EDFL 2021: Westmeadows coach Mo Kaakour explains practice match mauling

Westmeadows coach Mo Kaakour addresses his team’s hefty defeat to EDFL power Keilor in much-talked about practice match.

Westmeadows coach Mo Kaakour said his club took plenty of positives despite the scoreline. Picture: Rob Leeson

It may have been a practice match but the lopsided scoreline was in the spotlight.

Essendon District Football League Premier Division power Keilor took on Division 1 club Westmeadows in a fixture expected to generate few headlines at Craigieburn’s Highgate Reserve on Saturday.

The Blues completed an undefeated season in 2019, while the Tigers bowed out in the opening week of finals.

While Keilor was expected to be too strong, it ultimately prevailed by 150 points, 24.16 (160) to 1.4 (10).

It led to questions why Westmeadows would bother confronting the well-drilled Blues, who have assembled a star-studded line-up.

Others asked how the match benefited Mick McGuane’s side’s preparations for the season proper.

But Tigers coach Mo Kaakour was not concerned by the result, revealing he almost rolled out a reserves team for the hitout.

In contrast, Keilor was almost full strength, with champion forward Dean Galea a notable out.

“We kind of expected a bit of a blowout,” Kaakour said.

“Playing over the long weekend, we had 22 players unavailable and there were probably 13 who could walk into the Round 1 side that didn’t play.

“Obviously Keilor is a really good outfit and a powerful outfit, and that’s why they’re the premiers.

“A lot of guys from outside the footy club have said to me, ‘Why play against Keilor?’ It’s just a good learning experience for our kids to be out there and know what the challenges are to be able to play at that top flight (level).

“The positives were we played a young group and unearthed some kids. Our youngest I think was 17 years of age. The experience from a game like that is just huge.”

Kaakour nominated youngsters Daniel Spencer and Daniel O’Kearney as his team’s standouts.

Westmeadows is expected to figure strongly in Division 1 this season, and Kaakour said it would move on quickly.

“Not fussed at all about the result. We’ll get back to training this week, keep it all positive leading up to the practice game with Echuca,” he said.

“It will be a good chance to get away and create a bit of a bond up there.”