EDFL: Westmeadows captain Robbie Castello re-signs for 2021
Former VFL player Robbie Castello claimed the EDFL Division 1 league medal in 2019 after a standout season, but at 34 years old he is not content as he casts an eye to next year.
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Westmeadows captain Robbie Castello has sounded a warning to rival Essendon District Football League clubs, declaring he is capable of reaching new heights next year after a dominant 2019.
The star midfielder proved a class above in Division 1 last season after crossing to the Tigers following his stint as a playing coach with top-flight club Maribyrnong Park.
Castello was crowned the Hutchison medallist despite missing six games during the home-and-away campaign, named skipper of the Team of the Year and claimed Westmeadows’ best-and-fairest.
The 34-year-old has re-signed at the Tigers, a decision he said was a “no-brainer” after a cancelled season.
Castello said he was hopeful of delivering better performances in 2021 after injury setbacks hampered him in the lead up to last season.
“I reckon I could, definitely,” the former Werribee VFL captain said.
“I had a limited pre-season and tore my pec last year. I had the operation and full reco on my chest in November, so I wasn’t able to do any contact until about February and wasn’t able to run until after Christmas.
“From a weights point of view, it’s only probably been the last six months that I’ve been able to get back properly into the gym.
“We’ve got a good group at Westmeadows, and I guess they’ve rejuvenated me.”
Castello was looking to compete in this year’s Melbourne Marathon before COVID-19 hit and was completing 20km and 30km runs in preparation for the event.
He said he was unsure how his body would respond from a period without football.
“I usually like playing, just going continuous with the contact and all that sort of stuff,” Castello said.
“I usually find if I have a week or a couple of weeks off, it sort of hurts the body a bit more.
“I can’t see it (the break) doing any harm to the body and it will just be a freshen up. It will just be getting used to the knocks and that sort of stuff.
“Body’s feeling really good at the moment. I’ve been doing a bit of running and I was obviously going to try and do the Melbourne Marathon in October, but the pin got pulled on that.
“I’ve been keeping fit … I’ll just keep playing as long as the body says I can.
“I’d like to think I can get another two or three years out of myself and go from there.”
Castello said Westmeadows were set to keep most of their senior list intact.
The Tigers recruited strongly on the back of last season’s finals appearance, landing Jayden Ranno, George Nabbout (both Airport West), Belal Abou-Eid (Sunshine), Aaron Vendramini (Craigieburn) and Ferras Merhi (Roxburgh Park).
Big man Michael Gillard is also set to return after making the decision to leave after 2019.
Castello said it was “exciting times” at the club, with several youngsters also coming through.
He confirmed he would return to Division 2 outfit Keilor Park in coming years after hopefully helping the Tigers secure a premiership.
“It’s something I’d love to do. I played all my juniors there (at Keilor Park),” Castello said.
“I’d love to win a flag – I haven’t won a senior premiership as yet, so that’s my first little aim.
“If it’s in three or four years’ time or two years’ time, depending what happens, I’ll definitely finish up there. It’s a good club and Paul (Guicas) at the moment is doing a great job as coach. They’ve got some great numbers and improved the club.”
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