EDFL 2021: Burnside Heights star Adam Sullivan headlines injury list
The injury-hit Bears are due for some good fortune with one EDFL star already ruled out for the 2021 season.
Essendon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Essendon. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The bad news started for Burnside Heights before the first bounce of 2021.
Reigning best-and-fairest winner Adam Sullivan and recruit James Mancuso both suffered season-ending knee injuries in the weeks leading up to the opening round of the Essendon District Football League Division 2 season.
Matthew Busuttil also sustained a broken collarbone outside of football during pre-season, with the Bears preparing for him to be sidelined all year.
Then gun forward Josh Covelli (hamstring), Tim Withers (calf) and Theodore Sapountzis (rolled ankle) went down against Oak Park in Round 2.
The Likes of Jordan Hughes, Kristian Rocci, Nick Morda and Vincent Angelone have also missed games this season.
Throw in the fact senior regulars Logan Clegg, Micael Newport and Mark Tzinis are taking a break, while Matthew Peterlechner has crossed to Maribyrnong Park, and the reasons for Burnside Heights’ 1-2 start to the campaign become more obvious.
President Justin Peagram said the cancelled 2020 season had been a factor in the club’s horror injury run.
“I think some of it is just due to lack of playing,” Peagram said.
“All clubs will have it at some time unfortunately, but we had it early.”
The absence of star midfielder Sullivan, who finished equal fourth in the league medal in 2019 and was named in the Team in the Year, is a hammer blow.
But Peagram said recruit Sebastian Gatherer could prove a handy replacement.
“He’s probably a little bit smaller than ‘Sulli’ but a younger version,” Peagram said.
“He’s still finding his feet, but he’ll definitely be a good replacement.
“But when you’re missing your best-and-fairest … it’s always a big hole to fill.”
Prolific goalkicker Covelli is likely to return against Northern Saints on May 15 after the Bears have a bye.
But Peagram said Covelli was not certain to miss this weekend’s clash against East Sunbury given his history of recovering swiftly.
“Josh has a habit of mending quite quick,” he said.
“People may not think so, but he does look after himself.
“He puts a fair bit of rehab when he does get injured. We’re not expecting miracles, but we’re working on the basis he’ll be back for the Northern Saints game.”
After dropping its first two matches against undefeated pair Moonee Valley (90 points) and Oak Park (58 points), Burnside Heights rebounded with a 27-point win over winless Coburg Districts on Saturday.
The Bears booted five goals to two in the last term after leading by eight points at the final change.
They will attempt to topple East Sunbury for the first time since 2014 on Saturday.
“Josh aside, we think we’ll have a pretty full and fit team, so hopefully we’ll be OK,” Peagram said.
“Hopefully our bad luck’s done and we start to play some good footy.
“We’ve got quite a few young kids who will be pushing for senior selection in coming weeks. Hopefully that steadies the ship with the seniors and gives us the boost that we need.”
How ex-AFL player fits into Horne’s Moonee Valley plan
New Moonee Valley coach Andrew Horne has outlined his plans for the EDFL club as with the start of his reign bolstered by an ex-AFL player.
Every signing of the EDFL off-season
The EDFL off-season has only just started but some clubs have already well and truly started making moves for 2025. Keep up to date with every signing in our signing tracker.