Local Footy EDFL 2021: What to look forward to
The Essendon District Football League season didn’t get off the ground in 2020, but there’s plenty of light at the end of the tunnel as clubs take stock for next year. Here’s why 2021 will be worth the wait.
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BOUNCE OF THE BALL
The waiting game was the only game played this year after COVID-19 struck at the sporting scene and all else in Victoria. On March 23 the EDFL, SFNL, VAFA, Eastern, Northern and Western Region met AFL Victoria officials and decided to postpone their seasons until May 31. From that point they held regular meetings with AFL Vic, working towards a kick-off. Hopes of a start rose and dipped according to the number of coronavirus cases and advice from the State Government. But on June 3 Eastern and Northern pulled the pin, the WRFL followed on June 22 and Essendon District went the same way two days later. That left the VAFA and Southern as the last leagues standing. The Ammos bowed out on July 1, saying the health and safety risks were too great to push on in 2020, while Southern made it official on July 3.
LOWER SALARY CAP
The EDFL has cut the salary cap by 50 per cent across all three senior grades for 2021 as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Will it even the playing field? Only time will tell. Aberfeldie and Keilor have shared the past five Premier Division flags, with Greenvale, Strathmore, Pascoe Vale and Maribyrnong Park all contesting finals during that period. But can the likes of Essendon Doutta Stars, Glenroy or Avondale Heights shoot up the ladder with the player payments ceiling $100,000 in the top flight? The promoted club may also benefit from the cuts in coming seasons, with Division 1 sides having a limit of $85,000, meaning they will not need significantly more money to compete with the elite.
THE AMBITIOUS COUGARS
Pat Christofi’s East Keilor has enjoyed more headlines than any other club since losing the 2019 Division 1 decider. Before the season was cancelled, the Cougars landed ex-AFL player Marc Lock, Tim Bongetti, Paul Scanlon, Kevin Klix, Lachlan Calder, Brandon Coletta and Victor Micallef. Since the season was cancelled, they’ve signed ex-VFL player Fabian Brancatisano and Hillside co-captain Lockie Rayner. There is little doubting East Keilor will enter next season as a raging flag favourite, but what its best team looks like is uncertain as Christofi faces a delicate balance with player points. The club, however, has a long-term plan. The Cougars have made no secret of their ambitions to get to Premier Division and are building a senior squad bursting with talent.
ABERS’ ONE-TWO RECRUITING PUNCH
Premier Division powerhouse Aberfeldie landed arguably the competition’s two best recruits of the last off-season. Champion VFL ruckman Nick Meese was the first to put pen to paper before former Fremantle and Sydney-listed AFL defender Peter Faulks joined the club a few months later. Meese was a member of Williamstown’s 2015 flag and claimed its best-and-fairest in 2017. He made a habit of towelling up AFL-listed big men in the state league, while Faulks was also a premiership winner at the Seagulls. The pair are yet to re-commit, but they will be a joy to watch if they’re running around in the EDFL in 2021.
NEW HEAD COACHES
Two top-flight clubs are in the market for new coaches, with Paul Chapman departing Greenvale and Kyle Hardingham exiting the top job at Essendon Doutta Stars. The Jets have had a history of appointing high-profile mentors and expect some big names to be interested in the role, while Hardingham said the Stars’ next coach would have a “dream job”. Division 1 outfit Sunbury Kangaroos are also on the hunt after premiership winner Anthony Leydin made the call to end his tenure.
WATCH OUT FOR THE FOG
Moonee Valley had every right to be frustrated after the season was canned. The Division 2 club assembled a strong senior list which had them a clear flag favourite after losing the 2019 grand final to the undefeated Sunbury Kangaroos. But the Fog has wasted no time lamenting the unusual circumstances, with re-signed coach Shanon Carroll revealing earlier this month he had already started recruiting. The likes of former AFL player Jesse Smith, Sam O’Brien, Michael Lobb and Alex Gleeson were significant off-season acquisitions as the club chases its first senior flag since 1999.
LIONS STARS LOCKED IN
Taylors Lakes made two significant acquisitions last off-season in sharpshooter Patrick Rose and ex-AFL player Scott Harding. The pair have re-committed for next season, along with coach Charles Cuzzupi, who is locked in until the end of the 2022 campaign. Watch out for Rose and Harding to make a huge impact in Division 1 as the Lions look to contest finals for the first time since 2014.
TIGHT DIVISION 1
While all the talk has surrounded East Keilor, Division 1 – described as the best division in local footy by ardent EDFL watches – will be fascinating in 2021. The Cougars are setting the standard, but teams such as Airport West, Tullamarine and Westmeadows should not be discounted. West Coburg still has a good crop of players with Premier Division experience, Taylors Lakes is aiming high and Hillside and Roxburgh Park will be looking to improve. Buckle up.
NEW CLUB?
Rupertswood’s bid to move to the EDFL is before AFL Victoria’s appeals tribunal. If its bid to join the competition is given the green light, the 2019 RDFL premier would likely join Division 1. That would eliminate the bye and only boost a second tier which is always improving on the ground.
KEILOR’S PRIME MOVERS
It feels like a long time ago now, but Keilor completed a perfect season in 2019, tasting the ultimate glory on grand final day without ex-AFL listed pair Damien Cavka and Nick O’Kearney. Cavka has made 16 appearances for the Blues over the past three seasons, but Mick McGuane declared in March that the former Eagle was “flying”. O’Kearney has endured a rotten run with injury, but his quality is not in question. The competition will only benefit if those two stay injury-free and are able to showcase their wares next year.
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