EDFL 2021: Sunbury Kangaroos secure champion forward Saad Saad

A man with almost 900 goals to his name in country football will return to the EDFL in 2021.

Saad Saad is set to make a big impact at the Kangaroos. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Saad Saad’s goalkicking exploits in country football have attracted no shortage of headlines.

The prolific forward kicked almost 900 goals for Seymour in the Goulburn Valley league, booting more than 100 majors in a season on multiple occasions.

Saad has signed on with Sunbury Kangaroos for this season, and coach Leigh Sporle has little doubt his star recruit can be a force in Essendon District Football League Division 1.

Sporle said Saad was also capable of making an impact through the middle of the ground.

“He’s just going to be so handy for the kids,” Sporle said.

“He’s going to kick goals, no doubt about it.

“He’s nearing the end of his career and the wisdom he’ll be able to share will be brilliant.

“Just having him on the list is brilliant.”

Saad’s last season was with Mallee Eagles in the Central Murray league in 2018, where he finished with 43 goals from 12 appearances.

He booted 61 majors from the same number of games for Coburg Districts in EDFL Division 2 in 2016.

Saad’s close friends Ferras Merhi and Sam Saad have also arrived at the Kangaroos.

Ruckman Merhi had signed with Westmeadows for 2020 and brings ample experience, having featured in flags for West Coburg, Hadfield and Roxburgh Park.

Ferras Merhi during his days at Roxburgh Park. Picture: Hamish Blair

He will also provide vital support for gun Kangaroos big man Brenton Sutherland, who shouldered much of the workload in the centre circle as the club claimed the Division 2 premiership in its maiden EDFL campaign in 2019.

Sam Saad is also a premiership winner at Hadfield and Roxburgh Park and is capable of causing headaches for opposition defenders.

The trio last played together at Coburg Districts five years ago.

“They all know each other and were keen to play with each other,” Sporle said.

“It’s a win-win for them and us.”

Sporle said it was important for the Kangaroos to bolster their experience as they prepare to compete in a higher division.

Since the 2019 success, the Kangaroos have waved goodbye to premiership players Tierone Cuffe, Matthew Quigley, Lachlan Baddeley, Jake Young, Christian Monaco, Jeremy Murphy, Jared Pretty, Brad Slater and Matt Welsh.

On the plus side, Sutherland, Daniel Gregory, Mitch Streiff, Matthew Leonard, Anthony Leonard, John Corso, Mitchell Kook and Lachlan Kaye are among those to re-sign, along with 2020 recruits Josh Kanellos, Zach McCasker and William Healy.

“We wanted to look at the locals first and foremost,” Sporle said.

“There’s still a few that we’re talking to, but I guess we went as hard as we could for the homegrowns and then from there we looked at our list and we were young.

“Our under-18s look really strong too. For me as a coach … the next three or four years is going to be really exciting.

“No one has played footy for so long, and then we’ve gone up a division.

“It’s going to be an interesting year to see where we land, but we’re starting to get a good little side together.”

Kangaroos life member Sporle was appointed to the top last August, replacing Anthony Leydin.

Sunbury Kangaroos will face Roxburgh Park in the opening round on April 10.