EDFL 2021: East Keilor coach Pat Christofi eyeing Division 1 premiership
The Essendon District Football League boss says he is happy to embrace the pressure as his team chases promotion in 2021.
Essendon
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East Keilor coach Pat Christofi has declared he will stand aside if his star-studded side fails to claim this year’s Essendon District Football League Division 1 premiership.
Christofi said his comments were based on the Cougars having their senior squad fit and available for most of the campaign, with a horror run of injuries the only factor which would force him to reconsider.
East Keilor qualified for the grand final in 2019 and will enter this season as a red-hot favourite to earn promotion to Premier Division after adding several stars to an already strong list.
Christofi said he would have underachieved as a coach if his team falls short of the ultimate prize.
He nominated West Coburg, which has secured ex-AFL pair Lynden Dunn and Daniel Archer since 2019, as a leading contender, while Tullamarine and Westmeadows qualified for finals two years ago and have also bolstered their lists.
“If I expect my players to reach the ultimate level, I should be expecting the same from myself,” Christofi said.
“If I don’t, it’s hypocritical and I’m not afraid or shying away from the fact I’m here to win premierships. If I can’t do it with the list I’ve got, I’m either doing something wrong or we’ve had 20 injuries.
“I can’t see why we can’t reach our ultimate goal, but we’ve got some serious challenges there because I rate West Coburg extremely highly. They’re going to be very tough, but the pressure’s on me … I like it.
“Normally coaches would find excuses as to why it hasn’t happened.
“If I can’t mould that side to play the brand of footy I expect, well where does the buck stop? It stops with me, so I’m happy to take on that on.”
The Cougars’ enviable list of recruits is headlined by Heath Shaw, who made 325 appearances for GWS Giants and Collingwood at the elite level.
Chris Stewart (Deer Park), Paul Scanlon, Tim Bongetti (both Pines), Fabian Brancatisano (Sunshine), Jack Burns (Hillside), Lachlan Calder (St Albans), Brandon Coletta (Hillside), Nicholas Grigg (Rupertswood), Joshua Klaromenos (Hillside), Bruno Laguda (Essendon Doutta Stars), Marc Lock (Old Carey Grammarians), Mark Mazzeo (Maribyrnong Park), Victor Micallef and Lockie Rayner (both Hillside) are also notable inclusions, leaving Christofi with no shortage of selection headaches.
But he said East Keilor remained focused on achieving its objective to earn a place in the EDFL’s top division.
“We’ve only got one goal, it’s been planned for a while, and that’s to get to that top level,” Christofi said.
“I’m not afraid of standing down because I don’t believe that’s going to happen.”
The Cougars will face Westmeadows at Willowbrook Reserve in Round 1 on April 10.
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