EDFL 2019: Avondale Heights frustrated by player points system

The leaders of an Essendon District Football League club have expressed their frustration at the statewide player points system after not being granted concessions.

Avondale Heights coach Donald McDonald is not a fan of the statewide player points system. Picture: Josie Hayden

The leaders of an Essendon District Football League club have hit out at the statewide player points system, criticising its impact on teams without already established junior pathways.

Avondale Heights mentor Donald McDonald and director of coaching Phil Cleary have criticised the system, with McDonald expressing frustration at the difficulty of building a side capable of challenging the heavyweights in the top flight.

“We have been in the Premier Division for about 10 years and never won a final, and we’ve only played in two finals series,” McDonald said.

“The last three years we’ve just been avoiding relegation.

“It is very difficult to attract players when we’re not successful.

“The club has to work out whether it wants to be a side that has a crack at Premier Division and try to win the competition, which will take a few years … or work out what it wants to do.”

McDonald said 2019 was always “going to be tough”, adding he was left disappointed the EDFL did not grant his club any player point concessions after some “pretty strong” lobbying.

“Once that didn’t work out it was a really difficult challenge for us because we had to recruit a lot of kids, reserves and under-19s,” he said.

“So to have two wins to date we’re really happy with.

“We’ve just got to try and keep our group together … and not have the turnover we’ve had the past two years.

“The goal is to build a good little footy club so the players want to stay around.”

Cleary, who is also Avondale Heights’ interim coach when McDonald is unavailable, said the club was being punished for talented young players wanting to come to Canning Street Reserve.

“We don’t have the juniors or the money of (the competition’s stronger clubs),” he said.

“We’re being punished because of the system.”

He cited the example of Matthew Borg, who crossed from West Coburg but is rated a four-point player because he played in the TAC Cup.

Avondale Heights will meet winless Airport West away from home this weekend.

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