Local footy: EDFL club Pascoe Vale gives update on list for 2021
EDFL Premier Division outfit Pascoe Vale has locked in some important signings as it chases its maiden top-flight premiership.
Local Footy
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Pascoe Vale is bursting with optimism after retaining its senior list as the Essendon District Football League Premier Division outfit chases a maiden top-flight flag.
Despite salary cap cuts amid the coronavirus crisis, the Panthers have locked in their stars and 2020 recruits for next season.
It is a sizeable boost for the club, which lost champion defender Luke Foster to retirement after the 2019 campaign, along with the likes of Patrick Veszpremi, Daniel Archer, Daniel Johncock and Sean Gregory.
Pascoe Vale will enter next year with a point to prove under coach Digby Morrell after it was hammered by Strathmore in last season’s elimination final.
“It was a big relief. There was definitely part of us that was a little bit worried about how they would deal with such a big reduction,” football operations manager Justin Cannon said, pointing to the $100,000 salary cap in Premier Division.
“It took a bit of work, from Digby mainly being honest and transparent with the group and working through that with them.
“They were pretty good about it, but some of them needed to talk about it obviously.”
The Panthers qualified for finals last season after missing out on the top four previous two years.
They have failed to win a final in the top grade since claiming the 2011 Division 1 premiership but have avoided relegation.
Morrell has completed one season at the helm and is desperate to deliver the ultimate success.
Cannon said powerhouses Keilor, Aberfeldie, Strathmore and Greenvale were “clubs to admire”.
He said they were the competition’s undisputed leading clubs, Pascoe Vale remained on the right track to be a genuine contender.
The Panthers are set to roll out some big-name signings in 2021, headlined by Nick Parthenopoulos, Damandeep Aujla, Sam Godden, Nick Linton, Nick Gooch, Daniel Guccione, Daniel Sharrock and Gerard Sharrock
Cannon said Liam Forbes and Corey Le Favi would also return next year after they were set to take the field for Airport West this season.
“There’s some big pick-ups there,” Cannon said.
“Since anyone has seen us play, we’ll have seven new players in our best 22 … and those seven are in our best 10.
“You never know until you see it play out, but I’d be shocked if we didn’t play finals.
“It’s the best shape we’ve ever been in. I think it’s more sustainable, our (player) points for our best team will probably be in the mid-30s and it will be the first time we’ve played well below the points threshold since the system came in.
“That is hard to manage week to week, where there’s always one or two players who are probably in your best 22 and you’re having to tell them they’re not because of points.”
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