EDFL 2019: Sunbury Kangaroos secure long list of recruits

An injection of experience has left Sunbury Kangaroos buoyant as they prepare to tackle a new set of opponents in Essendon District Football League Division 2 this season.

Sunbury Kangaroos and Broadford lock horns in the RDFL last year. The Kangaroos will compete in the EDFL in 2019. Picture: Hamish Blair

AN INJECTION of experience has left Sunbury Kangaroos buoyant as they prepare to tackle a new set of opponents in Essendon District Football League Division 2 this season.

The former Riddell District league club will start 2019 as a leading flag contender after a fruitful summer of recruiting.

“Probably not going to be the youngest team and not necessarily the quickest team, but I think we’re certainly going to be the most experienced given we’ve got a couple of older heads into the club,” Kangaroos coach Anthony Leydin said.

“We’ve got a fairly good spread of personnel across most lines and a couple of young ones and experienced ones in there.

“We think we’re pretty settled, although I guess until we get through February and the hard training, you reserve your judgment.

“But probably for the first time in a long time, I’ve had a fairly quiet Christmas period, not having to chase and recruit blokes.”

Mick Kilty has crossed from Diggers Rest as a playing assistant coach.

Mick Kilty has moved from Diggers Rest to Sunbury Kangaroos. Picture: Josie Hayden

St Albans quartet Lachlan Baddeley, Matt Quigley, Michael Spooner and Jeremy Murphy have arrived, while Rupertswood pair Nathan Caldone and Nick Angello have also put pen to paper.

David House (East Keilor) and Jake Young (Glenroy) are also set to return to the club but have not had clearances approved, with Matthew Wallace the only departure of note.

The Kangaroos finished eighth in the RDFL last season after claiming six victories but are expected to go deep into finals in their new competition.

“The opportunity, without assuming too much, to be at the pointy end of proceedings I think gives a few of the older guys a bit of a feeling of a last hurrah,” Leydin said.

“I think it’s fair to say we’ve probably recruited a team to be pretty strong in Division 2.

“How similar that team would be moving forward, should we win it, is probably debatable. But we are a fair way off having to worry about those things.

“We’ll just see how pre-season goes and hopefully the guys can jell and put in the hard work. If they do that, I think we’ll be some sort of show.”

While the Kangaroos were gutted by the departures of 13 players last off-season, they enjoyed good numbers on the track before the Christmas break in a welcome change.

They will resume training on January 30 ahead of their season opener against Northern Saints on April 6.

“I think everyone recognises that last year was a year no one was really too thrilled with,” Leydin said.

“Hopefully we can sustain (strong training numbers) through February and March to put us in a position so we can really see what we’ve got and see how they work together.

“I think our best 22 will be very, very strong and (depth is) probably sort of questionable probably after player 25-26.

“But most clubs, particularly in that Division 2, will be experiencing the same thing is my guess.”