EDFL 2021: Flag favourite Moonee Valley secures long list of recruits

With a long list of recruits and no major outs, the Fog are expected to be the pacesetter in EDFL Division 2. But coach Shanon Carroll has one concern.

Moonee Valley star Luke Ryan on the burst. Picture: Jamie Morey

Moonee Valley was rated a red-hot premiership favourite before the 2020 season was canned.

The Fog remain the team the beat in Essendon District Football League Division 2 in 2021 after securing a long list of key recruits.

But coach Shanon Carroll said the gap had closed considerably as his side prepares for a blockbuster opening-round clash with Burnside Heights on Saturday night.

Carroll has steered Moonee Valley to finals in each of his two seasons at the helm, with the club finishing runner-up two years ago, but he stopped short of declaring it was flag or bust for the Fog.

“The expectations don’t change as far as what we want to achieve, but we know we’re going to have to work bloody hard to get there,” Carroll said.

“A lot of sides have caught up to us with the way they’ve recruited.

“I’ve been around to nearly every opposition side now and either watched them train or play and from what I’ve seen, it’s going to be a really quick brand of football this year across the board.

“The expectations won’t change, but the way we go about things will change and our mentality needs to be stronger now.”

Moonee Valley coach Shanon Carroll. Picture: Josie Hayden

Sam O’Brien (Maribyrnong Park), Alex Gleeson (Hampton), Jordan Whybrow (Aberfeldie), James McLuckie (Melbourne High School Old Boys), Bevan Newell (Hillside), Jack Vivian (PEGS), Nick Sim (Coburg Districts), Mitch Collins, Bill Hansen, Kane Timmins, Liam Sabri (all Modewarre) and Noah Capozza (Aberfeldie) have arrived since the end of the 2019 campaign.

Ruckman Newell has been one of the standouts on the training track after returning to Moonee Valley following stints with Coburg in the VFL, Pascoe Vale and Hillside.

“He’s been in our top 3-5 in all our running components, he’s got great skills and is really aggressive,” Carroll said.

The coach is also excited about the additions of a quartet of players from Bellarine league outfit Modewarre.

Carroll said versatile tall Sabri was “very athletic and a powerful contested mark”.

He described Hansen as an “elite onballer”, while utility Collins and half-back Timmins will also bolster the line-up.

Carroll, who has been named coach of the EDFL Division 2 Team of the Year the past two seasons, said he was focused on educating his players rather than lofty expectations.

He said the Fog had established itself as a “destination club” with almost 100 players on the senior list.

“We’re blessed with an abundance of numbers at the moment and quality depth,” he said.

“If I can really harness that teaching side of things like I did a couple of years ago … the good stuff should take care of itself.

“It’s going to be a bit of an unknown early days. We’re still jelling together.”

While Moonee Valley has an impressive list of existing players, headlined by playing assistant coach Cory McGrath, Braden Padmore, Luke Ryan, Rocky Ferraro, Ned Wilson and Jordan Faba, the next wave of talent is also emerging.

Carroll said the likes of Zac Di Guiseppe, Gabe Clements and recruits Sim and Capozza represented the next generation.

“You’re not going to have to go out searching year after year for a core group,” he said.

“I’m well aware of how lucky I am and that’s why I want to get back to really educating and teaching these guys on different standards.”

The Fog’s away clash with Burnside Heights will start at 6pm on Saturday.