Local footy: EDFL club Avondale Heights to get lift from player points
After battling player points cap issues in recent seasons, EDFL Premier Division club Avondale Heights is eyeing what could be a significant boost to their prospects of success in 2021.
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Avondale Heights are eyeing the possibility of landing some big-name recruits in coming months despite savage cuts to the salary cap amid the coronavirus crisis.
Reappointed coach Paddy Byrne said the Essendon District Football League Premier Division club was likely to have plenty of room to move with player points and expected to retain “90-95 per cent” of his senior list.
The EDFL board is yet to make an official decision but returning players are set to drop a point in 2021, giving clubs the capacity to recruit.
Avondale Heights have faced player points issues in recent years as a result of mass changes to their senior squad and took the extraordinary step of fielding 21 players in a loss to Strathmore in 2019.
All top-flight community competitions are set to have a player payments ceiling of $100,000 next year to allow clubs to regain their financial footing.
“Now with the drop in the salary cap and that sort of thing, it’s even more crucial I think to make sure you retain your players,” Byrne said.
“The points has been an issue for the club in the past because of our lack of retention, but our best 18 will probably drop down to close to 30 points (in 2021), so that’s gold for us because it means you can top up with a couple of really top-end six-pointers if you can find them.
“They might be about because no one knows what’s happening with the VFL and whether AFL lists are going to get cut. I think there could be some players floating around.
“Whether you’re lucky enough to land one of those or not, who knows.”
Byrne has put pen to paper for two more seasons after the 2020 campaign was canned.
He was a senior assistant and midfield coach in 2019 before replacing Donald McDonald.
“You probably need two years with a young playing group to be honest,” Byrne said.
“It’s good for the footy club and all the boys were pretty keen on it, so that made the decision for me.”
The Heights finished ninth with four wins last year and have not contested finals since 2014.
They secured Matt Darby, Danko Bzenic, Muhammad Saad and Matt Chisari last off-season and lost Hisham Kerbatieh and Scott Harding.
Byrne said the club’s hard work since the end of last year would not go to waste.
While the “stop-start” nature of training under coronavirus restrictions this year proved challenging, the Heights developed their game plan and defensive structures under their new mentor.
“I don’t think you lose that. You get back into it and away you go,” Byrne said.
“Fitness and conditioning will be an issue. When we came back, it was probably the younger fellas more than the older ones (who struggled), and I just think the older fellas tend to have a bit more discipline in that regard.
“It might be different this time though with a fair break.”
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