Official website of the Essendon District Football League

2019 Division One Team Of The Year

Final 22 Revealed


THE 2019 Division 1 Team of the Year has a very fresh look about it.

Only four players from the 2018 team have backed up and made the cut in 2019, with minor premier, East Keilor, filling six of the 22 available spots.

The Cougars’ impressive recruiting haul paid off in 2019 and four of their new additions have ended up in the Team of the Year, with Grabowski brothers Nick and Josh both slotting into the midfield, while Nathan Lyons (wing) and Ben Caluzzi (half back flank) are also in the starting 18.

After booting 52 home-and-away goals, Dion Hill earned his first Team of the Year nod at full forward, while last year’s Team of the Year captain, Ash Arrowsmith, has moved from the half back flank in 2018 into centre half back this time around.

Eventual premier, Craigieburn, also has solid representation in the side, with four Eagles getting the tick of approval from the coaches.

David McWilliam Medallist, Billy Morrison, is the starting ruck after being selected on the bench while playing for Jacana in last year’s team, while Jesse Davies has slotted in at rover after an impressive return to DS Aitken Reserve in 2019.

Defender Ben Fynch has moved from the back pocket in last year’s side to full back this year, while first-time inductee Brock Chircop has landed in a forward pocket after booting 32 home-and-away goals.

Taylors Lakes rising star, Jake Hobbs, has made the starting 18 after being selected on the bench last year and is the only Lion in the 22.

The division’s leading goal kicker, Omar Saad, has earned his first Team of the Year nod since making the Premier Division side as a West Coburg player in 2015, while Westmeadows teammate Robbie Castello is in the centre in his first year as a Tiger as well.

Castello was the captain of the Premier Division Team of the Year in 2016.

All but one of the nine clubs are represented in the final side, with relegated Oak Park the unlucky team to miss out on a selection.

This year’s captain and coach of the Division 1 Team of the Year will be revealed at Thursday’s EDFL Awards.


2019 DIVISION 1 TEAM OF THE YEAR
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SELECTION PROCESS & CRITERIA

All EDFL Teams of the Year are compiled based solely on the input of each club’s senior coach.

At the end of the home-and-away season, each senior coach is asked to submit their own Team of the Year.

Once all teams are submitted, the EDFL then compiles the final Team of the Year based on the data submitted by the coaches.

The Division 1 Team of the Year was to recognise the best players of the 2019 home-and-away season.

Other factors such as reputation or form in previous seasons were not to be taken into account.

There were no restrictions on how many players coaches wished to select from their own team, but they were encouraged to consider players from all participating teams.

Once teams were chosen, coaches were then asked to also appoint a captain for their selected team.

Finally, they were then asked to select one of their fellow senior coaches as their Coach of the Year.

They were not permitted to select themselves.

The coach with the most total votes was appointed the coach of the Team of the Year.

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