EDFL: How Airport West has responded to horror run with injury

With “crunch time” looming and threatening to end its season, Airport West have thrived under pressure. Now they’re a side who looms as a danger in the run home. Here’s why.

Airport West picked up a crucial win against Maribyrnong Park.

Airport West could be about to go from “decimated” to dangerous in the final month of the Essendon District league season.

After fielding what coach Brent Taylor described as the “strongest team we’ve put on the park” this season, the Eagles secured a 25-point EDFL Premier Division win over Maribyrnong Park on Saturday afternoon.

It was a result which blew the top-five race wide open with Essendon Doutta Stars now sitting fifth on percentage ahead of both sides while Pascoe Vale is one game further back.

“For a long period of the year, we’ve been decimated by injury,” Taylor said.

“And those guys have been out for long periods. We’ve had injuries to some of our most important players like Ned Gentile, Tyson Young, those type of guys.

“We thought we started to play some of our best footy against Keilor a few weeks ago.

“We were beaten but we were right in it. Then against Aberfeldie we were in front late before they got on top of us. Two in a row is really important.

“I’ve been looking at the ladder and knew crunch time was coming and we’ve managed to respond to that.”

With consistent changes throughout the season, several young Eagles have taken big steps in their development.

Last year’s leading goalkicker Luca Muratore has shone when available after earning a VFL opportunity with Footscray at the start of the season.

Ty Macumber played his 250th game of footy over the weekend despite only being 20.

“One of the positives out of the injuries is the kids have been able to develop against high quality opposition,” Taylor said.

“Cooper Janevski is a young key forward who is averaging about two goals a game in the senior side. Jack Brooker is another junior who made his debut a few weeks ago.”

Airport West will face the Stars this weekend in what Taylor has described as “basically an elimination final”.

Games against Strathmore, Pascoe Vale and Deer Park will then come to round out the season.

Taylor said scoreboard pressure and defensive structure remain two of the Eagles’ most important areas to focus on.

STRATHMORE’S STATEMENT

Strathmore proved why the EDFL Premier Division top-three is significantly ahead of the rest of the competition with a 76-point thumping of fourth-placed Deer Park. The Mores won every quarter in a dominant display on the road as Andrew Gallucci finished as his side’s leading goalkicker with three majors. Hugh Allison, Sam Hayes, Lucas Cavallaro, Luke Jarrad and Jesse Horton were all named among the better players.

HEIGHTS CHASE DOUBLE CHANCE

Avondale Heights remain in the hunt for the Division 1 top-three hunt after overcoming Tullamarine by 25 points on the weekend. Colm Brennan put together an impressive performance with four goals to be the best player on the ground. Heights are percentage behind Hillside who sit third.