Local footy: EDFL club East Keilor signs Deer Park gun Chris Stewart
One of the leading players in suburban football has departed Deer Park after playing a key role in the WRFL powerhouse’s run of seven flags. The gun tall has put pen to paper with an EDFL club.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Pat Christofi’s admiration for Chris Stewart is unmistakable.
“From a coach’s point of view, he’s the best player I’ve ever seen play local footy,” the East Keilor coach declared.
One of the most decorated players in the suburban football ranks will make his return to the Essendon District Football League next season after putting pen to paper with the Cougars.
Stewart has been an inspirational figure Deer Park’s record run of success in the Western Region league’s top flight and departs as a seven-time premiership player, captaining the powerhouse to four flags from 2013-2016.
A big man of immense skill and ability, the veteran is capable of dominating the centre circle, the attacking half or as a defender.
Stewart booted 236 goals from 143 games for the Lions, claiming three best-and-fairest awards.
He earned four Team of the Year nods in seven seasons and was best afield in the 2018 WRFL grand final.
“I haven’t seen anyone with leadership qualities better than this bloke and knowing when to seize opportunity in a game. I haven’t seen anyone catch a ball better than this bloke,” Christofi said.
“He’s a natural leader. He can play anywhere you like.
“His ability to win games of footy on his own boot is well known, and he’s done it many times for Deer Park. He’s stood up in many grand finals to carry them over the line. He’s just an absolute warrior.”
Stewart has also been a member of flag-winning sides at Maribyrnong Park (2009 and 2010) and North Heidelberg (2005), meaning he has 10 premierships to his name at senior level.
It is an extraordinary CV, and Christofi is confident his star recruit has a minimum of “four or five years” left to showcase his best at East Keilor.
The Cougars have made no secret of their ambitions to secure promotion to Premier Division after losing last year’s Division 1 decider.
Christofi, a former senior assistant and reserves coach at Deer Park, first sat down with Stewart two years ago and unveiled East Keilor’s plan “for the next 10 years”.
“It attracted him to East Keilor because it resembled what he experienced in the past with where he was,” Christofi said.
“I think he’ll be the biggest name to come into East Keilor in the past 20 years.
“Chris is the sort of bloke who likes a challenge and he likes a plan. Most of all, it was the plan the club is undertaking that he liked. He’s a positive person and he can structure that I’ve put in place and what I’ve managed to do within 12 months of being at the footy club. It resembles everything that he stands for, which is planning and executing.
“That was probably the most attractive thing for him. There’s stability and a plan, and he can see the promise that there’s a definite finish line to that plan.
“He understands that hard work reaps rewards.”
Since the 2020 season was canned, the Cougars have also gained VFL-listed Bruno Laguda, ex-VFL player Fabian Brancatisano and reigning Hillside best-and-fairest Lockie Rayner.
Joshua Klaromenos and Jack Burns have crossed from Hillside.
They landed former AFL player Marc Lock, Tim Bongetti, Paul Scanlon, Kevin Klix, Lachlan Calder, Brandon Coletta, Victor Micallef, Tim Atkins and Mark Mazzeo before the coronavirus crisis hit.
Jackson Barrett and Lachlan Langwell have exited.
“He’s never been in better condition,” Christofi said of Stewart.
“He’s as fit as a fiddle and he works as hard as Paul Scanlon when it comes to working on himself. He’s absolutely elite in that area.
“He can help educate Lockie Rayner in the (ruck) role he will eventually take over full-time.
“The mentoring role to Lockie Rayner, Rusi Komaitai and Jye King is huge.”
Christofi said East Keilor’s much-talked about recruiting campaign was done.
“But the door remains open to anyone that wants to be a part of sustained success in the future,” he said.
MORE LEADER LOCAL FOOTY NEWS
BARNARD OUTLINES VISION FOR ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
WHY DECORATED COACH COULDN’T LEAVE ABERFELDIE
FORMER AFL BIG MAN RETURNS TO THE EDFL
THE BEST 20 PLAYERS IN EDFL DIVISION 1 REVEALED
THE BEST 20 PLAYERS IN EDFL DIVISION 2 RANKED
CLUB PRESIDENT’S ‘CHEATING’ CONCERN OVER LOWER SALARY CAPS
EDFL’S STAR RECRUIT RE-SIGNS FOR 2021
INSIDE EAST KEILOR’S EDFL LIST BUILD