EDFL scores: East Keilor loses Paul Scanlon, Chris Stewart fires on debut
Coach Pat Christofi explains why the EDFL club parted ways with a big-name signing and assesses Chris Stewart’s first-up performance.
Essendon
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One of East Keilor’s star signings has departed the Essendon District Football League Division 1 club after just three games.
Veteran midfielder Paul Scanlon has crossed to country footy battler Ardmona to link with coach and Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford.
Cougars coach Pat Christofi said Scanlon’s desire to play Superules football for Diamond Valley on Sundays led to a mutual parting of ways.
Ex-VFL player Scanlon arrived at East Keilor after a decorated career with Pines, where he claimed the EV Shade Medal — the highest individual honour in the Mornington Peninsula league — in 2017 and 2018.
“He’s one of my closest friends and he’s 43 years of age. He wants to maximise as much footy as he can get, which is playing on a Saturday and trying to play on a Sunday as well,” Christofi said.
“We came to a mutual agreement that that wouldn’t work for the East Keilor footy club.
“There’s no malice, no hard feelings, we are very close mates.
“I understood where he was coming from, it just wasn’t going to work for the model that I’m doing.
“He came to us in 2019 for the 2020 season, and we were expecting that to be his last, and obviously COVID disrupted that.”
Christofi said Scanlon’s exit would create opportunities for players struggling to break into the senior line-up.
Competition for spots is fierce, with Heath Shaw (GWS Giants), Chris Stewart (Deer Park), Tim Bongetti (Pines), Fabian Brancatisano (Sunshine), Brandon Coletta (Hillside), Nick Grigg (Rupertswood), Bruno Laguda (Essendon Doutta Stars), Marc Lock (Old Carey Grammarians), Victor Micallef and Lockie Rayner (both Hillside) among the big-name inclusions since the club’s 2019 grand final defeat.
“I don’t see it being a blow at all, I just see it as part of football,” Christofi said.
“We did recruit heavy, so this was all taken into consideration. We have Paul and many others covered if they go down.”
Meanwhile, gun big man Stewart produced a best-afield display on debut for the Cougars on Saturday.
But Christofi warned Stewart was far from his best in the 84-point victory over Roxburgh Park.
Stewart, who has featured in 10 senior flags with Deer Park, Maribyrnong Park and North Heidelberg, missed the opening three rounds after serving a suspension from the 2019 WRFL decider, while his preparation was also interrupted by a workplace accident where he suffered two broken hands.
“Considering he hadn’t played for 18 months, was coming off two broken hands, we thought he showed Chris Stewart’s on the way and watch out EDFL once he gets going because that was Chris at his worst,” Christofi said.
“That was Chris going at probably 15 per cent, just warming up.
“I’ve seen Chris play for eight or nine years and I can safely say that it was probably the worst Chris Stewart I’ve seen, but everyone else was gobsmacked.
“He’s just a class above everybody else.”
East Keilor prevailed 23.9 (147) to 9.9 (63) away from home, improving its record to 3-1.
Dion Hill booted five goals, while Brancatisano, Grigg and Micallef contributed three apiece.
Christofi also heaped praise on Josh Grabowski, Coletta (both two goals) and Lock.
The Cougars will tackle Sunbury Kangaroos at Eric Boardman Reserve in Round 5.
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