EDFL 2021: Westmeadows looking to gain Muhammad Saad from Airport West
AFL Victoria is likely to settle the impasse between the Division 1 sides after three clearance requests were denied in recent days.
Essendon
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Essendon District Football League Division 1 rivals Airport West and Westmeadows are locked in a battle for the signature of former VFL player Muhammad Saad.
The brother of Carlton dasher Adam had joined the Eagles as its marquee recruit for 2021 from Premier Division outfit Avondale Heights.
Saad’s bid to link with the Tigers has been blocked by Airport West, with clearance requests denied on March 31, April 1 and April 12.
Saad’s cousin Zak was set to take the field for the Eagles this year but has since been given the green light to depart, while another cousin in Omar plays for the Tigers.
Westmeadows president Grant Smith said he understood Airport West’s position, with the matter likely to be settled by AFL Victoria after both clubs failed to break the impasse.
“He’s made it pretty clear to us that he doesn’t really have that strong a connection at Airport West and he’d prefer to come down and play at Westmeadows,” Smith said.
“We submitted a request for appeal to go to AFL Vic to see if we can sort it out.
“We’re just waiting on the response now from (EDFL chief executive) Ian (Kyte) and his ops team to let us know when that will take place.
“But I understand completely Airport West’s view on this. It would be like us being asked to release Robbie Castello. We’re not going to do that without a fight. I wouldn’t expect Airport West to do anything different.
“At the end of the day, we look at the player and what he wants to do and where he wants to play, and at the moment he’s indicating that he’d like to play with us.
“We’ll do whatever we can to secure that and if it doesn’t go our way, he’s just going to have to play where he’s been told to play.”
Saad, who came through Calder Cannons, made six appearances for Coburg’s VFL team in 2019 while Macleod was his feeder club.
He was training with re-formed state league outfit Northern Bullants but was not named in its squad released last week.
The utility last represented West Coburg in the EDFL and was a key addition for Airport West, which had lost the likes of Tyson Young, Koolyn Briggs, George Nabbout, Damandeep Aujla, Anthony Daw, Chris Lawton and Jayden Ranno since the end of the 2019 campaign.
Smith said Saad had not missed a training session in the past “three or four weeks” and added the Tigers were keen for him to be available as soon as possible.
He said Saad’s experience would be important for Westmeadows’ senior group alongside skipper Castello.
“The plan we put in place a few years to build up our 16s, 18s and come up from that pathway is really starting to pay off for us,” Smith said.
“The main thing we’re trying to push, which these guys help with, is that Premier Division footy is a six or seven-day commitment.
“It’s not turn up Tuesday, Thursday and play Saturday.
“Guys like Mo and Robbie and a few of the other guys, they’ve brought that sort of culture to the club.”
Westmeadows was outgunned by flag favourite East Keilor in Round 1, losing by 63 points, and will face Rupertswood away from home this weekend.
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