Local Footy EFL 2021: What to look forward to
The Eastern league season didn’t get off the ground in 2020, but there’s plenty of light at the end of the tunnel as its clubs take stock for next year. Here’s why 2021 will be worth the wait.
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Big-name recruits, a rare shot at history, new coaches, redemption stories and more. Here’s why season 2021 will be worth the wait for EFL pundits...
BOUNCE OF THE BALL
The waiting game was the only game played this year after COVID-19 struck at the sporting scene and all else in Victoria. On March 23 the EDFL, SFNL, VAFA, Eastern, Northern and Western Region met AFL Victoria officials and decided to postpone their seasons until May 31. From that point they held regular meetings with AFL Vic, working towards a kick-off. Hopes of a start rose and dipped according to the number of coronavirus cases and advice from the State Government. But on June 3 Eastern and Northern pulled the pin, the WRFL followed on June 22 and Essendon District went the same way two days later. That left the VAFA and Southern as the last leagues standing. The Ammos bowed out on July 1, saying the health and safety risks were too great to push on in 2020, while Southern made it official on July 3.
HOW WILL THE LIONS FARE IN THE TOP-FLIGHT?
For the first time in club history, Doncaster East will contest the top division of the Eastern league. The Lions have won back-to-back premierships and earned long-awaited promotion to the top tier after being the team to beat in their respective grade for the past three seasons. They lost to an underdog Knox outfit in 2017, then won the flag in 2018 but were to stay in the second tier due to the impending competition restructure. In 2019 however, the Lions were not to be denied. Doncaster East enters its maiden Premier Division campaign with a stack of ex-AFL talent on its list – Mav Weller, Sam Rowe, Zac Clarke and Simon White, the former three all joining at the end of 2019. Senior coach Steve Buckle has also said the club will be out to further bolster its list before 2021. All eyes will be on the Lions as they take on the EFL’s best.
TWO SIDES VIE FOR A THREE-PEAT
Premier Division clubs Vermont and Doncaster East are the only two EFL clubs that have a shot at a three-peat in 2021. The Eagles are the reigning champs of the past two seasons in the top grade, having stormed to the 2018 and ’19 flags. They will however need to overcome the loss of Chandler medallist and leading goalkicker Brett Eddy and spearhead Jake Best, who have both moved on. A changing of the guard up forward hasn’t been the only shift at Terrara Road however, with dual premiership Eagle Adam Parker leading the club as coach. Doncaster East’s recruits and ambitions have been well-documented, and look set to give the top division a shake. It’s set to be a tight race with runner-up Blackburn loaded with talent and out for redemption, and 2019 finalists South Croydon, Balwyn and Rowville looking healthy, while a rebounding Doncaster will regain a number of key names that spent 2019 on the sidelines through injury. A three-peat will be no easy feat, but could these two star-studded Eagle and Lion line-ups be battling it out for the coveted treble at the head of the table?
NEW COACHES
The season shutdown meant a number of new names among the five divisions haven’t yet had the chance to lead their side on game-day. The top-flight sees Noble Park’s Steve Hughes taking over from long-serving dual premiership coach Mick Fogarty, and Vermont’s Adam Parker taking over from two-time flag-winning mentor Harmit Singh. Division 1 will see former South Croydon star Ben Osborne lead East Ringwood and Stephen De Luca at Upper Ferntree Gully, whose CV includes both VFL and AFL experience. Lilydale’s new coach is yet to be named. Division 2 is headlined by new Knox coach in former Hawthorn defender Brendan Whitecross, and Ryan Webster at Mulgrave. Division 3 sees a host of new coaches – Brent Kiker (Ferntree Gully), Dylan Price (Glen Waverley Hawks), Tom Langford (Waverley Blues), Brad Taws (Whitehorse), and premiership coach Kristian Bardsley returns to Scoresby. Speaking of returning names, Simon Caldwell will head up Kilsyth after leading the club last decade, David Jensen takes the reins at Surrey Park and Ryan Dobson will lead an improved Nunawading outfit.
TIGHT DIVISION 1
In 2019, just four points separated 4th from 7th on the league’s second tier ladder. Three sides finished on eight wins apiece, or, 32 points, as Park Orchards became the highest finishing of those to qualify for finals by just under three per cent, ahead of Upper Gully. At the opposite end of the table, six wins was enough to condemn Knox to relegation. Wantirna South survived by two points above the Falcons, courtesy of an after the siren draw with Mooroolbark early in the season. If Division 1 is anywhere near as even and entertaining as it was in 2019, then 2021 is set to be a treat. Keep an eye out for two new challengers - Montrose, who will contest the league’s second tier for the first time since 2013, and Mitcham after earning promotion following its 2019 flag.
PLOT THICKENS IN DIVISION 2
Anyone with even a remote interest in suburban football would likely remember the climax the league’s third tier reached to end the season in 2019.
A kick after the siren to decide the grand final was ruled agonisingly short as Mitcham held on to defeat Ringwood.
The Tigers are now up a division, and Ringwood will be ruthlessly hunting that elusive flag, led by re-signed coach Brett Rowe and returning power forward Trent Farmer.
Meanwhile, Boronia continues to pose as a threat to those around it, after finishing in top spot last season following on from its 2018 flag.
The new challenger is South Belgrave, after completing an undefeated season in Division 3 last year, proving time and again why it is more than ready to take on Division 2.
It should also be noted that just one game separated 3rd to 5th – with Heathmont and Templestowe proving to be thereabouts.
The great unknowns are The Basin and Mulgrave. The Bears will be no doubt bolstered by the return of co-captain Shane Davidson who missed a large chunk of 2019 through injury, and the re-signings of three-time best and fairest Josh Adams and on-baller Nick Hallo. Mulgrave proved it could mix it with the best last season, and will be out for consistency under Ryan Webster. Knox enters the division after being relegated from Division 1, and looks an exciting prospect under new coach Brendan Whitecross.
A MORE EVEN DIVISION 3
Pundits who watched Division 3 last season would recall how even the comp was – with the exception of South Belgrave which had an average winning margin of 93.5 across its 20 unbeaten matches.
But with the Saints up a division, the competition is up for grabs – runners-up the Waverley Blues will be out for redemption led by ex-Port Melbourne player Tom Langford as playing-coach, and fellow finalists Ferntree Gully and Warrandyte will be in the hunt. Donvale, which finished out of the finals race by percentage, will also be no push-over, and Whitehorse has regained a number of its 2018 premiership stars. New-comers Fairpark and East Burwood will be intriguing additions to the division, after the Lions took the Division 4 flag and the Rams finished close runners-up. This division looks set to be a beauty.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS IN DIVISION 4
For Coldstream and Surrey Park, the 2019 finals series left much to be desired – both enjoyed respective runs of momentum in the lead-up to their campaigns and proved worthy contenders, but both would end seemingly prematurely. The Cougars’ second-placed finish to the home-and-away season resulted in a straight-sets exit from the finals, while Surrey Park qualified for its first finals series in 13 years by one per cent and was bundled out in the first week by Fairpark. Both the Coldstream and Surrey Park camps will be hungry to better 2019’s results, and seem well-poised to contest finals again in 2021. After missing out on the finals by said one per cent, Silvan was also left to rue a missed opportunity, and Forest Hill will look to build on its seven wins from last season under re-signed coach, Justin Scicluna.
Chirnside Park is optimistic it can improve and snap a two-year losing streak as it makes the move down to Division 4. Kilsyth, Nunawading and Croydon North-MLOC pose as the great unknowns as the trio set out to move up the ladder.
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