EDFL 2018: Jacana hoping to stay put in Division 1 if Keilor Park and Sunbury Kangaroos compete in 2019

Jacana is winless and in last position on the Essendon District Football League Division 1 ladder, but could the Jaguars survive in the second tier?

JACANA is hopeful of securing a relegation reprieve if two clubs are added to the Essendon District Football League’s senior ranks next season.

The Jaguars are winless in Division 1 after claiming last year’s Division 2 flag, having been crippled by injury.

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Jacana is three games behind Westmeadows and would be relegated at season’s end under normal circumstances.

However, Keilor Park is planning to return in 2019 after spending this year in recess, while Riddell District league outfit Sunbury Kangaroos have held discussions with the EDFL regarding a potential switch.

It is possible the league will implement its favoured 10-10-8 structure for its three divisions next year, which could mean the Jaguars remain in the second tier.

Jacana players celebrate last year’s premiership triumph. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“We think we’re worthy of staying up and think we’re still going to be fairly strong next season,” Jacana president Rick Lloyd said.

“The year’s been hard with the injuries, mainly to our midfield.

“But we’ve still been competitive and hopefully we can stay up if these two sides come into the league.

“Every game we’ve been in until halfway through the third quarter and then we’ve struggled.

“Hopefully we might pull a win off against Oak Park in the last game. You never know.”

Jacana has been hit hard by injury, with Wayne Schultz, Josh Young, Michael Evans, Rhys Evans and Bryce Dodge among the players to have had interrupted seasons.

The injury toll has forced the club to call up several reserves players, while coach Robert Fletcher will stand down at season’s end after rejecting a two-year contract offer.

“The word is no one wants to leave at the moment,” Lloyd said.

“Jason Cloke might go. I think he’s looking at moving up to Queensland.

“I don’t think there’s anyone there for retirement, so we should keep most of the list together.

“The club’s still really strong off the ground. They (the players) are all sticking together and all doing things together after games and all that.”

EDFL boss Craig Armstead said discussions between the league and Sunbury Kangaroos had gone as far as the potential costs involved should they move.

“Because they have got a women’s team playing in our competition, we talk to them about other issues,” Armstead said earlier this month.

“As part of that conversation you have a chat about it but it is no more advanced than that at this point in time.”

Kangaroos president Allan Walters said no decision had been made on the club’s senior football future.