Local footy 2021: Heath Shaw’s East Keilor debut confirmed
The former AFL star’s debut date for his new club has been rubberstamped after a decorated 325-game career.
Essendon
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East Keilor’s prized signing will take the field in the club’s Essendon District Football League season opener on Saturday.
Cougars coach Pat Christofi has confirmed former AFL gun Heath Shaw would play against Westmeadows in what is shaping as a bumper Division 1 clash at Willowbrook Reserve.
The dual All-Australian linked with star-studded East Keilor in January after 325 games for GWS Giants and Collingwood at the elite level.
Shaw’s first appearance will be much anticipated after a decorated 17-year career in the AFL ranks which took in two All-Australian nods (2015, 2016), a Giants best-and-fairest (2015) and a premiership with the Magpies (2010).
Christofi said the 35-year-old had been “exceptional” in the lead up to Round 1.
“He’s a born leader. He’s been great and is fully committed,” Christofi said.
“He hasn’t been told (to take on a leadership role), he just does it naturally.
“(You can) hear him from start to finish (during games). He doesn’t go mute at all.
“He’s unbelievable, the players love him and when he talks, they listen.”
Christofi said Shaw would be East Keilor’s “general down back” and would also feature in the midfield and up forward.
Barring injury, Shaw is set to play the majority of games for his new club this season in a significant boost for the Cougars and the EDFL.
But while Shaw will line up, the make up of the flag favourite’s 22 remains a mystery five days out from the fixture.
East Keilor will be unable to field all of their noteworthy inclusions at any stage this season because of the player points system, and Christofi said he had “massive” selection headaches.
“It’s pretty hard because I haven’t been able to find anyone that hasn’t done extremely well (during pre-season),” he said.
“But that’s what we want.”
Chris Stewart (Deer Park), Paul Scanlon, Tim Bongetti (both Pines), Fabian Brancatisano (Sunshine), Lachlan Calder (St Albans), Nicholas Grigg (Rupertswood), Bruno Laguda (Essendon Doutta Stars), Marc Lock (Old Carey Grammarians), Mark Mazzeo (Maribyrnong Park), Brandon Coletta, Victor Micallef, Lockie Rayner, Jack Burns and Joshua Klaromenos (all Hillside) have arrived since the end of the 2019.
The Cougars also finished runner-up two years ago and have retained the bulk of their grand final side.
Josh Grabowski, Joe Palazzolo, Dion Hill and Ben Caluzzi are among the existing players who have impressed on the training track.
“They (recruits) are starting to understand each other’s habits, which is the key to it I guess,” Christofi said.
“They’re all starting to communicate, listen and understanding that they’re not the big fishes anymore. Now they’re just a fish in the pond and they’re all swimming in the one direction, which is great.”
Ex-AFL pair Lynden Dunn (West Coburg) and Ben Johnson (Roxburgh Park) have also put pen to paper with Division 1 clubs for 2021.
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