2019 RECAP
Airport West gained promotion into Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division after winning the Division 1 flag in 2018, but after just one year in the top flight, the Eagles are now back in Division 1.
They only mustered two wins last year and their relegation fate was sealed in a disappointing 77-point loss at Avondale Heights in the penultimate round of the season.
An 82-point home win over the Heights in Round 8, an 11-point win at Glenroy in Round 13 and the outstanding individual season of new recruit Damandeep Aujla (who will play for Pascoe Vale in 2020) were the few bright spots in what was a lowly year among the big boys for Airport West.
BEST & FAIREST TOP FIVE
1st - Damandeep Aujla*
2nd - Tyson Young
3rd - Clayton Rogers
4th - Anthony Aloi
5th - Scott McAllester
GOAL KICKING TOP FIVE
35 - Damandeep Aujla*
16 - Alex Penaluna
14 - Tyson Young
13 - George Nabbout*
11 - Chris Lawton*
STRATHMORE COMMUNITY BANK PREMIER DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR
Damandeep Aujla* (forward pocket)
*players not returning in 2020
2020 PREVIEW
Coach: Jimmy House (1st season, replacing Geoff Maddern)
LIST CHANGES / LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Dean Limbach (Diamond Creek), Adam Meiorin (Oak Park) & Liam Forbes (Pascoe Vale)
Out: George Nabbout (Westmeadows), Damandeep Aujla (Pascoe Vale), Anthony Daw (North Heidelberg), Chris Lawton (Diggers Rest), Ned Gentile (Essendon Doutta Stars), Jesse Eddy (Violet Town), Reuben William (Redland), Bailee Revell (Rupertswood) & Jayden Ranno (Westmeadows)
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
It's a new era for Airport West under first-year senior coach, Jimmy House, who has a pretty good playing list at his disposal.
Damandeep Aujla, George Nabbout and Chris Lawton are among some key departures but the arrival of gun key forward Dean Limbach, a proven Division 1 goal kicker with Craigieburn, could loom as one of the division's best recruits of Season 2020.
Combined with Tyson Young and Clayton Rogers, the Eagles' best 22 structures up really well and is full of proven and experienced players that only two years ago went all the way in this division, so they'll start 2020 as one of the teams to beat.
