EDFL 2019: Avondale Heights fields 21 players in loss to Strathmore
An EDFL Premier Division club, with the approval of the league, used its full player points limit to field 21 players at the weekend – and it has not ruled out doing the same again as it battles to avoid relegation.
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An Essendon District Football League club made the extraordinary call to field one less player on Saturday as a result of a points squeeze.
A 21-man Avondale Heights used their full allotment of 47 player points in their 68-point Premier Division loss to Strathmore at Lebanon Reserve.
VFL-listed pair Hisham Kerbatieh (five points) and Jack Watkins (four) were key inclusions for the Heights, who had 10 one-point players in their line-up.
Senior regulars Jake Edwards, Justin Morris and Caleb McPherson were among those on the sidelines.
The EDFL approved the move but refused to comment further.
Avondale Heights coach Donald McDonald said the club had held discussions about playing one short throughout 2019.
“We had a few boys back from the VFL, so it’s just one of those things. Can’t do much about it,” McDonald said.
“We made a decision at the last minute to go with 21.
“We were hoping we’d be all right, but it didn’t work out that way.
“But that wasn’t the reason why we lost. Strathmore were just way too good.”
The Heights have lost close to 30 senior players in the past two years and are battling to avoid relegation from the top flight.
Ex-AFL pair Dennis Armfield and Cameron Wood were among those to depart over the off-season, while Luke Edwards, Scott Clouston, Charlie Nastasi, Matthew Evans, Domenic Iermano, Jordan McIvor-Clark and Koe Ngawati also exited.
The club’s struggle to retain players and build a strong junior program has presented several challenges.
Asked if the Heights could play with 21 again this year, McDonald said: “It just depends on the circumstances leading into that week.
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“Our reserves copped a bit of a hammering as well, so we’ll just do what’s best for us that week.
“We’ve had a few blokes out injured, so it’s just a bit of a war of attrition.
“Our under-19s are in the hunt for finals as well, so we want to make sure we give some of the kids an opportunity to make sure the boys qualify as well.
“If we can get the 19s up, I think it’s been an awesome effort from the club, considering where they’ve been.
“We’ve always been passionate about getting a 19s side on the park every week because that’s our future.”
The Heights sit second-last with a 2-12 record and are equal on points with bottom-placed Airport West.
The pair will square off in Round 17 in a clash likely to decide which team contests Division 1 in 2020
“If we did manage to stay up, I think that would be a great thing for us going forward because we could at least have a group of young blokes that can hopefully stay together for a while,” McDonald said.
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