EDFL scores: East Keilor coach praises depth after beating Airport West

The EDFL Division 1 flag favourite delivered its best performance of 2021 on Saturday as its big names fired, with coach Pat Christofi pointing to his side’s depth.

Fabian Brancatisano has been in fine form for East Keilor. Picture: Hamish Blair

East Keilor showcased its firepower and sent a stern warning to its Essendon District Football League Division 1 rivals with a devastating display on Saturday.

While the Cougars had made light work of opponents in their four previous victories, they lifted a notch against finals contender Airport West, cruising to an 88-point victory in its best performance of the season.

Since a shock Round 3 defeat to Tullamarine, the premiership favourite has booted 81 goals in three weeks and sits atop the ladder with a percentage of 206.44.

East Keilor stunned the home team with a 10-goal opening quarter to establish a 49-point lead at the first break and kill the contest.

The visitors led by 69 points at halftime before the Eagles piled on seven goals to three in the third term to launch a mini fightback.

But the powerful Cougars responded with seven unanswered majors of their own in the final 30 minutes to complete a demolition job, winning 27.12 (174) to 13.8 (86).

“I don’t think they were expecting us to start the way we did,” coach Pat Christofi said.

“We’ve been emphasising our starts the last two weeks because they’ve been poor over the first four rounds. We didn’t feel we were starting well.

“It was pleasing to see the guys responded and came out like that.

“For three quarters and 10 minutes, we probably played our best footy all season. We showed the best signs we have all year.

“I’m pretty sure that if we’re playing our best footy, no one can really match us.”

East Keilor coach Pat Christofi. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Christofi pointed to his side’s depth after the triumph, with Bruno Laguda, Vince Schiavello and Brenden Lucas all out “long-term” with serious knee injuries, while co-captain Vince Madaffari sustained a dislocated elbow in Round 1.

Marquee recruit Heath Shaw has also only been available for one game.

Questions were raised about East Keilor’s player points squeeze in the months leading up to the campaign after it secured a long list of big signings, but it has managed to cover those missing.

“Airport West may have had one or two out, but in saying that we’ve had 3 ACLs and an elbow, so we had a few out as well,” Christofi said.

“It’s pretty pleasing to see our depth is standing up and this is a good example to those who were questioning the recruitment prior to the year starting. We’ve managed to cover them (injuries).

“It’s all coming together and everything we did prior to the season beginning is really showing out now. A lot of teams would have crumbled after having those injuries.”

Eight East Keilor players booted multiple goals, led by gun midfielder Josh Grabowski who kicked six majors for a second consecutive week.

Chris Stewart contributed four, Fabian Brancatisano and Tim Bongetti managed three, and Victor Micallef, Dion Hill, Ben Caluzzi and Lindon Bektash two apiece.

Micallef racked up possessions in the midfield, while Brandon Coletta and Marc Lock fired in defence.

“We’re very lucky we’ve got a flexible side,” Christofi said.

“When (Shaw) comes in, it allows us to spin the magnets even more.

“It’s going to be pretty scary when we’re up and going, considering this was only our sixth game together.”

Christofi praised Coletta for his ability to transform himself into a star defender.

The recruit was recognised as one of the competition’s leading forwards during his time at Hillside, but is now stopping goals at the other end of the ground.

“The transition Brandon’s made from centre half-forward to centre half-back has been unbelievable,” Christofi said.

“I felt at the start of the year that he had that in him. I thought he could actually win a best and fairest at centre half-back.

“He’s got the hands, he reads the ball well, he intercept marks everything that comes in. Then somehow he finds himself forward and kicks a goal or two. There’s no pressure on him up forward. He’s dominating the backline and still snagging one or two a game. You can’t ask for more than that.”

Grabowski has 18 goals to his name from six games despite spending about 75 per cent of game time in the middle.

Christofi said Grabowski was enjoying more freedom than two years ago given the team’s star power.

“He’s definitely dominating. We were expecting that to happen because obviously Josh got targeted by everyone (in 2019) and now it’s pretty hard to target 10 or 12 blokes, so Josh is off the leash,” he said.

“I think he’s loving working with (ruckmen) Lockie Rayner and Chris Stewart in the middle as well.

“He covers the ground well, is super-fit and has exceptional skills. When he’s up and going, he’s a pleasure to watch.”

East Keilor will next face winless Taylors Lakes away from home in Round 6.

The Cougars, West Coburg and Tullamarine all have five wins, giving them a two-game gap on fourth-ranked Airport West.