EDFL 2021: Keilor Park claims first senior victory in 1364 days

After a tumultuous period which included a season in recess, EDFL club Keilor Park made a Good Friday statement in a stunning performance.

James Mifsud hunts the footy for Keilor Park on Good Friday. Picture: Jamie Morey

Keilor Park and Coburg Districts met in the final round of the 2019 home-and-away season.

The Devils were on the receiving end of a 223-point hammering to complete a winless campaign, while their opponents qualified for finals.

The pair opened the 2021 Essendon District Football League Division 2 season on Friday as Keilor Park rolled out a new-look line-up.

In a stunning turnaround, the home side cruised to a 47-point opening-round victory in 30-degree heat on the back of an eight-goal second quarter, 17.12 (114) to 10.7 (67).

It was the club’s first senior victory in staggering 1364 days, its last win coming against Burnside Heights in July, 2017, with Essendon premiership players Mark Harvey and Joe Misiti among those in attendance.

While the Good Friday mauling may have shocked many, coach Paul Guicas said he was “quietly confident” in his group as the Devils issued a warning to the rest of the competition.

Keilor Park's leadership group for 2021 EDFL season: (From left) Matt Brown, Luke Furci, Adam Harris, coach Paul Guicas, captain Daylan Kempster and Riley Bentley. Picture: Shannon Rogers

“We put a lot of hard work in over 18 months, and I knew the sort of side we were going to have,” Guicas said.

“I think it’s just a bit of reward for hard work. We started training the week after Melbourne Cup for this year and I had an average of 40-45 people on the track. I think that helped out with the heat and everything.

“We’re very young … and they listen to you. Not one of my players came and said, ‘I want this amount of money to play for you.’ I’ve got very good quality young kids and good people.

“But it’s a long season. We’ve got to keep our heads down.

“Hopefully we can build on this – that’s what this is about.”

After contesting finals in 2016, Keilor Park returned a 1-17 record the following year before going into recess.

It returned in 2019 and finished 0-15 with a percentage of 11.59.

But the Devils have since had a significant influx of numbers and will field three senior sides this year, underlining their progress.

“I had a lady come up to me (after the win), I didn’t know who she was,” Guicas said. “She was over 70 years old, had a tear in her eye, and said, ‘Paul, it’s the first time in four years I’ve actually (attended a game).’ She said she’d been around since the footy club was formed and she just said thank you, but it’s a team effort.”

Keilor Park piled on four goals in the last five minutes of the second term to establish a 47-point lead at the main break, an advantage they protected in the second half.

Skipper Daylan Kempster set the tone through the midfield and in the forward half, while Jake Gatto impressed in his duel with Tom Gleeson despite the Coburg Districts playing coach’s five-goal haul.

Daniel Mifsud and Luke Conidi each contributed five majors for the winners.

“It was a really good team effort,” Guicas said.

“There was not one player who I thought struggled.”

Guicas said he had already turned his attention to the Devils’ next match against 2018 grand finalist East Sunbury on April 17.