EDFL: Northern Saints stars Tamer Abdallah and Elliot Kako could be on the move
Two of Northern Saints’ leading players have submitted clearances to rejoin Brett Kennerley at VAFA club Westbourne Grammarians.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two of Northern Saints’ prime movers are set to depart the EDFL Division 2 club.
Tamer Abdallah and Eliot Kako have applied to join VAFA Division 3 outfit Westbourne Grammarians, who have appointed Brett Kennerley as coach.
Kennerley led the Saints to a fifth-placed finish this season before his two-year contract was terminated in September, with stalwart Peter Lohner locked in as his replacement.
“It’s not ideal,” president Joe Antonetti said.
“But the club’s made a decision to go with a coach and unfortunately players do follow coaches. That’s how it works.
“Definitely can’t force them to stay, but we definitely won’t just let them go.
“We want to have a chat to them in the coming days.”
MORE NEWS FROM THE EDFL
HORNE GIVES UPDATE ON STRATHMORE’S MOVES
EDFL REVEALS SALARY CAPS FOR 2020
EAST SUNBURY LOSES BEST-AND-FAIREST WINNER
STABILITY A BOOST FOR AVONDALE HEIGHTS AND NEW COACH
FAMILIAR FACE TAKES CHARGE AT NORTHERN SAINTS
WHY TULLAMARINE IS PROUD OF ITS CULTURE
While the Saints are holding out hope the duo will reverse their decisions, their exits would leave an enormous hole.
Abdallah has claimed the club’s past two best-and-fairest awards since arriving from Westmeadows and has earned back-to-back Team of the Year selections.
He was captain this year, while Kako led the Saints in 2018.
Kako featured in the club’s 2013 premiership team and is also a best-and-fairest winner.
“Two of the most inspirational leaders we’ve had since the club began,” Antonetti said.
“You can’t replace 15 years of leadership overnight.
“They will be hard to replace.
“I guess that’s the nature of footy, isn’t it?”
Mark Sabatino, who booted 33 goals from 13 games in 2019, has also joined Division 2 rival Hadfield.
But Antonetti said the Saints would retain “most of our players”.
They are set to usher in a new era under Lohner, who has steered the club’s under-19s to consecutive grand finals and has two decades of coaching experience.
“We’ve had a wave of young players coming players to the club, so it definitely will open up opportunities for different guys to be leaders,” Antonetti said.
“But, like I said, we still haven’t spoken to Tamer and Elliot properly yet, so we plan to get them in in the next few days and have a chat.”
WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO
— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.
— Unprecedented AFL coverage.
— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.
— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.
— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.