With the 2023 season just around the corner, EDFL Media will be previewing each club heading into Round One. Next, we chat to Keilor Park coach Paul Guicas who provides some insights on their 2023 campaign.
2022: 1st, premiers (14W, 1L, 218.33%)
Coach: Paul Guicas (third season)
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"It's just been about getting better at how we want to play as a group, we know our game plan and that's what I was really impressed about the other day at our first proper hit out (practice match against Werribee Centrals), nothing had changed. We're touching up things a little bit and we're really looking forward to playing Division One and giving it a good crack."
LIST SHAPE
"We had three players that kicked over 30 goals in our forward line and our backline's pretty strong. You always need as many midfielders as you can so you can mix things up a bit, so we got Michael Gatt from Tulla, he's someone that's going to be really important for us running through the middle and forward line so we're keen to see what he can do for us. We've picked up some country boys and some other boys that'll hopefully really bolster our midfield."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"We're a very young group, from 22-26 years old, we've got 10 young players that'll be playing senior footy, and those guys have improved by 10-15 per cent. You've got guys like Daniel Mifsud and Sammy Pontin who've had great pre-seasons. We've also got Oscar Sasalu who went out to Werribee in the pre-season and he's flying."
2023 OUTLOOK
"We don't want to come up to Division One and just be there to save ourselves from relegation. We're here to play finals. The place is buzzing at the moment, we're looking forward to Good Friday and the season ahead. We know we're not going to have a year like last year and we're going to have different challenges, but we're looking forward to it."
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Jake Eddy (Coburg Districts), Aiden Tilley (Fitzroy), Ned Young (Gisborne), Joshua Sannwald (Old Paradians), Michael Gatt (Tullamarine), Hunter Petch (Westmeadows), Louis Alexopolous (Westmeadows) & John Navara (Yarraville Seddon Eagles).
Out: Jordan Linehan (Roxburgh Park), Stephen Beaumont (Mulgrave), Luke Furci (Mernda), Frank Holzer (Melton South), Brett Thomas (Mallee Eagles), Damien Cavka (Keilor), Andrew Salvatico (Hillside), Mark Salvatico (Hillside), Julian DiPasquale (Hillside) & Corey Morrison (Craigieburn).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
It was one of the more emphatic "rags to riches" stories in recent memory when Keilor Park claimed the Strathmore Community Bank Division Two flag in 2022 following a lot of excitement around the previous off season. They dropped their very first game of the season to Hadfield by two points, and despite a few close contests, Keilor Park ran out 31-point winners in the grand final. The Devils have been able to retain most of their senior playing list except for Damien Cavka who returns to Keilor, and will be looking to make their mark and maintain their position in the Rookie Me Division One competition moving forward.
2023 FIXTURE
