FOR the first time in EDFL history, all 28 senior coaches were asked to anonymously provide their thoughts on how Season 2019 will shape up in their respective divisions.
Each of the 28 coaches from across the three senior men’s competitions were asked various questions about the teams and players within their division.
A final multiple-choice question was then included on which of the ‘AFL Laws of the Game’ rule changes would have the biggest impact on the game in 2019.
Scroll down to view the final results for each of the six questions, broken up by division.
Question 1: Other than your own club, who do you think enters Season 2019 as the premiership favourite in your division?
PREMIER DIVISION
Aberfeldie - 7 votes
Keilor - 2 votes
Greenvale - 1 vote
It doesn’t come as a huge shock that two-time reigning premier, Aberfeldie, was the most popular choice for ‘Premiership Favourite’ among the coaches. Keilor was the second-most popular choice with two out of nine votes and Greenvale also earned a vote from one of the division’s 10 coaches.
Aberfeldie is looking to claim its third successive flag in 2019. Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
DIVISION ONE
Craigieburn - 6 votes
Tullamarine - 3 votes
Only two Division 1 clubs drew votes for premiership favourite, with Craigieburn emerging as the coaches’ favourite with six votes out of a possible eight. The Eagles 2016 grand final opponent, Tullamarine, scored the remaining three votes.
DIVISION TWO
Sunbury Kangaroos - 4 votes
East Sunbury - 2 votes
Moonee Valley - 2 votes
Jacana - 1 vote
The Sunbury Kangaroos have emerged as the premiership favourite in Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 despite the fact they are entering the EDFL for the first time this season. Interestingly, of the three divisions, Division 2 produced the most diversity of premiership favourites, with four of the nine clubs drawing votes from the coaches.
Question 2: Assuming your team will make it, who are the three teams that you believe will join you in this year’s finals series?
PREMIER DIVISION
Aberfeldie - 9 votes
Keilor - 7 votes
Pascoe Vale - 6 votes
Greenvale - 5 votes
Strathmore - 2 votes
Maribyrnong Park - 1 vote
Aberfeldie was the only club to get a perfect score of nine, with every opposition coach predicting them to be a finalist in 2019. In total, six of the division’s 10 clubs drew votes in this category.
DIVISION ONE
Craigieburn - 8 votes
Tullamarine - 8 votes
East Keilor - 6 votes
West Coburg - 3 votes
Hillside - 2 votes
As expected, both Craigieburn and Tullamarine were the most popular choices for Division 1 finals predictions. Six coaches believe this is the year East Keilor breaks through into the final four, while three have West Coburg making the four after being relegated from Premier Division last year.
Tullamarine takes on Craigieburn in last year's Division 1 Preliminary Final. Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
DIVISION TWO
Jacana - 7 votes
Sunbury Kangaroos - 7 votes
Moonee Valley - 5 votes
East Sunbury - 4 votes
Coburg Districts - 3 votes
Northern Saints - 1 vote
In what is a further nod to the unpredictably and evenness of Strathmore Community Bank Division 2, six of the division’s nine clubs drew votes as potential finalists. Despite only getting one ‘Premiership Favourite’ vote, Jacana managed to equal the Sunbury Kangaroos in this category, scoring seven of a possible eight votes.
Question 3: Other than your own, who is the most underrated team in your division?
PREMIER DIVISION
Essendon Doutta Stars - 4 votes
Keilor - 2 votes
Pascoe Vale - 2 votes
Glenroy - 1 vote
Greenvale - 1 vote
With new coach Kyle Hardingham at the helm, Essendon Doutta Stars has emerged has the club considered to be the most underrated in Premier Division, yet no coach had them in their final four for Question 2.
DIVISION ONE
Taylors Lakes - 4 votes
Westmeadows - 4 votes
East Keilor - 1 vote
Opposition Division 1 coaches can’t be split between Taylors Lakes and Westmeadows as the most underrated teams in Division 1 and similar to the Premier Division result, neither drew a single vote for Question 2.
DIVISION TWO
Burnside Heights - 3 votes
Coburg Districts - 3 votes
East Sunbury - 1 vote
Moonee Valley - 1 vote
Northern Saints - 1 vote
Burnside Heights equalled Coburg Districts as the most underrated team of Strathmore Community Bank Division 2. Both teams missed finals last year and the Bears have never made the finals in their short history in the EDFL.
Is 2019 the year Burnside Heights makes its senior finals debut? Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
Question 4: Away from your own club, who do you rate as the best player in your division?
PREMIER DIVISION
Ryan Allan (Aberfeldie) - 2 votes
Luke Blackwell (Aberfeldie) - 2 votes
Luke Foster (Pascoe Vale) - 2 votes
Jaryd Cachia (Aberfeldie) - 1 vote
Nick O’Kearney (Keilor) - 1 vote
Zac Keogh (Greenvale*) - 1 vote
Matthew Watson (Pascoe Vale) - 1 vote
Key defenders dominated this category, with Ryan Allan and Luke Foster sharing the honours alongside star Aberfeldie midfielder, Luke Blackwell. Jaryd Cachia was the third Aberfeldie player among the results.
Ryan Allan was the full back of the 2018 Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division Team of the Year. Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
DIVISION ONE
Ash Arrowsmith (East Keilor) - 2 votes
Dean Bartrop (Tullamarine) - 1 vote
Ryan Bongetti (Craigieburn) - 1 vote
Mitch Church (Westmeadows) - 1 vote
Brandon Coletta (Hillside) - 1 vote
Josh Grabowski (East Keilor) - 1 vote
Dean Limbach (Craigieburn) - 1 vote
Anthony Prestia (Tullamarine) - 1 vote
A defender also won this category for Division 1, with star rebounder Ash Arrowsmith claiming the most votes. The coaches were otherwise split, with seven other players drawing votes for ‘Best Player’.
Ash Arrowsmith was named captain of the 2018 Division 1 Team of the Year. Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
DIVISION TWO
Cameron Cloke (Jacana) - 3 votes
Kamen Ogilvie (East Sunbury) - 3 votes
Lachlan Baddeley (Sunbury Kangaroos) - 1 vote
Tom Cree (East Sunbury) - 1 vote
Braden Padmore (Moonee Valley) - 1 vote
Cameron Cloke (2017 Leading Goal Kicker) and Kamen Ogilvie (2018 Best & Fairest) each drew three votes from opposition coaches as the ‘Best Player’ of Strathmore Community Bank Division 2. One coach opted to vote for Sunbury Kangaroo, Lachlan Baddeley, despite the fact he has yet to play a single game in the EDFL.
Kamen Ogilvie in action during last year's Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 Grand Final. Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
Question 5: Who will be your division's leading goal-kicker this year?
PREMIER DIVISION
Dean Galea (Keilor) - 5 votes
Matthew Watson (Pascoe Vale) - 4 votes
James Breust (Maribyrnong Park) - 1 vote
Champion Keilor full forward Dean Galea just managed to edge out Pascoe Vale star Matthew Watson as the favourite to win this year’s goal-kicking gong. Galea kicked 78 home-and-away goals to Watson’s 73 in 2018.
Dean Galea celebrates a goal during the 2018 Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division Preliminary Final. Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
DIVISION ONE
Dean Limbach (Craigieburn) - 6 votes
Dion Hill (East Keilor) - 1 vote
James McGrath (Taylors Lakes) - 1 vote
Matthew Patane (Hillside) - 1 vote
Craigieburn sharpshooter Dean Limbach was an easy choice for most of the Division 1 coaches in this category. He booted 77 goals in last year’s home-and-away season.
Dean Limbach made his EDFL debut with the Eagles in 2018. Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
DIVISION TWO
Cameron Cloke (Jacana) - 5 votes
Josh Covelli (Burnside Heights) - 3 votes
Lachlan Baddelely (Sunbury Kangaroos) - 1 vote
After 112 home-and-away goals when last at Jacana in 2017, it comes as no shock that Cameron Cloke is the coaches’ favourite to claim the Division 2 goal-kicking prize again in 2019. Last year’s winner, Josh Covelli, gave Cloke a run for his money, earning three votes.
Cameron Cloke celebrates one of his seven goals during the 2017 Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 Grand Final. Picture: Jamie Morey Photography
Question 6: Which new rule change/interpretation will have the biggest impact on the game in 2019? CLICK HERE to view the EDFL’s new rules and interpretations.
PREMIER DIVISION
Kick-Ins Following a Behind - 5 votes
Starting Positions (6-6-6) - 2 votes
50-Metre Penalty - 1 vote
Ruck Contests - Prior Opportunity - 1 vote
Runners & Water Carriers Restrictions - 1 vote
Half of the Premier Division coaches believe the new kick-in rules following a behind are going to play a big role in EDFL football in 2019. Interestingly, the much-talked-about 6-6-6 rule only drew two votes but was the most popular choice among coaches from both of the lower divisions.
DIVISION ONE
Starting Positions (6-6-6) - 5 votes
Kick-Ins Following a Behind - 3 votes
Marks/Free Kicks to Defenders - 1 vote
Most Division 1 coaches agree the 6-6-6 rule is the one that will have the most impact, drawing five votes out of nine. The top choice for Premier Division, kick-ins, drew three votes to be second-most popular in Division 1.
DIVISION TWO
Starting Positions (6-6-6) - 4 votes
Runners & Water Carriers Restrictions - 2 votes
Kick-Ins Following a Behind - 1 vote
Marks/Free Kicks to Defenders - 1 vote
Ruck Contests - Prior Opportunity - 1 vote
Similar to Division 1, nearly half of the coaches in Division 2 chose 6-6-6 as their answer to this question. Even though EDFL runners are still allowed on the ground during open play (unlike the AFL), two Division 2 coaches chose that option as their answer for this category.
