EDFL 2021: Keilor Park pumped for Division 2 Good Friday fixture
Keilor Park was in recess three years ago. Now it is preparing to field three senior sides ahead of a historic Good Friday fixture.
Essendon
Don't miss out on the headlines from Essendon. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Keilor Park will roll out a new-look side in Friday’s historic clash against Coburg Districts as it looks to establish itself as force in Essendon District Football League Division 2 after a barren period.
The Devils went into recess in 2018 before returning with one senior team in 2019 and enduring a winless season.
But optimism is rife under new coach Paul Guicas, with the club welcoming a long list of recruits ahead of the first Good Friday fixture in Division 2.
While Keilor Park is coming from a long way back, Guicas said it had high expectations for 2021.
The Devils will field three senior teams for the first time and have turned their attention to continuing that momentum on the ground.
“I’m quietly confident the sky’s the limit for us,” Guicas said.
“When the club spoke to me (after the 2019 season), they said, ‘Give us three or four wins and we’ll be happy.’
“I think I’ve recruited really well for the competition itself. I’ve recruited a few guys who have played Premier reserves … where they’re sitting there playing twos and not getting paid any money.
“I’ve coached a few of those guys in the past as well.
“We’re young and we’re quick and a lot of people won’t know the players that we’ve got.
“I’m not going to say where we’re going to finish, but I’m really, really confident we’ll be competitive. Once you’re competitive, you win a few games.”
Keilor Park has appointed Daylan Kempster as skipper, with the gun utility returning to his junior club before the cancelled 2020 campaign.
Kempster played for Sunbury Lions in 2019 and kicked 21 goals from 15 games for Maribyrnong Park in the EDFL’s top flight the previous year. He also had stints with VFL sides Williamstown and Frankston.
“He leads more with his actions on the ground,” Guicas said.
“I could play him forward, back, key position and I could run him through the middle. He’s super fit, strong. We’re looking to play him wherever we need to.”
Jarryd Dawson (Braybrook), Adam Harris (Avondale Heights), James Guicas (East Keilor), Hayden McLardy (PEGS), James Mifsud (Hillside) and Daniel Mifsud (Caroline Springs) are other key inclusions.
Reigning best-and-fairest winner Jake Gatto has also returned after joining Boolarra for 2020.
Guicas said Friday’s match at Keilor Park Reserve was significant for the club.
“We want to reintroduce ourselves to the EDFL,” he said.
“We’re a whole new footy club with different players. We just want to be competitive, and I know that we will be.
“We’re really excited to put a really good show on.
“From having one team to having three, the club’s worked really, really hard. We’re looking forward to it.”
The Good Friday match, which starts at 5pm, is the last of a triple header.
Keilor will face Strathmore in Premier Division, while Hillside and Taylors Lakes meet in Division 1, with both games kicking off at 2.15pm.
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.
Local footy rumour mill: The race for ex-AFL big man
An ex-AFL man mountain appears to be the most in-demand name in the game as the local footy trading season swings into overdrive. Here are all the latest whispers from around the leagues.