EDFL 2019: Mick McGuane signs on for two more years as Keilor coach

Dual premiership coach Mick McGuane has recommitted to two more years at Keilor with the Blues sitting pretty on top of the EDFL Premier Division ladder.

Mick McGuane congratulates Aberfeldie star Luke Blackwell after last year’s EDFL grand final. Picture: Mark Dadswell

The Essendon District Football League’s longest-serving coach has put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension.

Dual Keilor premiership boss Mick McGuane has committed until the end of 2021, which will take him to a remarkable 14 seasons in charge of the EDFL Premier Division club.

McGuane said the negotiations were completed “within 24 hours” as he looks to steer the Blues to a third flag under his guidance in 2019.

“I’ve got no intentions to go anywhere at this stage,” McGuane said.

“I love the club, it’s a great family club, a great club to educate young Keilor players, very healthy in terms of numbers combined with a female flavour with five teams.

The Collingwood premiership player and two-time Copeland Trophy winner led Keilor to the ultimate prize in his first season at the club in 2008 and again in 2016.

But he said on-field success was not the be-all and end-all, with the Blues’ strong junior program the envy of their rivals.

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James Sicily, Michael Rischitelli, Kyle Hartigan, Curtis Taylor, Jayden Laverde, Corey Ellis, Paul Ahern and Daniel Venables are Keilor products on AFL lists.

“We can be very short-minded and say premierships are a premium,” McGuane said.

“The arms race that the EDFL become was quite silly in a way. The evolution of the game at this level, what some clubs are paying their players … we stuck to what we believed was right for local footy.

“We also created some heartburn during that time, but we knew it was the right way going forward.

“Now you’ve got salary caps and points to adhere to, which is challenging, but you’ve got to retain your good players and young players.”

Keilor's Dylan Joyce and coach Mick McGuane hoist the 2016 EDFL premiership cup. Picture: Kylie Else

McGuane is hopeful more success is around the corner for his Blues, who boast an undefeated record after 12 rounds.

“We try to do the succession plan right and build a list that’s capable of overcoming some adversity in the short term, which we’ve clearly done this year with the amount of good players we haven’t had at our disposal,” he said.

“But you have to fill the gaps when those injuries happen.

“So we’ve done that, but it’s also probably fast-tracked some young players’ development because they’ve got games on a consistent before they were probably ready.

“I think we’ve played 37 players and we haven’t lost a game.”

Ex-AFL pair Damien Cavka and Nick O’Kearney are among those on the sidelines.

Brad Xavier, David Gourdis, Jayden Hind, Mitchell Rogerson, David Tonkich and Mitchell Ellis are also absent, while Jesse Wallin (four games) and Zac Wunhym (two) have had interrupted seasons.

“It’s been challenging, but we’ve certainly absorbed those challenges, and full credit to the playing group,” McGuane said.

“There’s a lot of footy left to be played. We’re not getting ahead of ourselves and we know it’s a strong competition.”

The Blues will next tackle Avondale Heights next weekend.

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