Brent Taylor speaks on his hopes for Airport West
Airport West coach Brent Taylor promised some exciting additions and the Eagles’ recruiting is off to a hot start with three fresh faces.
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New Airport West coach Brent Taylor promised exciting recruits and the Eagles are flying to start the EDFL off-season.
The Premier Division club have unveiled several recruits in recent days as the playing list begins to take shape under Taylor.
It all started with the arrival with Michael Edwards from Deer Park.
Edwards makes the move after just one season where he missed out on selection in the Lions’ Division 1 premiership.
“Welcome Mick to Airport West. Mick previously made the RDFL team of the year in 2022. Culminating in a top two league medal finish,” the club said.
“Mick spent 2023 with Deer Park and the Northern Bullants and looks to bring a hard contested edge to our midfield for 2024.”
The other two recruits are also from fellow EDFL clubs with John Delacoe stepping up from Division 2 with Coburg Districts.
Meanwhile, Pascoe Vale young gun Ahmed Zahraman will take his first steps in senior footy with the Eagles.
Zahraman booted 65 goals for the Panthers’ under-18 premiership winning team.
EARLIER
New Airport West coach Brent Taylor believes the EDFL club is perfectly placed to go to another level in 2024.
The Eagles enjoyed an impressive return to Premier Division this year — finishing in seventh position with six wins to their name — under the departing Trent Rogers.
Taylor is no stranger to the Airport West set-up either with strong family connections to the club.
He also previously coached the club’s under-18 teams in 2015 and 2016 before earning opportunities at Coburg VFL, Calder Cannons, Western Jets and with Vic Metro.
“It’s a really exciting time to be part of Airport West,” Taylor said.
“I initially started coaching after my playing career ended due to injury. A lot of the guys I had in the under-18s are now senior players so I’ve got that pre-existing relationship which is a good starting point.
“I’m coming into a club that’s in a really strong position and I’m confident we’re going to be able to continue building on that.
“We want to get back into the top-four and play finals footy.”
Taylor said he was excited by the cub’s core group of players who sat between the ages of 18 to 25.
Some of those remain in discussions with VFL clubs as to whether they’ll commit to another season of state league footy in 2024.
“There’s a really good playing list to work with,” Taylor said.
“I’d like to add some guys in that 25 to 30 age bracket with some signings in the next few weeks. Those experienced bodies can make a major difference at this level.
“We’ll have over 10 guys come through from the under-18s which is going to put us in an even better position moving forward as a club.”
Frank Papaleo will be one of Taylor’s senior assistants with Steve Glenn returning to the club after a year with the Northern Bullants.
Simon Canaqali (reserves), Dom Corsino (under-18s) and Marcus Barclay (senior women) are the club’s other coaching appointments.
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