Local footy 2020: Bundoora ruckman Matt Dennis joins East Keilor
A star ruckman with three league best-and-fairest medals has committed to East Keilor for the 2020 season in a significant boost for the EDFL Division 1 flag favourite.
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One of the leading ruckmen in suburban football is set to play for East Keilor in 2020.
Decorated Bundoora big man Matt Dennis has joined the Essendon District Football League Division 1 flag favourite in a recruiting coup after the Northern league ruled a line through its season.
The EDFL is yet to make a decision on whether its season will go ahead, but optimism is growing in club land.
Dennis replaces Cougars recruit Tim Atkins, who will not play this year because of work and family commitments.
He will arrive as a permit player before returning to the Bulls for the 2021 campaign.
East Keilor coach Pat Christofi said he was grateful Bundoora had allowed its star performer to temporarily switch clubs.
Christofi said Dennis had previously played with Josh Grabowski, Joseph Palazzolo, Paul Scanlon and Tim Bongetti, helping seal the deal.
“Tim Atkins pulled the pin for the year, we needed a ruck and the Northern footy league is not playing, so he comes across for the season and fills that void for us,” Christofi said.
“It’s a bonus that we’ve got connections in the footy club who are close to him.
“Having a Matty Dennis around the club for 16, 18 weeks, including our pre-season, I think that’s a positive for anyone.
“The experience he brings along is huge.”
Dennis is three-time winner of the Frank Rosbrook Medal (2012, 2016, 2017) for the best-and-fairest player in the NFL’s top flight.
He has also been a member of three premiership sides and won three club best-and-fairests at the Bulls.
Dennis was best afield in the 2017 grand final, boasts seven Division 1 Team-of-the-Year nods and has represented the NFL’s interleague team five times.
“His accolades speak for themselves,” Christofi said.
“He is genuinely a superstar in the Northern footy league, there’s no questioning that.
“He’s a wanted player and he’s definitely got some talent.
“It’s exciting times for East Keilor for 2020. Whether (the season) is a dead rubber or not, to have a player of that calibre join our group and share their experience and their knowledge is really good.”
East Keilor has enjoyed a fruitful recruiting campaign after going down to Craigieburn in last year’s decider.
Ex-AFL player Marc Lock, Bongetti, Scanlon, Victor Micallef, Brandon Coletta, Kevin Klix and Lachlan Calder headline the signings.
While it is unlikely there will be promotion and relegation in the EDFL if a season is given the green light, Christofi said the Cougars had set their sights on becoming the first club in league history to win back-to-back Division 1 premierships.
“It’s an opportunity to go back-to-back, so you don’t really get that when you’re in Division 1,” he said.
“That’s a carrot that encourages any team to want to go for it, so we’re actually excited about that fact. Being able to be in that position in the exciting part.”
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