EDFL 2021: Mick McGuane’s Keilor loads up for Premier Division season
Plenty of big-name recruits have landed in the EDFL’s top flight as the Blues prepare to defend their 2019 flag. Here’s our club-by-club analysis.
Essendon
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Clubs may have had a season off but the Essendon District Football League Premier Division ladder could take on a familiar look in 2021 if our predictions come to fruition.
2019 premier Keilor, 2018 premier Aberfeldie and Strathmore are expected to set the pace again, just as they have for the past two seasons.
The Blues and Abers have contested the past two grand finals, while the Mores have lost back-to-back preliminary finals – by a combined margin of five points.
Pascoe Vale and Greenvale are both finals contenders, while Maribyrnong Park could also make a charge.
It is difficult to see any other club threatening, but after a lengthy break and uncertainty surrounding how players will cope with the week-to-week demands of football, there is certain to be a few curveballs.
Keilor and Strathmore will kick off the season on Good Friday before the remaining clubs start their campaigns on April 10.
Greenvale will host rival Aberfeldie, Glenroy faces Maribyrnong Park, Avondale Heights tackle Pascoe Vale and Craigieburn meets Essendon Doutta Stars in the other Round 1 fixtures.
Aberfeldie
Coach: Adam Potter
2019 finish: Second
Ins: Tye Browning (Craigieburn), Adam Marcon (West Preston-Lakeside), Jake Conolan (Gisborne), David Fahey (PEGS), Peter Faulks (Echuca), Lachlan Langwell (East Keilor), Nick Meese (Williamstown VFL), Lucas Rocci (Werribee Districts), Jack Hayward (Trentham District)
Outs: Jorden Braddy, Jaryd Cachia, Josh Pound, Luke Blackwell, Jacob Craven, Jess Rush, Mitch Andrews
Prediction: Top three
The powerhouse club has contested the past seven grand finals (winning flags in 2015, 2017 and 2018), and there’s every chance it will feature again this year.
While some big names are on the list of outs, headlined by the retired Luke Blackwell, Abers have secured arguably the biggest recruit of any club in former VFL champion Meese.
Throw in former AFL-listed player Faulks and ex-state league defender Fahey with young guns Browning and Rocci, and it’s a quality batch of ins. It is unlikely the club will see much of Williamstown star Marcon, but he will be a massive inclusion if available.
Conolan has booted 115 goals from 78 games for Gisborne in the past five seasons, while Hayward is also a proven senior footballer. Expect Aberfeldie to go deep under three-time premiership coach Potter.
Avondale Heights
Coach: Paddy Byrne (new)
2019 finish: Ninth
Ins: Danko Bzenic (Montmorency), James Collingridge (Maribyrnong Park), Nathan Croft (Riddell), Matthew Darby (Riddell), Aaron Gundry (South Bendigo), Harrison Macreadie (Carlton), Dominic Makur (Mallee Eagles), Cameron Harris (returning)
Outs: Adam Harris, Hisham Kerbatieh, Scott Harding, Luke Edwards, Jake Edwards, Ben Cosgriff, Sam Zito
Prediction: 6-9
The Heights have reason to be optimistic for 2021 after securing a nice list of signings while retaining the majority of their senior squad.
The club’s inability to retain players has hurt it in recent seasons, but new coach Byrne has a relatively stable line-up to work with and while finals may not happen this year, Avondale Heights appears on the right track.
Former Carlton backman Macreadie will provide a significant boost when not required at VFL level, while the remaining recruits are all set to play big roles.
The Heights will miss Kerbatieh’s class, but they have enough talent to cause plenty of headaches for opposition sides.
Craigieburn
Coach: Lance Whitnall
2019 finish: Division 1 premier
Ins: Micheal Harris (Doveton Eagles), Dylan Humm (Laurimar), Rowen Pickett (Heathmere)
Outs: Jacob Austin, Steven Boyall, Tye Browning, Jesse Davies, Bryce Kimuliatis, Sam Laffan, Jacob McNicol, Dom Micallef, Nathan Reichelt, Luke Reichelt, Bryson Scales, Shannon Smith, Aaron Vendramini, Corey Viani, Josh Young, Christian McErlain, Ryan Bongetti
Prediction: Last
Craigieburn provided plenty of thrills during the 2019 Division 1 finals series, with its speed proving too much for rivals on the wide expanses of Windy Hill.
But plenty has changed since then with nine premiership stars departing, leaving the Eagles vulnerable in their return to Premier Division.
While the likes of Brock Chircop, Billy Morrison, Liam Middleton and Ben Fynch remain, too much talent has exited for the club to make a meaningful impact against the competition’s elite.
Essendon Doutta Stars
Coach: Paul Barnard (new)
2019 finish: Seventh
Ins: Matthew D’Angelo (Northern Saints), James El Moussalli (Old Carey Grammarians), James Harrold (East Fremantle), Brady Rowles (Sydney Swans), Gavin Urquhart (Riddell)
Outs: Patrick Brookes, Aaron Di Matteo, Kyle Hardingham, Mitchell Jensen, Bruno Laguda, Charles Lill, Jordan Rogers, Brandon Sarich, Tom Wallis, Patrick Macdonough, Ivan Pavlovic, Jordan Angus
Prediction: 7-9
The Stars are set to field a young line-up under new coach Barnard, with the likes of Lill, Wallis, Hardingham, Rogers and Jensen leaving massive holes.
They have also lost almost all of their 2020 recruits, meaning a tough season looms.
But on the plus side, the inclusions will make them more competitive, with Urquhart, Rowles, Harrold and El Moussalli all having AFL or state league experience. Throw in Jordan Schroder, Campbell Wearne, Alex Boyse and some emerging players, and the Stars are more-than capable of being competitive.
They will need to improve in the attacking half to improve on their 2019 result, with no player finishing with more than 17 goals two years ago. A fit Boyse would be a major boost.
Glenroy
Coach: Ross Terranova
2019 finish: Eighth
Ins: Ali Ahmad (Pascoe Vale), Tyler Bell (Shepparton Bears), Jack Bradford (Seymour), William Humphreys (La Trobe University), Eamonn McCuskey (Heidelberg), Nick Meehan (St Kevin’s), Tom Mooney (La Trobe University), Caine Schofield (East Sunbury), Jake Young (Sunbury Kangaroos), Jacob Grigg (Ouyen United) Nathan Gardiner (Bundoora), Billy Goodwin (Whittlesea), Will Luhrs (La Trobe University), Milad Almatrah (Bundoora), Austin Hogan (Nullawil) Liam Di Martino (Keilor)
Outs: Tom Atwell, Peter Di Cecco, Steven Golding, Tom McIntosh, Trent Fisher, Alex Galie, Tyson Lever, Jack Sandric, Joshua Trembearth, Jayden Walker, Adam Winter, Jay O’Donoghue
Prediction: 7-9
The Roys have waved goodbye to six members of their 2017 premiership side since they last took the field in an official match, with Winter’s departure significant.
Glenroy has claimed four wins in each of the past two seasons in the top flight and will be looking to improve on that tally after suffering several key injuries during the 2019 season.
St Kevin’s premiership player Meehan will bring valuable experience to the Roys, while McCuskey, Young, Bell and Schofield are other important ins.
If Terranova can keep his best side on the park more often than not, he should expect some encouraging results.
Greenvale
Coach: Darren Bewick (new)
2019 finish: Fifth
Ins: Alex Galie (Glenroy), Adam Meiorin (Airport West), Mitchell Podhajski (Aberfeldie), Luke Ranno, James Rohan, Dean Smith (all Powelltown), Tyson Young (Airport West), Wade Derksen (Sunbury Lions)
Outs: Tom Cleary, Matthew Bonello, Cody Lynch, Zach McCasker, Nicholas Parthenopoulos, Tallan Wright
Prediction: 4-6
The Jets boast as many big names as almost any side, but they have been unable to assemble their best 22 as often as required in recent seasons.
With ex-AFL pair Addam Maric and Courtenay Dempsey both set for long lay-offs after pre-season injuries, Greenvale deserves a slice of fortune.
Utility Young is a key in and is set to spend more time in the midfield, while livewire Derksen and premiership players Rohan and Smith should all make a difference after the club missed finals two years ago. Josh Smith, who finished second in the best-and-fairest in 2019 before joining Heidelberg, will also return.
The Jets boast no shortage of prime movers, with skipper Addam Maric, Nick Maric, Dempsey, Nat Caruso, Fort Causo, Jacob Thompson, Sam Zumbo and Fabian Deluca among the EDFL’s leading players, but how often they are available will determine the club’s fortunes.
Keilor
Coach: Mick McGuane
2019 finish: Premier
Ins: Michael Ajaimy (Hillside), Andrew Browne (Mansfield), Luke Cartelli (Ocean Grove), Adam Dunkley (UNSW Eastern Suburbs Bulldogs), Corey Ellis (Gold Coast Suns), Owen King (Yarraville-Seddon), Kyle O’Connor (Bell Park), Mark Polycarpou (Taylors Lakes), Paul Sahlberg, Michael Sahlberg (both Riddell), Patrick Veszpremi (Pascoe Vale), Darcy Cassar (returning)
Outs: Billy Iles, Damien Cavka, Ben Christodoulou, Brock McGregor, Ben McManus, Zak Wunhym
Prediction: Top two
Keilor completed an undefeated season in 2019 with the likes of Nick O’Kearney, Jesse Wallin and the now departed Cavka and McGregor on the sidelines for the grand final as McGuane became a three-time premiership coach in the EDFL.
The Blues have since added three ex-AFL players in returning Reynolds medallist Browne, Veszpremi and VFL-listed Ellis, while Cartelli and Paul Sahlberg are proven performers at local level.
The loss of Team of the Year defender Iles, who is having a crack in the SANFL ranks, will hurt.
But the existing blue-chip talent, headlined by the competition’s best player Kane Barbuto and Dean Galea, combined with the recruits will make Keilor very hard to topple again in 2021.
Maribyrnong Park
Coach: Brad Swain (new)
2019 finish: Sixth
Ins: Tom Baravi (West Coburg), Josh Smithson (North Haven, SA), Mitchell Comben (Kyneton), Jonah Horo (Strathmore), Patrick McCarthy (Kyneton), Ismail Moussa (Avondale Heights), Chris Prowse, Nicholas Prowse (both Old Xaverians), Connor Maher (Caroline Springs)
Outs: Charles Bance, James Breust, James Collingridge, Jock Cornell, Bradley Graham, Darcy Kennedy, Mark Mazzeo, John McKenzie, Nathan McLellan, Rhys Mutch, Koe Ngawati, Sam O’Brien, Harrison O’Meara
Prediction: 5-7
The Lions impressed in 2019 despite finishing outside the top four, logging seven wins with a new-look team after being tipped as a contender for relegation.
There have been more changes since. Reigning best-and-fairest and ex-skipper McKenzie is a big loss, while Breust and Cornell were also important players.
But the Prowse brothers will add valuable height to a young line-up, while midfielder Baravi returns after finishing runner-up in the Hutchison Medal two years ago. Young guns George Abboud, Matt Gaul and Josh Cole will likely benefit from Baravi’s arrival, while new captain Scott Clarke is one of the stars of the competition.
New coach Swain has plenty to work with and will be looking to test the leading sides as the club builds for the future.
Pascoe Vale
Coach: Digby Morrell
2019 finish: Fourth
Ins: Paul Ahern (North Melbourne), Damandeep Aujla (Airport West), Lucas Failli (Caroline Springs), Daniel Gennaccaro (Northern Saints), Sam Godden, Nicholas Gooch (both Waratah), Daniel Guccione (Bundoora), Corey Le Favi (Airport West), Nicholas Linton (Nhill & District), Nicholas Parthenopoulos (Greenvale), Gerard Sharrock (UHS-VU), Michael Sikora (Doveton)
Outs: Luke Foster, Daniel Archer, Daniel Johncock, Patrick Veszpremi, Sean Gregory, James Gregory, Nicholas Keating, Jack Whaley
Prediction: 4-5
Pascoe Vale’s 2019 season ended with a forgettable loss to Strathmore in the elimination final, showing it has a long way to go deep into finals.
The Panthers also lost to reigning premier Keilor twice by a combined margin of 13 points, showing their best is capable of testing any opposition.
It means rivals should be wary of a side which has added some key reinforcements, including ex-AFL man Ahern (when not on VFL duties), Aujla, Parthenopoulos, Linton and Sikora. While some quality is gone, namely Foster, the club is brimming with optimism as it chases a maiden flag in the top flight.
Pascoe Vale is confident in its recruits, believing at least seven will slot into the best 22, while Morrell had led two EDFL clubs to flags. Can he make it three?
Strathmore
Coach: Matt Horne
2019 finish: Third
Ins: Floyd Bollinghaus, William Donaghey (both Wodonga Raiders), Tierone Cuffe (Sunbury Kangaroos), Tom Denning (St Joseph’s), Brock Egglestone (Therry Penola), Matthew Knight (Rupertswood), Adam Winter (Glenroy)
Outs: Luke Baniowski, Tom Drake
Prediction: Top three
The Mores are the biggest threat to Keilor and Aberfeldie’s stranglehold on the competition.
After heartbreaking consecutive preliminary final defeats, the club has declared near enough is not good enough as it chases its first premiership since 2014.
Bollinghaus and Winter bolster the forward line, Knight when best afield in Strathmore’s last grand final victory, while no big names have left. Adam Iacobucci, Nick O’Brien and Luke Jarrad are also among the EDFL’s leading players.
The Mores boast an enviable mix of seasoned guns and emerging stars and are well-coached. Don’t be surprised if they advance to the final game of the season.
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