Official website of the Essendon District Football League

Mid-Season Snapshot - Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division

Club-By-Club Review


STRATHMORE Community Bank Premier Division has been fascinating to say the least.

Aberfeldie looked like to have been on track to potentially emulate its 20-0 perfect season of 2015, until an undermanned Keilor put them back in their place in Round 6.

We've seen Pascoe Vale make some good inroads under new coach, Digby Morrell, while both Maribyrnong Park and Avondale Heights have been pleasant surprises after being tipped as relegation favourites before the season.

With Round 8 set to resume after this week's Queen's Birthday break, let's take a club-by-club look at how things sit in the EDFL's top tier.


Click on the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division logo to view the current ladder.


Ladder Position:
1st at 7-0 (162.25)

Form:
W - @ Glenroy
W - @ Strathmore
W - vs Pascoe Vale
W - vs Avondale Heights
W - @ Airport West
W - vs Aberfeldie
W - vs Greenvale

Leading Goal Kickers:
35 - Dean Galea
11 - Matthew Clark (pictured right)
8 - Jackson McMahon
6 - David Gourdis
6 - Jamie Papalia

Times Named in Best Players:
6 - Kane Barbuto (pictured left)
4 - David Isbister
4 - Dean Galea
3 - David Gourdis
3 - Jamie Papalia
3 - Stefan Radovanovic
3 - Todd Stevenson        

Remaining Draw:
@ Essendon Doutta Stars
@ Maribyrnong Park
vs Glenroy
vs Strathmore
@ Pascoe Vale
@ Avondale Heights
vs Airport West
@ Aberfeldie
@ Greenvale
vs Essendon Doutta Stars
vs Maribyrnong Park

EDFL Media says:
Despite missing star play-makers Damien Cavka and Nick O'Kearney, among others, the Blues have been unbelievably consistent. Back-to-back home wins over Aberfeldie and Greenvale have shown just how damaging they can be when Kane Barbuto and Dean Galea are both playing well. The run home will be tricky, though, with away games still to come against Pascoe Vale, Aberfeldie and Greenvale.


Ladder Position:
2nd at 6-1 (150.87)

Form:
W - vs Strathmore
W - @ Airport West
W - @ Avondale Heights
W - vs Greenvale
W - @ Essendon Doutta Stars
L - @ Keilor
W - vs Maribyrnong Park

Leading Goal Kickers:
23 - Kyle Reimers
18 - Jayden Foster
10 - Josh Pound
6 - Sam Cattapan
5 - Jean-Luc Velissaris
5 - Joel Madden

Times Named in Best Players:
4 - Jaryd Cachia
4 - Jayden Foster
4 - Kyle Reimers
4 - Luke Davis
4 - Nic Cattapan

Remaining Draw:
vs Pascoe Vale
@ Glenroy
@ Strathmore
vs Airport West
vs Avondale Heights
@ Greenvale
vs Essendon Doutta Stars
vs Keilor
@ Maribyrnong Park
@ Pascoe Vale
vs Glenroy

EDFL Media says:
The two-time defending premiers have put together a near-flawless run. One bad quarter against Keilor is the only reason why Aberfeldie isn't currently undefeated and on top of the ladder and to have Kyle Reimers and Jayden Foster both firing up forward is a wonderful luxury to have moving forward. 


Ladder Position:
3rd at 5-2 (136.50)

Form:
W - vs Pascoe Vale
W - vs Maribyrnong Park
W - @ Essendon Doutta Stars
L - @ Aberfeldie
W - vs Glenroy
W - vs Airport West
L - @ Keilor

Leading Goal Kickers:
22 - Jacob Thompson
9 - Courtenay Dempsey
8 - Nat Caruso
7 - Ryan Mills
6 - Addam Maric
6 - David Sardo
6 - Josh Smith

Times Named in Best Players:
6 - Nat Caruso
5 - Jacob Thompson
4 - Fabian Deluca
4 - Nick Maric
4 - Tom Cleary

Remaining Draw:
vs Strathmore
@ Avondale Heights
@ Pascoe Vale
@ Maribyrnong Park
vs Essendon Doutta Stars
vs Aberfeldie
@ Glenroy
@ Airport West
vs Keilor
@ Strathmore
vs Avondale Heights

EDFL Media says:
The Jets are exactly where they need to be at this point of the season. With Addam Maric still finding his legs after an injury-interrupted 2018, they will only get better. They should be feeling confident about their chances of reversing their fortunes in the return fixtures against Aberfeldie and Keilor, both of which will be at home later in the year. 


Ladder Position:
4th at 4-2-1 (135.86)

Form:
L - @ Greenvale
W - vs Essendon Doutta Stars
L - @ Keilor
W - @ Strathmore
W - vs Maribyrnong Park
D - @ Glenroy
W - vs Avondale Heights

Leading Goal Kickers:
21 - Matthew Watson
12 - Daniel Archer
12 - Josh Cauchi
7 - Jacob Polizzi
6 - Dean Soncin
6 - Jordan Cellini

Times Named in Best Players:
5 - Kristian Economou
4 - Ben Allan
4 - Lachlan Stredwick
4 - Michael Ross

Remaining Draw:
@ Aberfeldie
vs Airport West
vs Greenvale
@ Essendon Doutta Stars
vs Keilor
vs Strathmore
@ Maribyrnong Park
vs Glenroy
@ Avondale Heights
vs Aberfeldie
@ Airport West

EDFL Media says:
Pascoe Vale's new-look forward line has been a little hit-and-miss, but you still have to give the Panthers a big tick for their year to date. Next week's game at Aberfeldie will be telling, as questions still remain about Pascoe Vale's true premiership credentials


Ladder Position:
5th at 4-3 (106.52)

Form:
L - @ Aberfeldie
L - vs Keilor
W - @ Glenroy
L - vs Pascoe Vale
W - @ Avondale Heights
W - @ Maribyrnong Park
W - vs Airport West

Leading Goal Kickers:
12 - Shane Foulds
11 - Josh Helliwell
11 - Kyle Weightman
6 - Athan Tsialtas
5 - Alex Grima

Times Named in Best Players:
5 - Luke Jarrad
4 - Andrew Vavra
4 - Nick O'Brien
4 - Xavier Allison

Remaining Draw:
@ Greenvale
vs Essendon Doutta Stars
vs Aberfeldie
@ Keilor
vs Glenroy
@ Pascoe Vale
vs Avondale Heights
vs Maribyrnong Park
@ Airport West
vs Greenvale
@ Essendon Doutta Stars

EDFL Media says:
Strathmore is in some good form but all four of its wins have come against the division's current bottom four teams. The list falls away significantly after its top dozen or so players, but give coach Matthew Horne some time to develop what's underneath that top-end and watch Strathmore bounce back in coming seasons. Fifth is about right for the time being.


Ladder Position:
6th at 3-4 (89.71)

Form:
W - vs Airport West
L - @ Pascoe Vale
L - vs Greenvale
W - @ Maribyrnong Park
L - vs Aberfeldie
L - @ Avondale Heights
W - vs Glenroy

Leading Goal Kickers:
8 - Alex Boyse
8 - Jordan Rogers
7 - Jordan Schroder
7 - Marcus Calvaresi
6 - Mitchell Day
6 - Mitchell Jones

Times Named in Best Players:
5 - Jordan Schroder
4 - Bruno Laguda
4 - Campbell Wearne
3 - Charles Lill
3 - Dalton Comito
3 - Jordan Angus
3 - Mitchell Jones
3 - Tom Wallis

Remaining Draw:
vs Keilor
@ Strathmore
@ Airport West
vs Pascoe Vale
@ Greenvale
vs Maribyrnong Park
@ Aberfeldie
vs Avondale Heights
@ Glenroy
@ Keilor
vs Strathmore

EDFL Media says:
We were probably hoping for a little more from Douttas, but there is still time for improvement. Given their new spearhead, Alex Boyse, has been missing since Round 5, you probably have to cut the Stars a little slack. They should be aiming for at least six more wins to, at a minimum, break even at 9-9 for the year.


Ladder Position:
7th at 2-5 (86.20)

Form:
W - vs Avondale Heights
L - @ Greenvale
W - vs Airport West
L - vs Essendon Doutta Stars
L - @ Pascoe Vale
L - vs Strathmore
L - @ Aberfeldie

Leading Goal Kickers:
12 - James Breust
10 - Jock Cornell
7 - Noah Milton
6 - Brandon Ryan
6 - George Abboud
6 - Jordan Davey

Times Named in Best Players:
5 - James Breust
5 - Scott Clarke
3 - Brandon Ryan
3 - Joshua Cole
3 - Matthew Gaul

Remaining Draw:
@ Glenroy
vs Keilor
@ Avondale Heights
vs Greenvale
@ Airport West
@ Essendon Doutta Stars
vs Pascoe Vale
@ Strathmore
vs Aberfeldie
vs Glenroy
@ Keilor

EDFL Media says:
The Lions are not yet safe from relegation but are on the right track. Dean Laildey's young side can be very inconsistent from quarter to quarter, but the signs look good when Marby is playing well. Their only 'poor' loss came last week at home to Aberfeldie, so they're going well given the dire pre-season expectations of some.


Ladder Position:
8th at 2-5 (69.75)

Form:
L - @ Maribyrnong Park
W - vs Glenroy
L - vs Aberfeldie
L - @ Keilor
L - vs Strathmore
W - vs Essendon Doutta Stars
L - @ Pascoe Vale

Leading Goal Kickers:
12 - Hisham Kerbatieh
9 - Justin Morris
8 - Scott Harding
6 - Ruairi Cleary
5 - Brad Robb

Times Named in Best Players:
4 - Connor Byrne
4 - Jack Watkins
4 - Jackson Robb
3 - Hisham Kerbatieh
3 - Ruairi Cleary

Remaining Draw:
@ Airport West
vs Greenvale
vs Maribyrnong Park
@ Glenroy
@ Aberfeldie
vs Keilor
@ Strathmore
@ Essendon Doutta Stars
vs Pascoe Vale
vs Airport West
@ Greenvale

EDFL Media says:
The Heights are in a very similar boat to Maribyrnong Park. They have very exciting talent on their list and some older heads to nurture their development, as well as an experienced and upbeat senior coach (Donald McDonald) who isn't worried about short-term pain. Avondale Heights will continue to be a tough out for most sides in the division.


Ladder Position:
9th at 1-5-1 (78.86)

Form:
L - vs Keilor
L - @ Avondale Heights
L - vs Strathmore
W - @ Airport West
L - @ Greenvale
D - vs Pascoe Vale
L - @ Essendon Doutta Stars

Leading Goal Kickers:
10 - Lachlan Ronaldson
9 - Aaron Kite
8 - Adam Winter
6 - Reid Nilsson

Times Named in Best Players:
4 - Jackson McDonald
4 - Lachie Ronaldson
4 - Tom Atwell

Remaining Draw:
vs Maribyrnong Park
vs Aberfeldie
@ Keilor
vs Avondale Heights
@ Strathmore
vs Airport West
vs Greenvale
@ Pascoe Vale
vs Essendon Doutta Stars
@ Maribyrnong Park
@ Aberfeldie

EDFL Media says:
Glenroy's been disappointing to say the least. You could give them an out by citing the numerous injuries that have prevented them from fielding their best 22, but coach Ross Terranova won't be having any of that. Another win over Airport West will most likely be enough to survive relegation, but the Roys need to lift their game.


Ladder Position:
10th at 0-7 (49.69)

Form:
L - @ Essendon Doutta Stars
L - vs Aberfeldie
L - @ Maribyrnong Park
L - vs Glenroy
L - vs Keilor
L - @ Greenvale
L - @ Strathmore

Leading Goal Kickers:
10 - Damandeep Aujla
6 - Lachlan Cavanagh
5 - Brendan Godden
5 - Christopher Lawton
5 - George Nabbout
5 - Joel Brown
5 - Tyson Young

Times Named in Best Players:
4 - Clayton Rogers
4 - George Nabbout
3 - Anthony Aloi
3 - Koolyn Briggs
3 - Lachlan Di Sebastiano
3 - Scott Mcallester
3 - Steven Rizzo

Remaining Draw:
vs Avondale Heights
@ Pascoe Vale
vs Essendon Doutta Stars
@ Aberfeldie
vs Maribyrnong Park
@ Glenroy
@ Keilor
vs Greenvale
vs Strathmore
@ Avondale Heights
vs Pascoe Vale

EDFL Media says:
Coming up from Division 1 was going to be hard, but we didn't expect this. It's pretty damning that arguably Airport West's two best performances of the year were both six-goal losses. But the Eagles do have some very good players in their side. If Bior Malual returns from VFL duties to become a regular starter and combines with the in-form Damandeep Aujla and not-so-in-form Tyson Young, then expect the Eagles to improve significantly and push to fight off instant relegation. 

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