2019 RECAP
It was a small slide for Hillside in 2019, finishing fifth on the ladder and missing the finals for the first time since 2016 with an 8-8 record.
The Sharks collected some decent wins over finalists Westmeadows (twice) and Tullamarine during the year, but they also shot themselves in the foot against Taylors Lakes, Roxburgh Park and West Coburg in key games.
The year ended on a high, though, with Hillside sending off outgoing coach Steve Burns in style with a stirring nine-point road win over Tullamarine.
BEST & FAIREST TOP FIVE
1st - Lachlan Rayner
2nd - Jackson Volpato
3rd - Victor Micallef*
4th - Raafat Rachrache
5th - Liam Johnstone
GOAL KICKING TOP FIVE
27 - Matthew Patane
22 - Raafat Rachrache
20 - Brandon Coletta*
18 - Victor Micallef*
12 - Stephen Syme
DIVISION ONE TEAM OF THE YEAR
Lachlan Rayner (interchange)
Brandon Coletta* (interchange)
*players not returning in 2020
2020 PREVIEW
Coach: Charlie Denaro (1st season, replacing Steve Burns)
LIST CHANGES / LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Hisham Kerbatieh (Avondale Heights), Josh Trembearth (Glenroy), Bryson Scales (Craigieburn), Fadi Hayek (Thomastown), Jack Hickey (Riddell) & Lachlan Henson (Riddell)
Out: Victor Micallef & Brandon Coletta (both East Keilor), Jacob Tompkins & Reece Tompkins (both North Geelong)
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
The bombshell departures of Victor Micallef and Brandon Coletta to rival East Keilor looked as though they could have derailed Hillside's prospects coming into 2020, but the Sharks did very well to land some big fish of their own.
Hisham Kerbatieh is going to prove a nightmare for opposition back lines with his ability to find avenues to goal across half forward, while Glenroy premiership player Josh Trembearth is also a proven performer at this level as well.
After leading Moonee Valley to back-to-back grand final appearances in 2012 and '13, new coach Charlie Denaro is the perfect fit to replace 'Jock' Burns and lead Hillside back into finals contention with some new weapons at his disposal.
