Local footy: Best 20 players in EDFL Division 1 ranked
The best 20 players in Essendon District Football League Division 1 have been ranked, with an ex-VFL captain, former AFL-listed defender and a speedy goalkicking midfielder fighting it out for top spot. Did we get it right?
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Robbie Castello has only completed one season in Essendon District Football League Division 1.
But it was an outstanding season of the highest standard as Westmeadows’ star signing was crowned the Hutchison Medal winner, polling 18 votes despite missing six games during the home-and-away rounds.
Castello was had more influence than any player in the competition in the midfield – a rival coach declared “you can’t stop him” when contacted by Leader Local Footy – as he lifted the Tigers into finals.
He often made light work of opposition taggers and was a class above with his skill and game sense in the second tier.
The former Werribee captain and games record holder won his club’s best-and-fairest and was an automatic selection for Team of the Year, putting an exclamation mark on his status as the leading player in the second tier.
“He’s such an important player four our club – not just because of his on-field stuff but the general attitude. It’s probably a bit more than professionalism,” Westmeadows president Grant Smith said.
“He’s been a real culture driver. He doesn’t accept people’s excuses or mediocrity, and that’s been a really big thing for us.
“I think one of our problems from a playing point of view has been our ability to say things are too hard and to underachieve because we haven’t wanted to put in the effort.
“Robbie’s been a massive change driver in making the culture different.”
Our list features eight players from star-studded East Keilor, while players from Craigieburn (2019 Division 1 premier) and Oak Park (relegated from Division 1 at the end of 2019) were not considered.
Stars who have left the competition such as Tom Baravi and Nick Grabowski were overlooked, along with recruits since the end of the 2019 season from outside Division 1, including Patrick Rose (Taylors Lakes) and Hisham Kerbatieh (Hillside).
Tullamarine trio Tim Matson, Anthony Liberatore and Brad Allen were among those who were unlucky to miss, along with Westmeadows pair Mitch Church and Dean Clare.
Abdikhane Fitaax (West Coburg), Jesse McVeigh (Airport West), Lockie Rayner (East Keilor) and Jay Barbera (Roxburgh Park) were others in contention.
OUR TOP 20 PLAYERS IN EDFL DIVISION 1
1. Robbie Castello (Westmeadows): The former VFL star established himself as the competition’s pre-eminent player in 2019, claiming the league best-and-fairest, Westmeadows’ top individual award and selection in the centre in the Team of the Year. A class above in the second tier and nigh on impossible to stop. The ex-Werribee skipper also chipped in with 23 goals.
2. Ash Arrowsmith (East Keilor): The former AFL-listed defender rarely plays a bad game and is a commanding presence at centre half-back for the Cougars, regularly short-circuiting opposition attacks. Was a member of Strathmore’s Premier Division flag in 2014 and has since won two best-and-fairests at East Keilor to go with Team of the Year nods in the past three seasons.
3. Josh Grabowski (East Keilor): Played plenty of good top-flight footy at Avondale Heights and Bundoora before arriving at the Cougars. The speedy Grabowski is a goalkicking midfielder who is as dangerous as they come, underlined by the fact he booted 36 majors last year. Finished fourth in the league medal in 2019 and was named ruck rover in the Team of the Year.
4. Tyson Young (Airport West): A 6 foot 4 utility who can cause myriad headaches in any area of the ground for opposition sides. Young claimed the Hutchison Medal in 2017 and has finished top three in Airport West’s best-and-fairest the past three seasons. Booted 103 goals in two seasons across 2017 and 2018 and also enjoyed a solid Premier Division season last year, rewarded with a VFL appearance for Williamstown in July.
5. Anthony Prestia (Tullamarine): As damaging a midfielder as any in Division 1. Injuries have hurt Prestia the past two years, but he showcased the threat he poses in attack with a six-goal haul against East Keilor last season after he was moved to half-forward. Boasting a beautiful kick and capable of launching the ball 60m, he finished runner-up in the league best-and-fairest in 2018 despite playing 11 home-and-away games.
6. Ben Caluzzi (East Keilor): Was named in the Cougars’ best players a staggering 15 times from 19 games in 2019, collecting his club’s best-and-fairest award. Caluzzi was perhaps East Keilor’s most reliable player across and was deservedly named in the Team of the Year. The young gun is capable of standing up under pressure and seldom goes missing.
7. Dion Hill (East Keilor): The former Coburg VFL player is the leading forward in Division 1 and finished 2019 with 59 goals from 14 appearances, including a season-best haul of 10 against Roxburgh Park. Finished equal fifth in the league medal and fourth in East Keilor’s best-and-fairest. Gives defenders sleepless nights.
8. Jake Hobbs (Taylors Lakes): The ever-consistent Lions star delivers week in, week out with his impressive ball use, ability to read the play and versatility. Usually rotates between the midfield and deep forward and has won his club’s best-and-fairest the past two seasons after finishing third in 2017. Finished equal seventh in the league medal in 2019, equal third in 2018 and has earned Team of the Year selection the past two years.
9. Victor Micallef (East Keilor): Micallef has crossed to the Cougars after an outstanding career at Hillside, where he shared the league best-and-fairest award with brother James in 2016. Before last year, the gun midfielder had been picked in the Team of the Year in four consecutive seasons and won Hillside’s best-and-fairest in 2017. A big inclusion for East Keilor.
10. Jackson Volpato (Hillside): The busy midfielder racks up possessions at will and is a clean user of the ball, making him deserving of a place among the competition’s best. Volpato has finished top three in Hillside’s best-and-fairest the past three seasons and was selected in the Team of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
11. Brandon Coletta (East Keilor): Would be much higher on this list if he wasn’t hit hard by injury in recent seasons. Coletta, who has also left Hillside for East Keilor since the end of the 2019 campaign, is one of the best forwards in Division 1. He is a strong mark, can stretch defenders with his reach and requires a mobile opponent. Coletta kicked 51 goals from 15 games in 2017 but has been limited the past two seasons. Despite that, he has Team of the Year nods in three of the past four seasons.
12. Omar Saad (Westmeadows): A proven performer with West Coburg and Maribyrnong Park in Premier Division, Saad crossed to Westmeadows last season with a move to the forward line reaping dividends. Saad finished the campaign with 54 majors from 17 games, kicking six or more goals on four occasions.
13. Dane Lucas (West Coburg): West Coburg’s general in the defensive half rarely gets beaten one-on-one, is good in the air, reads the ball well and is a valuable leader. Lucas won the Burgers’ best-and-fairest in 2018 when they were in Premier Division and finished runner-up last year. His strength in a marking contest makes life difficult for rival forwards.
14. Joe Palazzolo (East Keilor): Has only had one season in Division 1 after making the move from Bundoora but was quick to establish himself as an influential inside midfielder. Was overlooked for Team of the Year selection in 2019 but finished second in East Keilor’s best-and-fairest after he was named in the best eight times from 19 games.
15. Jack Elliott (Roxburgh Park): May not have the individual accolades of others on this list yet, but the young star is highly-rated by opposition coaches given he is so athletic for his size and can fill multiple positions. Was a gun defender in Division 2, securing back-to-back Team of the Year honours, and will be a player to watch in 2021.
16. Clayton Rogers (Airport West): The Eagles defender wins plaudits for his ability to direct traffic in the defensive half and is still a quality performer despite recently turning 40. Rogers is a strong mark, reads the play well and claimed Airport West’s best-and-fairest in 2017 before finishing third in 2019.
17. Dean Bartrop (Tullamarine): The hard-running midfielder is a quiet achiever for one of the most consistent clubs in Division 1. Bartrop has finished top four in the Demons’ best-and-fairest in the past five years and won the award in 2019. Was also picked in the Team of the Year in 2017 and 2019.
18. Nathan Lyons (East Keilor): He’s getting on a bit, but the hard-at-it midfielder continues to shine. Is a superb mark overhead and a key figure in East Keilor’s climb up the ladder last season. Lyons was named on a wing in the 2019 Team of the Year.
19. Harley Short (Roxburgh Park): The busy midfielder has been a star performer in Division 2, but he had no trouble making the step up in 2019, finishing equal second in the Hutchison Medal, runner-up in the Magpies’ top individual award and securing selection in the Team of the Year.
20. Liam Bowkett (West Coburg): A move from defence to attack paid dividends for Bowkett in 2019, with the key position player enjoying a career-best season as he booted 43 goals from 16 games. He was a consistent performer for the Burgers and only went goalless three times, earning the vital centre half-forward position in the Team of the Year and finishing fourth in his club’s best-and-fairest.
*THE PREMIER DIVISION TOP 20 WILL BE RELEASED ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
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