Impacted clubs’ say on EDFL’s decision to award premierships, enforce relegation
The seven clubs most affected by the Essendon District Football League’s decision to award premierships and enforce relegation have had their say.
Essendon
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The Essendon District Football League announced on Thursday that it would award full premierships and enforce promotion and relegation this season.
It’s despite the season being cancelled earlier this month and no finals played.
The move has been met with fierce criticism from around the football community.
The seven clubs most affected by the decisions have had their say.
STRATHMORE – Premier Division. First (10-2, 253.41%). Premiers
Senior coach Matt Horne
“It’s massive for the club, we’re happy to break a seven-year drought.”
“It’s not the way we wanted to but we were obviously deemed to be the best team this year, so we’re really happy about it.
“We had heard that it might be the case but it was a little bit surprising and we’re excited to get the group together and celebrate.
“I’m really proud of the boys and a special mention has to go to the president, John Elliott, and everyone at the football club for getting us to this point.”
KEILOR – Premier Division. Second (10-2, 169.37%)
President Ray Sheridan
“It wasn’t what we were expecting, from our position it wasn’t the result we’re after from a senior body.”
“It’s a bit of a hollow feeling for some of our teams as well.
“We would have preferred a similar line to the NFNL with a minor premiership arrangement, it’s just very hard to celebrate without a result.
“From a senior perspective, congratulations to Strathmore.
“We were a little bit blindsided by the decision … as a club we weren’t consulted, it was a decision made by the board.”
CRAIGIEBURN – Premier Division. 10th (0-12, 19.21%). Relegated
President John Perrone
“What can I tell you, we didn’t win a game and at the end of the day I think it’s fair enough.”
“We didn’t want to stay up after that sort of performance anyway.
“With the COVID scenario the board has done an amazing job to try and continue the season.
“We’ll do down and reload and rebuild. We definitely want to be in Premier Division but we just need to get better obviously, put the right structures in place.”
EAST KEILOR – Division 1. First (11-1, 250%). Premier
Senior coach Pat Christofi
“I came to the club at the end of 2018 with one goal in mind and that was to take our club to Premier (Division).”
“I think we’ve proved throughout the year we were worthy of that … receiving it in this manner is not the way I wanted to receive it.
“I take my hat off to the East Keilor board – Geoff Nicholl and Gavan Wignall – and mostly to my playing group that stayed resilient throughout 2020 and 2021.
“We’ve ticked every box, we’ve reached it in a manner that I don’t think anyone wanted to, but we’ll take it, we’re proud of our achievements.
“As a footy club we’re looking forward and we’ll embrace the challenge ahead and I can tell you right now, we’re not coming back.”
TAYLORS LAKES – Division 1. 10th (0-12, 39.84%). Relegated
President Hillary Pollock
“This has been an ongoing discussion I’ve been having with the league since we started having lockdown in July.”
“It is what it is, bylaws are bylaws, am I happy about it? No.
“It’s disappointing, I loved the way the NFNL has gone about the process, coming out in July and saying we’re not going to relegate but do a double relegation in 2022.
“I put that forward for consideration for the EDFL and it got knocked back.
“We’re coming off a 0-12 win-loss ratio, which doesn’t put us in good stead, if we’d been able to get some wins in the last six rounds could have seen us in a different position and retaining a spot in the division.
“However, they felt that wouldn’t have eventuated when I put forward my objection to the relegation process.
“I’m disappointed for the club, the players, the coaches, the supporters but we’ve got to look forward to the future, onwards and upwards, reset and go again.”
MOONEE VALLEY – Division 2. First (10-1, 268.78%). Premiers
Senior coach Shanon Carroll.
“It’s a hard one, it’s not the ideal way to win a premiership.”
“What I can say is for Moonee Valley people and those that have preceded me, it’s not so much about this year it’s the ride over the last couple of years.
“Irony has a funny way of working out in football, in 2019 we were beaten in the grand final by a team that came from a different league that only had one division.
“We weight up the fact if they weren’t in the league we win the premiership then, possibly, and now we find ourselves on top of the ladder and not able to finish the season.
“I had a close friend say, ‘I know it’s not ideal but at the start of the season the goal was to go up a division and you’ve done that’, so in that sense I’m very proud of the hard work.
“Personally, it doesn’t sit comfortably but there’s been a lot of hard work go in and I’m proud for all the Moonee Valley people involved.
“Our seniors were on top, our reserves were on top, our women’s Division 1 were on top, women’s Division 2 were on top and our men’s third were second.”
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OAK PARK – Division 2. Second (10-1, 225.90%)
Senior coach Todd Clark.
“The way it was structure the decision was always going to be based on who was top and we accept that.”
“I understand their issuing premierships, I’m sure for Moonee Valley it might be a bit hollow.
“We’re flat because in the last game before COVID we had a good win against Moonee Valley and that was their first loss for the year.
“Ultimately, footy universally is regarded on points won and your percentage.
“It would have been nice to have that close out match because who knows, we were evenly poised and we felt like we were going in the right direction.
“We’ll attack 2022 pretty hard, our group is staying together and it will only add to the hunger.”
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