."

By Aaron Langmaid

Article first appeared: The Herald Sun, March 29th, 2013