EDFL scores: Why Airport West coach Trent Rogers has high expectations
First-year Eagles coach Trent Rogers is bullish about his team’s prospects in 2021 after it completed a demolition job on Saturday.
Essendon
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First-year Airport West coach Trent Rogers has flagged his side’s premiership aspirations after it scored a crushing victory over Roxburgh Park in Essendon District Football League Division 1 on Saturday.
While all the pre-season talk surrounded the likes of East Keilor, Tullamarine, West Coburg and Westmeadows, the Eagles have quietly moved to 3-2 and are bullish about their prospects.
Airport West claimed the Division 1 flag in 2018 and was relegated from Premier Division the following year.
The exits of Tyson Young, Damandeep Aujla, Koolyn Briggs, George Nabbout and Jayden Ranno left some pundits questioning the Eagles’ ability to test the leading teams.
But ahead of a bumper clash with ladder-leader East Keilor this weekend, Rogers declared he had no shortage of confidence in his group.
“If we play our brand of footy, I don’t care how good they may look on paper … we’re going in to win,” Rogers said.
“I believe – and I’m happy to put it on record – we can be the best team in this competition.
“Our record and the ladder doesn’t show it … but I’m the luckiest coach in this competition because the amount of potential in that group is unbelievable.
“We’re looking forward to it and it’s going to be a great game.”
Airport West tuned up for its biggest test of the season with a 111-point victory over Roxburgh Park, 25.13 (163) to 7.10 (52), as it delivered its best performance of 2021.
The Eagles have knocked off Rupertswood, Hillside and the Magpies this season and challenged Tullamarine and Westmeadows, but Rogers said they had been far from their best before the weekend’s dominant display.
“I’ve felt in the first month, even though we were 2-2 and should have been Westy and took Tulla all the way until red time in the third quarter, that we just haven’t got out of second gear,” he said.
“We were so far from our best footy, but were basically just getting the job done.
“We were looking to play fast, corridor footy (on Saturday). With our skills by foot and the speed we do have, particularly in the front half of the ground, we need to make sure we’re using that to our advantage.
“Some of our ball movement was amazing and I was so happy with them. The amount of times we went from the defensive 50 to scoring opportunity without the ball even touching the deck was incredible.
“The contribution from all 22 was really impressive as well.
“We had one lapse for the day, whereas previously we have been too hot and cold and there’s been too many lapses.”
Rogers heaped praise on premiership player Ned Gentile, who was best afield with 35 possessions and four goals from the midfield.
“I tried to rest him up forward, just to save his legs for the second half,” he said.
“When they got a bit of momentum halfway through the third (quarter), he was the one who took himself out of there, put himself in the midfield and changed the momentum, just with his energy.”
The Eagles showcased their firepower with seven players kicking multiple goals, with Alex Penaluna (five goals), Nikola Hrkac (four), Patrik Balta (three), Anthony Aloi, Muhammad Saad and Luca Muratore (all two) also damaging in attack.
Rogers said ruckman Balta, who is the cousin of Richmond’s Noah, was progressing rapidly and would be a “scary footballer in the next 12-24 months”. Balta was an Essendon Doutta Stars junior and played soccer for St Albans before arriving at Hansen Reserve.
Ex-VFL player Saad has also been a vital addition in the midfield and up forward after his request to join Westmeadows was blocked.
Rogers said Saad’s attitude had been exemplary in his three appearances for the club.
“I can’t fault him. He’s walked in knowing that we knocked back his clearance and he’s just absorbed it … he’s become part of the club so quickly. The boys love having him there and he’s our X-factor,” he said.
“I feel like he’s built some really good connections through the playing group.”
In another plus, Rogers said competition for spots in the senior line-up was fierce, with several players to return in coming weeks.
Daniel Sinnott, Ben Nelson, Ivan Pavlovic, Flynn Gentile and James Micallef were among those sidelined at the weekend.
Airport West sits fourth on the Division 1 ladder, one game astern of East Keilor, West Coburg and Tullamarine.
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