Local footy: EDFL Division 1 preview, analysis for 2021 season
Several ex-AFL players will run out for EDFL Division 1 clubs in 2021. Here’s the ins and outs for each club and our predictions.
Essendon
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Who can beat East Keilor in 2021?
After finishing runners-up two years ago, the Cougars have secured a long list of big-name signings in pursuit of the ultimate prize.
But the likes of Tullamarine, Westmeadows, West Coburg and Airport West will not go quietly.
Former AFL stars Heath Shaw (East Keilor), Lynden Dunn (West Coburg) and Ben Johnson (Roxburgh Park) have joined EDFL Division 1 clubs, the trio combining for 758 games at the elite level.
Hillside and Taylors Lakes will kick off the season with their traditional Good Friday fixture on April 2.
The remaining clubs will start their campaigns on April 10, with Westmeadows facing East Keilor, Tullamarine meeting West Coburg, Rupertswood tackling Airport West and Roxburgh Park playing Sunbury Kangaroos.
The first bounce can’t come soon enough.
Airport West
Coach: Trent Rogers (new)
2019 finish: Relegated from Premier Division
Ins: Patrik Balta (Essendon Doutta Stars), Luca Muratore (Keilor), Vincent Rizzo (Albanvale), Trent Rogers (Prahran Assumption), Muhammad Saad (Avondale Heights)
Outs: Tyson Young, Damandeep Aujla, Bior Malual, Koolyn Briggs, Anthony Daw, Christopher Lawton, Corey Le Favi, George Nabbout, Jayden Ranno, Bailee Revell
Prediction: 4-6
The Eagles will return to Division 1 with a new coach and a without several key players.
2019 best-and-fairest winner Aujla and Hutchison medallist Young will leave a hole, but the arrival of ex-VFL player Saad is a significant plus, while Ned Gentile has returned after crossing to Essendon Doutta Stars for the cancelled 2020 campaign.
Ex-Gold Coast rookie Zak Saad was also a key inclusion last season, but it is not known if he will take the field for Airport West with two clearance requests to re-join Mallee Eagles denied.
Rogers has ample experience in strength and conditioning and is hoping to roll out a fast line-up, while the Eagles are confident they are a contender after claiming the 2018 flag in the second tier.
East Keilor
Coach: Pat Christofi
2019 finish: Second
Ins: Heath Shaw (GWS Giants), Chris Stewart (Deer Park), Paul Scanlon, Tim Bongetti (both Pines), Fabian Brancatisano (Sunshine), Jack Burns (Hillside), Lachlan Calder (St Albans), Brandon Coletta (Hillside), Nicholas Grigg (Rupertswood), Joshua Klaromenos (Hillside), Bruno Laguda (Essendon Doutta Stars), Marc Lock (Old Carey Grammarians), Mark Mazzeo (Maribyrnong Park), Victor Micallef, Lockie Rayner (both Hillside)
Outs: Jackson Barrett, James Carey, Nick Grabowski, Nathan Kennedy, Will Kett, Lachlan Langwell, Thomas Madden, Cooper Perry
Prediction: Top two
East Keilor has assembled an enviable line-up for 2021 and is a red-hot favourite to earn promotion to Premier Division.
The only good news for their rivals is the fact the Cougars’ recruits will not all fit into the same side because of player points, meaning coach Pat Christofi is set to face plenty of selection headaches in coming months.
Former AFL gun Shaw headlines the signings, while the likes of Stewart, Lock, Bongetti, Scanlon and Brancatisano will be among the competition’s leading players.
With East Keilor retaining the majority of the group that qualified for the grand final two years ago, it will take something special to conquer it this season. But Christofi is aware the likes of Tullamarine, West Coburg and Westmeadows are genuine threats to his star-studded side.
Hillside
Coach: Charlie Denaro (new)
2019 finish: Fifth
Ins: Joel Bonnici (Tullamarine), Hisham Kerbatieh (Avondale Heights), Rusiate Komaitai (East Keilor), Christopher Samagalski (Riddell), Bryson Scales (Craigieburn), Joshua Trembearth (Glenroy), Corey Wright (Diggers Rest), Zak Wunhym (Keilor), John Baker
Outs: Lockie Rayner, Bevan Newell, Victor Micallef, Brandon Coletta, Joshua Klaromenos, Jack Burns, Matthew Patane, Raafat Rachrache, Jackson Baillon, Michael Ajaimy
Prediction: 6-9
Skipper Jackson Volpato is the only remaining player from the top four in the Sharks’ best-and-fairest count in 2019, while they have also waved goodbye to their top four goalkickers.
While many may expect Hillside to slide, it has welcomed some top-quality inclusions in Kerbatieh, Trembearth and Wunhym, who featured in Keilor’s 2019 Premier Division premiership team.
Wright earned selection in the Riddell District league Team of the Year in 2019, while ex-skipper Bonnici has returned to shore up the defence.
Finals appear a big ask, but the Sharks have enough talent to be more than competitive.
Taylors Lakes
Coach: Charles Cuzzupi
2019 finish: Seventh
Ins: Patrick Rose (Altona), Aaron Di Matteo (Essendon Doutta Stars), Scott Harding (Avondale Heights), Nathan Kennedy (East Keilor), Paul Scarpino, Matthew Scarpino (both Greenvale)
Outs: Rory Alexander, Adrian Crawford, Rhys Deacon, Nicholas English, Trent Forbes, Nicholas Franzi, James McGrath, Scott Polycarpou, Mark Polycarpou, Harrison Tanner, Lachlan Tanner, James Vistarini
Prediction: 7-10
The Lions have lost several senior regulars since the end of the 2019 campaign, with four of the top five from the club’s best-and-fairest exiting.
But Taylors Lakes is bullish about the youth at its disposal, with the likes of Darby Lalor, Josh Vassolo, Luke Denny and Salvadore Melilli set to get plenty of opportunities this year.
Gun forward Rose and former AFL player Harding are significant ins and can be expected to cause myriad headaches for rivals this season.
The Lions have not contested finals since 2014 and that run looks set to continue.
Roxburgh Park
Coach: Micheal Farrelly
2019 finish: Eighth
Ins: Daniel Boudoloh (Hampton Park), Bradley Dimech (Mernda), Brenden Egberts (Mernda), Trent Fisher (Glenroy), Ben Johnson (Diamond Valley), Andrew Marino (Mernda), Matthew Patane (Hillside), Raafat Rachrache (both Hillside), Nathan Reichelt, Luke Reichelt (both Craigieburn), Matt Maccarone, Tom Mason
Outs: Justin Cluney, Kajanithen Gnanapragasam, Ferras Merhi
Prediction: 4-6
With minimal outs and several important signings, the Magpies could be the bolter in 2021.
Collingwood premiership player Johnson has signed on, but the club is unsure how many games he will play, while Hillside pair Patane and Rachrache add valuable experience.
Best-and-fairest winner Dimech has returned, Fisher brings Premier Division experience, while ex-Northern Saints skipper Daniel Boudoloh is another key in.
With coach Farrelly doing a good job to ensure his team survived in 2019, expect Roxburgh Park to thrive this season if its senior squad remains fit.
Rupertswood
Coach: Arron Bray (new)
2019 finish: Riddell District league premier
Ins: Nicholas Agnello, Nathan Caldone (both Sunbury Kangaroos), Jorden Braddy (Aberfeldie), Angus Dunkley-Price (Airport West)
Outs: Todd Podolczak, Brett Chambers, Billy Cannolo, Dean Putt, Nick Grigg, Matthew Knight, Jake Sutton, John Barnard, Leigh Wellington, Jackson Berry
Prediction: 5-7
The Sharks have lost nine players from the team which claimed the Riddell District league flag two years ago and face a tough task to contest finals in their first EDFL campaign.
They have, however, signed former junior Braddy, who will boost the ruck division after Putt’s exit, while Agnello and Caldone were Division 2 premiership players at Sunbury Kangaroos in 2019.
Pushing through youth will be a focus for new coach Bray in 2021, but the unknown factor could also work in the Rupertswood’s favour as it looks to ultimately secure a berth in Premier Division.
Reigning best and fairest Kayne Murphy and Brent Swallow are among the players to watch.
Sunbury Kangaroos
Coach: Leigh Sporle (new)
2019 finish: Division 2 premier
Ins: Mark Freeth (Diggers Rest), Dean Halliwell (Rupertswood), Zach McCasker (Greenvale), Will Healy (Sunbury Lions), Adam Forth (Melton), Blake Henderson (Romsey), Chris Lucas (Rupertswood), Nathan Davidson (Black Rock), Saad Saad (Mallee Eagles), Ferras Merhi (Roxburgh Park), Osama Saad (North Sunshine), Quentin Shandley, Ainsley Richardson (both Willetton, WA), Scott Bedford (Towns, WA)
Outs: Nicholas Agnello, Nathan Caldone, Tierone Cuffe, Matt Quigley, Jake Young, Lachlan Baddeley, Christian Monaco, Jeremy Murphy, Jared Pretty, Brad Slater, Matt Welsh
Prediction: Bottom two
The Kangaroos completed an undefeated season in Division 2 in 2019 but will field a new-look side under new coach and life member Sporle.
They have waved goodbye to 10 premiership players as they prepare to make the step up to Division 1 and headline 2020 signing Clinton Young has exited due to VFL coaching commitments, meaning survival could be a good result.
Star big man Brenton Sutherland and skipper Daniel Gregory have stayed put in a plus, while renowned forward Saad Saad will keep defenders busy.
But a challenging year looms for Sunbury Kangaroos, who are set to blood several young players.
Tullamarine
Coach: David Connell
2019 finish: Third
Ins: Russell Laurie (returning), Rhys Clarke, Tyler Clarke (both Seymour), Michael Dalrymple (Oak Park), James Duell (Pascoe Vale), Michael Gatt (East Keilor), Sam Laffan (Craigieburn), Kirk Lang (Hay), Dean Limbach (Airport West), Dom Micallef (Craigieburn), Jacob Osei-Duro (Thomastown), Cooper Perry (East Keilor), Lane Tucker (Mernda), Joel Whitehead (Kinglake), Braydon Hardstaff (Westmeadows), Ryan Lojko (Greenvale)
Outs: Travis Anderson, Blair Cronin, Joel Bonnici, Kane Mulvaney, David Scott
Prediction: Top four
The perennial contender could be East Keilor’s main premiership rival this season after a fruitful recruiting period.
Prolific forward Limbach, ex-VFL listed defender Lang and 2019 Craigieburn premiership players Micallef and Laffan are among the key arrivals, while star backman Laurie has returned.
The Demons have also added plenty of pace to their line-up and have an impressive group of youngsters coming through, with the club excited about what Jarrod Stephens could deliver at senior level in coming years.
Tullamarine appears a lock to contest finals for an eighth consecutive season.
West Coburg
Coach: Dale May
2019 finish: Sixth
Ins: Lynden Dunn (Collingwood), Daniel Archer, Daniel Johncock (both Pascoe Vale), Tom Drake, Luke Baniowski (both Strathmore), Karl Staudt (Macedon)
Outs: Tom Baravi
Prediction: 3-5
The Burgers loom as another big improver as they look to return to Premier Division, with two ex-AFL players bolstering the line-up.
Dunn has joined a playing assistant coach under close friend May in a recruiting coup, while Archer has returned after a stint with Pascoe Vale. The pair are set to combine with Liam Bowkett (43 goals in 2019) to form a potentially lethal trio in the forward half.
Johncock, Drake, Baniowski and Staudt are all handy inclusions, while the likes of Abdikhane Fitaax and Dane Lucas have stayed put.
Expect West Coburg to better its sixth-placed finish in 2019.
Westmeadows
Coach: Mo Kaakour (new)
2019 finish: Fourth
Ins: George Nabbout, Jayden Ranno (both Airport West), Aaron Vendramini (Craigieburn)
Outs: Daniel Callegari, Leigh Owen, Simon Collis, Mahmoud Taleb, Braydon Hardstaff
Prediction: Top four
The Tigers have added pace to their line-up after being eliminated in the opening week of finals in 2019 while retaining the majority of their squad.
Nabbout is a premiership player at Essendon Doutta Stars and Airport West, while Ranno is a former VFL-listed player and will spend time alongside Hutchison medallist Robbie Castello in the middle of the ground.
Westmeadows also boasts a formidable forward line, with the likes of Omar Saad, Mitch Church and Dean Clare leading the way.
The Tigers deserve to be rated among the leading flag contenders.
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