EDFL 2021: Avondale Heights set to sign gun goalkicker

An Essendon District Football League club is set to get a major boost by gaining a VFL premiership winner and century goal-scorer.

Patrick Rose (right) celebrates a goal with close friend Matt Cravino. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Avondale Heights’ flying start to the Essendon District Football League Premier Division season is set to be boosted by the return of a champion forward.

The Heights have submitted a clearance to regain the services of sharpshooter Patrick Rose, who has made six appearances for Division 1 outfit Taylors Lakes this season.

The former Western Bulldogs rookie and Port Melbourne VFL premiership star has expressed his desire to finish his career at his former club, which sits fourth on the ladder with a 5-2 record as it chases its first finals berth since 2014.

Rose booted 390 goals from 92 games in his previous five-year stint at Avondale Heights from 2013-2017.

He returned 106 majors from 19 matches in a standout 2013 campaign and earned four Team of the Year nods.

Rose then bagged 135 goals – 81 in 2018 and 54 in 2019 – in two seasons with Western Region league club Altona.

Patrick Rose in action during his days at Altona. Picture: Local Legends Photography

He has 22 goals for the winless Lions in the second tier in 2021, including a seven-goal haul against Roxburgh Park.

“One of our issues is probably kicking enough goals,” Heights coach Paddy Byrne said.

“He’s really good mates with Matty Cravino, Justin Morris and those boys. What he said to me was he wanted to finish his career with his mates.

“Whether we will get another year out of him, who knows.

“But he’ll certainly be a good addition. I’m not expecting him to kick bags of goals every week, but I think he can add two or three a week, which is going to help us.”

If Rose is given the green light to depart Taylors Lakes, he will demand a quality defender and free up the likes of Danko Bzenic (11 goals this season) and Morris (10).

The Heights are the fourth highest scoring team in Premier Division this season despite the absence of a prolific goal-scorer.

Byrne said Rose’s knowledge would be invaluable for his young senior line-up.

“We’ve got a few developing young forwards,” he said.

“One thing he’s always been good at, and I watched him a few times even when he was down at Altona, he knows where to go and he’s a pretty good kick of the sherrin.

“He’ll only need a few opportunities to actually hit the scoreboard.”

Byrne said Rose remained capable of being a valuable contributor as he prepares to return to the EDFL’s top flight for the first time in four years.

“Obviously the speed’s quicker than Division 1, but as long as the supporters aren’t expecting him to do what he did at Avondale before, I think he’ll be fine,” he said.

“As long as he inputs offensively and defensively to what we’re trying to do, that’s just as important to me as how many goals he kicks to be honest.”

The Heights will host ladder-leader Strathmore in Round 8.