EDFL: Mick McGuane’s Keilor deliver ultimate round 1 statement

After an off-season hampered by salary cap breaches, Mick McGuane’s Keilor delivered an almighty statement to start the season. Here’s why they might be even better.

Keilor made a dominant start to the season. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Arriving at Joe Brown Oval on Saturday afternoon, you felt it was just another day of business for the Keilor Football Club.

Back in action after a rollercoaster off-season, where they were stripped of the 2023 premiership for salary breaches, there was a sense Mick McGuane’s side meant business.

McGuane was calm. He spent the entire last quarter of the reserves game watching from the sidelines, interacting with the club community. There was no address for his troops, he simply knew after months of pre-season the first siren was all which was needed to flick the switch.

As last year’s premiership flag was raised the seniors and reserves (who just won 216-1) stood arm-in-arm, with coaches and officials.

This is clearly a club united who were ready to remind everyone of their powerhouse status in suburban football.

There were no jeers from rival supporters or Deer Park. Just a warm applause to mark the occasion.

It only took 30 minutes of footy for McGuane’s side to show why, they will again take some beating - leading by 33 points at the first break. It grew to 47 points by halftime.

The main break represented Keilor to go up a gear, booting 11 goals to one in the third. In the end they ran out 29.20 (194) to 8.7 (55) winners.

Deer Park, like so many before in the last two seasons, looked a step behind. Keilor was in a class of its own.

Keilor lines up for the 2024 premiership flag unfurling. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Senior debuts were handed to Liam Hude Lachie McArthur and Christian Oliveri while Jamie Papalia returned after two years with Donald. Former Carlton player Josh Honey, Will Burke, Harvey Wilkes and Harrison Kennedy didn’t play in the senior grand final side. Those are the names wanting a medal around their neck at the end of the season.

Off the field, Keilor is only getting stronger.

The club rooms are under renovation and nearing completion, any club would love for those to be their home off the field.

Throw in the co-tenants Keilor Cricket Club. They’ve signed Sri Lanka international Dimuth Karunaratne, and he was there taking in what’s an unfamiliar game and meeting his new club mates with a cold Carlton Draught in hand.

Take one thing away from the first Saturday of the season and it might be Keilor is stronger than it was before.