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Local footy: Best 20 players in EDFL Division 2 ranked

Leader Local Footy has ranked the best 20 players in Essendon District Football League Division 2, with a former AFL player topping the list. Did we get it right?

Cory McGrath, Tom Lucin and Kamen Ogilvie are three of the stars of EDFL Division 2. Pictures: Jamie Morey, Mark Dadswell
Cory McGrath, Tom Lucin and Kamen Ogilvie are three of the stars of EDFL Division 2. Pictures: Jamie Morey, Mark Dadswell

Cory McGrath is 41 years old and started his AFL career in 2001.

But age is no barrier for the former Essendon and Carlton player who tops our list of the best 20 players in Division 2 of the Essendon District Football League.

McGrath was playing Superules just four years ago before making the decision to join Moonee Valley as a playing assistant coach in 2018.

He was a junior coach at the Fog before becoming Shanon Carroll’s right-hand man.

While McGrath provides invaluable leadership, he is also a star through the middle of the ground.

He claimed the Division 2 league best-and-fairest last year after finishing runner-up in 2018.

McGrath also won the Fog’s top individual award last season after finishing second the previous year.

Cory McGrath celebrates a goal for Moonee Valley. Picture: Mark Dadswell
Cory McGrath celebrates a goal for Moonee Valley. Picture: Mark Dadswell

He has also been selected in the centre in the Team of the Year both seasons.

Carroll said the veteran was the “ultimate professional”.

“What’s been good is his direction for the younger players, and not just in the midfield,” he said.

“Knowing he is going to get tagged most weeks, he’s able to help some of the younger players understand he can be a decoy, they can be a go-to, and also they can also block for him and know how to block legally and things like that.

“It’s been a great teaching tool for these other players, who probably haven’t had (someone with) such a professional attitude in their careers so far.”

Our list features five players from Moonee Valley, while players from Sunbury Kangaroos (2019 Division 2 premier) and Oak Park (relegated from Division 1 at the end of 2019) were not considered.

Players recruited after the 2019 campaign from outside the division were also not considered.

OUR TOP 20 PLAYERS IN EDFL DIVISION 2

1. Cory McGrath (Moonee Valley): The ex-AFL man is a commanding presence in the midfield and provides invaluable leadership. Claimed the Division 2 best-and-fairest award in 2019 after finishing runner-up the previous year.

2. Braden Padmore (Moonee Valley): As versatile and valuable as they come in Division 2. Has been named as a half forward (twice), back pocket and ruck rover in the Team of the Year the past four seasons.

3. Kamen Ogilvie (East Sunbury): The fleet-footed defender/midfielder claimed the league medal in 2018 and has been named in the Team of the Year four of the past five seasons (he spent 2017 at Hepburn).

Kamen Ogilvie in action for East Sunbury. Picture: Hamish Blair
Kamen Ogilvie in action for East Sunbury. Picture: Hamish Blair

4. Josh Covelli (Burnside Heights): The competition’s premier forward has returned hauls of 84, 79 and 62 goals in the past three seasons for Burnside Heights after booting 54 majors for Moonee Valley in 2016. Hard to beat in a one-on-one contest and finished third in the league medal last year.

5. Luke Ryan (Moonee Valley): Returned to the Fog in 2019 after playing a key role in Airport West’s Division 1 premiership. Classy midfielder who runs all day and racks up possessions at will. True professional and provides great leadership.

6. Adam Sullivan (Burnside Heights): Emerged as one of the leading midfielders in Division 2 in 2019 as his team advanced to the preliminary final. Sullivan claimed the Bears’ best-and-fairest, was named in the Team of the Year and finished fourth in the league medal. He was also dangerous in the attacking half, kicking 23 majors.

7. Rocky Ferraro (Moonee Valley): The dynamic forward has booted 100 goals in the past two seasons. Kicked 40 for Moonee Valley from 11 games in 2019, including a haul of 11 against former club Northern Saints. A match-winner and Team of the Year player the past two seasons.

8. Matt Vesnaver (Coburg Districts): A tall midfielder who provides an x-factor and plenty of headaches for opposition sides. Vesnaver is tough to match up on and has no trouble finding the goals, kicking 67 in the past two years. He earnt selection in the Team of the Year in 2018 and 2019 and finished top three in Coburg Districts’ best-and-fairest in both seasons.

9. Anthony Fawcus (Burnside Heights): The versatile big man enjoyed an impressive 2019, bagging 42 goals for the Bears across half forward. Can fill a role in the attacking half, defence and ruck and has been named in the Team of the Year the past two seasons. Has also placed in the top five of his club’s best-and-fairest in three consecutive seasons.

10. Tom Lucin (Coburg Districts): The Coburg Districts star delivers at crunch moments and can cut up rival teams if he not given the attention he warrants. The midfielder/ forward was not picked in the Team of the Year in 2019 but was the previous four years. kicked 43 goals in 2015 and 30 in 2017.

11. Lucas Shaw (East Sunbury): Shaw has relinquished the captaincy at East Sunbury after three seasons but has re-signed with the club. A damaging utility who can hurt opposition clubs off half-back or through the midfield, he is as reliable and consistent as they come and is a neat user of the ball. Team of the Year player the past two seasons and runner-up in the Thunder’s best-and-fairest in 2019.

12. Tom Gleeson (Coburg Districts): Has only had one campaign in Division 2 but managed 30 goals from 13 games despite an interrupted pre-season. Has experience in the VFL and top flight of the EDFL and VAFA, so expect the Lions player coach to deliver plenty of eye-catching performances in 2021.

13. Ned Wilson (Moonee Valley): A 12-month stint on the sidelines has limited Wilson to 17 senior games in the past two years, but the hard-at-it midfielder is universally respected and can be relied on to deliver under pressure. Wilson claimed the league best-and-fairest in 2016 and was named in the Team of the Year from 2015-2017.

Ned Wilson (right) is a heart-and-soul performer for Moonee Valley. Picture: Mark Dadswell
Ned Wilson (right) is a heart-and-soul performer for Moonee Valley. Picture: Mark Dadswell

14. Spencer Aitken (Coburg Districts): A key defender all clubs would love to have. Can repel opposition attacks with ease, is classy by foot, team-orientated and requires a disciplined opponent to limit his output. Claimed Coburg Districts’ best-and-fairest in 2019 and finished third in 2017.

15. Jordan Hughes (Burnside Heights): The classy midfielder displays his strength and fitness in the midfield week in, week out. Won the Bears’ best-and-fairest in 2018 and finished runner-up in 2019.

16. Zac Polizzi (Hadfield): Hadfield’s reigning best-and-fairest winner can cause plenty of damage if left to roam free in the middle of the ground. Needs an opponent capable of staying focused on the job at hand. Polizzi was named in the Hawks’ best 11 times from 14 games in 2019.

17. Luke Vesnaver (Coburg Districts): The Coburg Districts forward may have been forgotten about after he did not play a senior game in 2019. But Vesnaver did claim the league best-and-fairest in 2017 after booting 58 goals and followed up with 28 in 2018, making the Team of the Year in both seasons.

18. Andrew Trende (Hadfield): One of Hadfield’s star recruits for 2019, the centre half-back quickly established himself as one of the competition’s leading defenders. He hits the pack hard, does the one-percenters and was rewarded with Team of the Year selection in 2019.

19. Brandon Smith (Hadfield): The big man is a fine tap ruckman who gives wonderful service to the Hawks’ onballers. Has finished top 10 in the league best-and-fairest the past two years and been key to Hadfield’s improvement.

20. Bilal Allouch (Northern Saints): A dangerous wingman for the Saints and clean user of the football. Allouch was named in the Team of the Year in 2018 and finished runner-up in the best-and-fairest the same season.

Bilal Allouch lays a tackle for Northern Saints. Picture: Hamish Blair
Bilal Allouch lays a tackle for Northern Saints. Picture: Hamish Blair

*LEADER LOCAL FOOTY’S EDFL DIVISION 1 TOP 20 WILL BE RELEASED ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

*THE PREMIER DIVISION TOP 20 WILL BE RELEASED ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/local-footy-best-20-players-in-edfl-division-2-ranked/news-story/8c8f46b278207cdf3d07ea81dd39a273