Avondale Heights earns second win of EDFL season

An exhilarated Avondale Heights celebrated its second win of the season alongside stand-in coach Phil Cleary on Saturday.

Phil Cleary, who is the stand-in coach at Avondale Heights, and Coburg footballer Billy Cannolo. Picture: Hamish Blair

An exhilarated Avondale Heights celebrated its second win of the season alongside stand-in coach Phil Cleary on Saturday.

The Heights fought hard for the win against a dogged Essendon Doutta Stars in the Essendon District Football League Premier Division, only breaking clear in the final stanza with 11 scoring shots to four to prevail 10.16 (76) to 8.8 (56).

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Cleary, who is taking the coaching reins about five times this year when Donald McDonald is unavailable due to North Melbourne responsibilities, said he was “pretty buoyed”.

“I said to the players that it was a real seminal moment in the club’s evolution,” he said.

“The players had to work really hard.

“It was a high-intensity game with a mass stoppage and tackle count but we got up in the end and I’m very happy with the progress of such a young side.”

Jackson Robb, Sam Zito and Josiah Garisto led the way, with Hisham Kerbatieh snagging three goals.

With a host of young players in the line-up, Cleary praised the contributions of Hamish Murphy, Darcy McPherson and first-gamer Maysen Murgov.

Jackson Robb was one of the best players for Avondale Heights on Saturday. Picture: Josie Hayden

Cleary is the director of coaching and club culture at Avondale, following his playing sons to the club after they moved from West Coburg.

He described the role as “perfect” for him.

“I’m quite passionate about it,” he said.

“I love the community game and the challenge of trying to improve young footballers.

“I want us to be more than a football club.

Avondale Heights skipper Matthew Cravino is still sidelined by a knee injury. Picture: Chris Eastman

“We want our footballers to be good citizens and that includes respecting the place of women in a football club and society at large at a time when violence against women is endemic.”

The Heights are still missing the likes of star skipper Matt Cravino, Connor Byrne, Jack Watkins, Liam Byrne and Scott Harding.

For Doutta Stars, Dalton Comito, Brodie Meyers (three goals) and Jordan Schroder tried hard.

Meanwhile, Strathmore won a one-point thriller against Maribyrnong Park, Aberfeldie was unable to control Keilor in a 36-point loss and Airport West fell to Greenvale by 106 points.

East Keilor lost top spot of Division 1 after being downed by Tullamarine by 42 points, while Moonee Valley smashed Keilor Park by 227 points in Division 2.