Local footy: EDFL club East Keilor adds Steve Burns to coaching team
EDFL Division 1 premiership contender East Keilor has made plenty of major player signings since the end of 2019 season. Now the Cougars have made a big addition to their coaching panel.
Local Footy
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East Keilor coach Pat Christofi has bolstered his panel with the addition of the experienced Steve Burns for the 2021 Essendon District Football League Division 1 season.
Burns spent more than a decade at the helm of Taylors Lakes and Hillside, steering the Lions to their only senior premiership in 2010.
He called time on his tenure at the Sharks at the end of the 2019 campaign following five seasons at the helm.
Christofi said he was pleased to welcome Burns, who missed out on Rupertswood’s top job.
“Steve Burns probably knows everyone in the comp more than anyone else,” Christofi said of his new assistant coach.
“It helps us dissect the opposition … for the players’ benefit, our benefit.
“With his knowledge of all the teams in the EDFL, it just helps us with where we want to get to. He’s only going to be an asset to us.”
Former AFL player Steve Kolyniuk, who has coached East Keilor, St Albans, Essendon Doutta Stars and Hillside, will stay put as a senior assistant.
Christofi said the ex-Western Bulldog had “one of the best footy brains I’ve ever come across”.
“He’s been with me for the past seven years,” he said.
“He’s mentored me. His experience as a coach has developed me as a coach.”
Anthony Papalia will also remain as an assistant coach, focusing on opposition analysis and statistics.
Star recruits Marc Lock (defence), Paul Scanlon (midfield) and Tim Bongetti (forward), who all have experience at AFL or VFL level, have been appointed line coaches.
The Cougars finished runner-up last year, losing to Craigieburn in the Division 1 grand final.
But the club has signalled its intent to earn promotion to Premier Division, signing champion big man Chris Stewart, VFL-listed Bruno Laguda, ex-VFL player Fabian Brancatisano and reigning Hillside best-and-fairest Lockie Rayner since the season was canned.
Michael Ogliarolo will lead the reserves, with Robert Coletta his assistant.
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