As the Magpies prepare for a tough round two encounter against Golden Square, the former Geelong Amateurs and St Mary’s premiership star was able to draw positives from last weekend’s season opening 23-point loss to Castlemaine.

For one, Lavars was impressed with his side’s preparedness to fight out the contest after surrendering an ultimately fatal five goals to nil in the third quarter.

 “Castlemaine was one (win) we probably thought we could have gotten, so it was disappointing on that front,” he said.

“But from talking to people about how the side has gone in the past, they saw some real positives there.

“We got down a bit in the third quarter, but we actually came back, kept fighting and pegged them back in the last quarter. That’s probably something that hasn’t happened in the past – we’ve got down and stopped running.

“Something we are focusing on is that no matter whether we are down by 10-goals or 10-points we play the game the same way and keep fighting.

“While we didn’t win there were still good things to take out the game.”

The positives included the bright performances of midfielders Jayden Hooper, Jacob Long and Kyle Underwood, defender Bodie Malone and wing Chris Freeman.

Lavars, who will miss the clash against the Bulldogs with an ankle injury, said he was now keen to see his players back up last week’s positive effort.

“We are not going to hide where we are at as a club, so it will be interesting if we do get down, or Golden Square do get a run on, how do we respond,” he said.

“Do we put our heads down, or do we still scrap and try and get things going our way?

“They are one of the best teams in the competition, so it will be a good challenge.”

The clash at Wade Street will be a special occasion for Golden Square ruckman Matt Compston, who will play his 200th game in yellow and blue having progressed through the 17-and-under and reserves to seniors.

It comes one week after team-mate Jon Coe played his 100th in a win against Sandhurst.

Lavars hoped a session with Leading Teams Australia founder and director Ray McLean during the week might rub off on players and coaches across the club.

“I’ve dealt with him a couple of times with teams in Geelong and he has been really good with just having those tough,  open and honest conversations,” he said.

“That’s something that probably doesn’t happen enough (at clubs) and will probably have to happen our footy club a fair bit.”

The Magpies have also lost Underwood to injury, but have regained Coby Perry.

Golden Square has made four changes to its side, with Pioneers Daine and Joshua Grace, Liam Marciano and Kyle Stevens going out, with Shaun Young, Callum Draper, and youngsters Zack Shelton and Mitchell Christensen the ins.