Local footy: EDFL planning to launch 2021 season with Good Friday games
The Essendon District Football League is hoping to start 2021 in spectacular fashion as it moves closer to releasing its fixture.
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The Essendon District Football League is set to launch the 2021 campaign with a triple treat of blockbuster Good Friday matches.
Premier Division heavyweights Keilor and Strathmore and Division 1 rivals Hillside and Taylors Lakes would lock horns in traditional fixtures on the public holiday on April 2, while Division 2 clubs Keilor Park and Coburg Districts could meet in a twilight game on the same day.
All matches are subject to change as the EDFL works with AFL Victoria amid the coronavirus crisis.
If the schedule goes ahead unchanged, it would be a spectacular start to what will be a highly-anticipated season after the pandemic forced the 2020 campaign to be scrapped.
The league is compiling a draft fixture, which is set to be ratified and released before Christmas.
If the draft fixture is not adjusted in coming weeks, Darren Bewick will start his stint as Greenvale coach with a mouth-watering clash against rival Aberfeldie on April 10.
The Round 1 game could also be gun ruckman Nick Meese’s first for Abers, with the former VFL star signing on for 2020 before recommitting.
Division 1 premiership fancy and last year’s runner-up East Keilor would tackle 2019 finalist Westmeadows in its season opener.
The Cougars have landed a long list of big-name recruits since their grand final loss to Craigieburn, securing former AFL player Marc Lock, Chris Stewart, Tim Bongetti, Paul Scanlon, Bruno Laguda, Fabian Brancatisano, Lockie Rayner, Brandon Coletta and Victor Micallef.
The Tigers, Tullamarine, Airport West and new EDFL club Rupertswood will also be among the contenders for the ultimate prize.
In Division 2, Moonee Valley would have an appointment against Burnside Heights in Round 1 in a twilight re-match of last year’s preliminary final.
The Fog is desperate for promotion after last season’s grand final defeat, while the Bears impressed in 2019 as it contested finals for the first time in the EDFL’s senior ranks.
In other notable match-ups, Keilor is set to host Aberfeldie in Round 5 on May 8, with the pair clashing in the past two top-flight deciders.
Mick McGuane’s Blues have been bolstered by the return of star big man Andrew Browne, who claimed the Reynolds Medal in 2013, while Luke Cartelli and Paul Sahlberg have also signed on since 2019.
Last year’s Division 2 premier Sunbury Kangaroos and Rupertswood – the competition’s two newest clubs after making the move to the Riddell league – are due to renew their rivalry under lights in Round 3 on April 24.
Airport West and Jacana are the only clubs yet to lock in a senior coach for next season.
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