Airport West shut out of finals race after third-straight loss in EDFL Premier Division
A YEAR after playing off in a preliminary final, Airport West has been shut out of the 2014 finals race in the Essendon District Football League.
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A YEAR after playing off in a preliminary final, Airport West has been shut out of the 2014 finals race in the Essendon District Football League.
The finals flame was still been burning dimly going into the weekend, but a third-straight loss to Strathmore snuffed out any slim hopes the Eagles had.
The defeat came by 43 points but the game was virtually over by half-time.
After making such an impressive return to Premier Division last year, the result makes for a disappointing season for Airport West, which has had little go its way.
“We spoke the other night at the club with a few boys and someone said, ‘Who ran over the black cat?’,” Eagles coach Adam Contessa said.
“We recruited what we thought were some quality players. Josh Houlihan’s had a bulging disc in the back and hasn’t played a game and won’t play a game.
“We recruited Ryan Gale from Port Melbourne who’s played four (games), two of those he came off injured. Marcus (Kenny) has been out the last few games. We’re not making excuses because we beat Avondale without Marcus two weeks earlier. But we’ve just been unlucky.”
Contessa described last weekend’s 101-point loss to Northern Saints as the club’s “worst game in three years”, adding depth was an issue that would have to be addressed over the off-season.
“I think the one thing that really stands out is depth,” he said.
“That’s something that we’re really lacking. When you do lose some quality players, the guys that you’re replacing them with, if they’re serviceable for the day, we generally have a good result.
“But if they’re not up to it on the day, then the opposition tend to cash-in.”
Meanwhile on Saturday, the Hislop brothers – Zach and Tom – starred as Aberfeldie took care of Northern Saints by 96 points.
Greenvale kept its finals hopes alive with a 42-point win over Pascoe Vale, Keilor held on to an eight-point win over Maribyrnong Park and Avondale Heights had a 51-point triumph over Essendon Doutta Stars.