NFL 2018: Bundoora loses three premiership players to East Keilor

BUNDOORA will enter a new era under coach Andrew Sturgess without three members of its 2017 premiership team.

Joe Palazzolo is one of three Bundoora players headed to East Keilor. Picture: Stuart Milligan

BUNDOORA will enter a new era under coach Andrew Sturgess without three members of its 2017 premiership team.

Joe Palazzolo, Josh Grabowski and Nick Grabowski have signed with ambitious Essendon District Division 1 club East Keilor after they were senior regulars under outgoing coach Ricky Dyson.

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The Bulls have moved quickly to replace the trio, signing Mernda pair Liam Gray and Adrian Stefanile, Whittlesea midfielder Brenton Briffa and securing Matthew Evans’ return from Avondale Heights.

“Someone like Josh Grabowski is pretty hard to replace,” Sturgess said.

“A goalkicking midfielder and vice-captain of the state team. Premiership player. League representative.

“He’s got a fair resume, so he’s obviously going to be hard to replace. Those sort of players don’t just turn up on your doorstep.

“I think what it does, by me coming in and players moving on, it presents opportunity and a bit of a clean slate for everyone on the list.”

Sturgess, a former VFL assistant coach with Coburg, will be a playing coach next season after succeeding Dyson at Yulong Reserve.

Josh Grabowski enjoyed a successful stint at Bundoora. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

“I feel like what we have got there, the young guys coming through, and also what we are working on getting to the club, we can still move forward and have a positive year,” he said.

Key-position player Gray is likely to fill a defensive post, while Briffa and Stefanile will add depth across the half-forward line and wings.

Sturgess said Evans, a Bundoora junior, would be a “really important player” next year for the perennial contender in Northern Football League Division 1.

“When he left Bundoora he was probably a bit young and immature, and he has developed his football and also his personality,” he said.

The Bulls were hopeful Dyson would consider playing on after landing a role with Essendon’s VFL team, but he has joined his brother-in-law Paul Harris at Banyule.

Sturgess said the nucleus of Bundoora’s senior team had otherwise recommitted, adding the club expects to announce further recruits in coming weeks.

The Bulls finished fourth this year, bowing out in a semi-final against eventual premier West Preston-Lakeside.

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