Strathmore Community Bank Division Two is shaping up to yet again be an even and open competition in season 2024 with a number of top-end recruits entering the fold.
Westmeadows and Glenroy move into the division as Oak Park move out making it a nine-team competition.
Tenterfield Drive is where the action will start on Friday night with a further three games filling up the Saturday!
ROUND 1 MATCHES
FRIDAY APRIL 12
Burnside Heights v Hadfield at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve - 7:15pm
SATURDAY APRIL 13
Coburg Districts v Northern Saints at Cole Reserve - 2:15pm
Taylors Lakes v Sunbury Kangaroos at Lionheart Reserve - 2:15pm
East Sunbury v Westmeadows at John McMahon Reserve - 2:15pm
Glenroy BYE
2023: 6th (7W, 9L, 103.51%)
Coach: Cole Harvey
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Owen Pawsey (Seaford), Lachlan Evans (Heidelberg West), Daniel Hovey (Wyndham Suns), Nicholas Cugliari (Hillside), Brock Goldsworthy (Talbot), Ryhan Thomas (Williamstown CYMS), Andrej Krunic (Hillside), Brandon Brunalli (Melton Centrals), Simon Maiolo (Caroline Springs), Riley McLaughlin (Kilmore), Joshua Stiles (Heywood), Nicholas Gregson (Braybrook), Zak Zafirovski (Sunshine), Jalen Asani Davis (St Albans), Edwin Hayden (Northside Lions), Jaydon Stiles (Merrigum), Daniel Norman (Keilor), Michael Shailer (Braybrook), Fabian Beazley (Sunshine Heights) & Alexander Predojevic (Avondale Heights).
Out: Joshua Walker (Mernda), Brandon Yankovski (East Sunbury), Habib Hosni (Hillside), Claudio Campos (East Sunbury), Liam Mercieca (Essendon Doutta Stars), Sam Beckinsale (Aberfeldie), Gabe Cristiano (Aberfeldie), Antonio-Carlos Zammit (Hillside), Matt Giuliano (Woodside) & Thomas Raffaele (Hillside).
EDFL Media Says: Burnside Heights have brought in some experience and bigger bodies to complement their youth as they look to push back into the finals. They've recruited some players that boost their top-end which has in turn assisted their depth, and should find themselves right in the mix come the pointy end of the season. It'll yet again be an even Division Two so it won't be easy, but they've certainly got what it takes.
Round 1 Fixture: Hadfield (H)
2023: 5th (8W, 8L, 102.13%)
Coach: Charlie Denaro
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Maddy Martin (Maribyrnong Park), Aythen Kyriazis (Glenroy), Robert Maiorana (La Trobe University), Declan Doherty (West Coburg), Will Ryan (Strathmore), Andrew Vaiano (Oak Park), Conor Doherty (West Coburg), Rusi Komaitai (Hillside), Jack Gusman (Hillside), Guy Clark (Fitzroy), Pasquale Curcio (Fitzroy), Lewis Johnson (Fitzroy), Harrison Harbrow (Newstead), Tom Carland (Tooleybuc Manangatang), Frank Agresta (Taylors Lakes), Patrick Logan (South Morang), Gianni McKenzie (Fitzroy), Angus O'Meara (West Coburg), Jack McNamara (Redan), Michael Bidois (Forest Hill), John Mona (Parkside) & Lucas Kyriazis (Parkside).
Out: Liam Bianco (Avondale Heights), Oliver Aitken (Oak Park), Jakob Hanlon (Westmeadows), Tom Gleeson (Avondale Heights), John Delacoe (Airport West), Thomas Lay (Oak Park), Daniel Di Qual (Therry Penola), Bayley Overend (Essendon Doutta Stars), Connor Michielin (Westmeadows), Lukas Dimech (Pascoe Vale), Connor Mooney (Montmorency), Anthony Mardini (Airport West), Dylan Bieganski (Roxburgh Park), Lucas Leeds (PEGS) & Zeeshan Awan (Hadfield).
EDFL Media Says: Percentage was the only thing keeping Coburg Districts out of the finals after a one-point loss in their final home and away contest. Tom Gleeson has moved on and Charlie Denaro will aim to give the senior side a bit of a refresh with some new faces and approaches – something that was perhaps due. It'll be tough for Districts to move up considering the strength of the competition, but they always seem to find a way to be in the mix.
Round 1 Fixture: Northern Saints (H)
2023: 8th (0W, 16L, 39.54%)
Coach: Travis Bishop
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Ryan Fletcher (Swinburne University), David Morrice (Rupertswood), Brandon Yankovski (Burnside Heights), Brandon Brancatisano (Rupertswood), Sean Egan (Diggers Rest), Jack Barnes (Essendon Doutta Stars), Zac Watkins (Woodend-Hesket), Claudio Campos (Burnside Heights), Dayne Tannenberg (Westmeadows), Jai Pettman (Sunbury Kangaroos), Jack Bruce (Hillside), Jesse Smillie (Sunbury Kangaroos), Jacob Cannon (Sunbury Lions), Daniel Yankovski (Keilor), Angus Moore (Sunbury Kangaroos), Cameron Moore (Melton South), Braiden Wilson (Sunbury Kangaroos), Dillon Norton (Diggers Rest), Hayden Moore (Melton South), Thomas Simpson (Sunbury Kangaroos) & Tyson Moffat (Sunbury Lions).
Out: Tim Stephens (Williamstown Superules), Brad Kite (Glenroy), Aaron Kite (Glenroy), Jaymee Guy (Lara), Joshua Gray (Lara), Ash Millane (Romsey), Jack Weiley (Diggers Rest) & Shylo Smith (Diggers Rest).
EDFL Media Says: New coach Travis Bishop is well aware that Rome wasn't built in a day and I don't think anyone is expecting fireworks from East Sunbury in 2024. Division Two will again look like a strong, deep competition which will make a steep rise for the Thunder difficult, but we do expect them to taste some success on field to ensure gradual improvement for the club.
Round 1 Fixture: Westmeadows (H)
2023: 12th, Division One, (1W, 17L, 41.27%)
Coach: Dean Young
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Michael Adams (Heidelberg West), Zain Yassin (Greenvale), Kenny Lam (Mt Lofty), Lachlan Woodham (Black Rock), Joseph Moio (Bulleen Templestowe), Dominick Lo Presti (Northern Saints), Ali Samie (West Preston-Lakeside), Joseph Sophia (Pascoe Vale), Joel McDonald (Kinglake), Daniel Takle (Therry Penola), Brad Kite (East Sunbury) Aaron Kite (East Sunbury), Omar Taleb (Rupertswood), Nasir Kodi (Watsonia), Tochi Oparaocha (Mill Park), Omar El-Ladekani (Westmeadows), Torey Crosta (West Preston-Lakeside), Michael Miller (Epping), Abdul Shire (Airport West), Aboud Taleb (Northern Saints), Jacob Albazi (Greenvale), Mohammed Ali (North Brunswick), Adrian Sabatino (Hadfield) & Ibrahim Hammoud (Hadfield).
Out: Jonty Neaves (Eaglehawk), Marcel Hamoud (Newport), John Mona (Parkside), Ali Ahmad (Watsonia), Julian Mosarevski (Spotswood), Lucas Kyriazis (Parkside), Lachlan O'Connor (East Malvern), Logan Berryman (East Malvern), Samuel Gewargis (Watsonia), Paul Pascu (Oak Park), Joshua Ksiazek (Oak Park), Athyen Kyriazis (Coburg Districts), Houssam Moslimani (Northern Saints), Daniel Moro (Hadfield), Matt Shannon (Southport) & Adam Jackson-Kiss (Highett).
EDFL Media Says: After a couple of tough seasons, Glenroy find themselves in a strong Division Two competition in which they'll be confident they can find some on-field success. Player retention and recruitment was aided by Dean Young being afforded a longer run up to the off season which should hold the group in good stead. It's always hard to predict how a side that's been promoted or relegated will perform, but there's no reason the Roys can't pick up some wins in 2024 and be competitive against the top end.
Round 1 Fixture: BYE
2023: 7th (4W, 12L, 51.26%)
Coach: Ange Lamanna
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Talat Moustafa (Northern Saints), Daniel Moro (Glenroy), Sam Godden (Dimboola), Ardon Bektash (Lalor), Jake Wheeldon (Lalor), Christopher Inkson (West Preston-Lakeside), Samir Skinner (Ormond), Asher Claney (Richmond JFC), Zachary Gillard (South Mildura), Kieran Hummel (Aquinas), Gerald Lynch (Tarneit), Liam Simic (Tarneit), Stephen Siale (Tarneit), Brayden May (Tarneit), Zachary Greenwood (Tarneit), Declan Drummond (Tarneit), Mitchell Sciberras (UTS), Jacob Polizzi (Pascoe Vale), Ayden Woodward (Skye), Dylan Lewis (Broadford), Abdurrahman Merhi (Brunswick), Christian Pisano (Lalor), Christopher Guess (Skye), Kyle Desira (Braybrook), Patrick Worden (Westmeadows), Oscar Aust (Mordialloc), Zeeshan Awan (Coburg Districts) & Matthew Cornwall (Tatura).
Out: Ethan Hope (Lalor), Imran Noureddine (Northern Saints), Joshua Marino (Girgarre), Thomas McIntosh (Sunshine), Adrian Sabatino (Glenroy), Liam Burgess (Oak Park), Yusuf Abdullatif (Northern Saints), Tarkan Yilmaz (Airport West), Ibrahim Hammoud (Glenroy), Patrick Worden (Fitzroy Stars) & Andrew Trende (Seaford).
EDFL Media Says: Angelo Lamanna has introduced a smattering of players to Hadfield, attracting a number of players external to the EDFL as they build the depth in the list they were lacking in 2023, while also adding some high-quality players. It won't be easy for them to push up the ladder given the competition around them, but they'll certainly be confident in a more competitive season.
Round 1 Fixture: Burnside Heights (A)
2023: 3rd (10W, 6L, 137.8%)
Coach: Tamer Abdallah
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Bernardo Tenace (Taylors Lakes), Abdullah El-Rafei (Pascoe Vale), Riley Houston (Greenvale), Imran Noureddine (Hadfield), Oliver Klemm (Tullamarine), Houssam Moslimani (Glenroy), Joseph MacCarone (Roxburgh Park), Stefan Valensisi (Pascoe Vale), Joseph Rahme (Strathmore), Thomas Mendico (Barooga), Yusuf Abdullatif (Hadfield), Musa Hussain (Airport West), Abdul Rahman Eless (North Sunshine) & Eren Genc (Taylors Lakes).
Out: Dominick Lo Presti (Glenroy), Aboud Taleb (Glenroy), Khaled Eless (North Sunshine), Liam Peterson (Greenvale), Mahmoud Rafei (Newport), Talat Moustafa (Hadfield), Abdul Rahman Eless (North Sunshine), Tarek Zahraman (Roxburgh Park), Youssef Mourad (Roxburgh Park), Jihad Mourad (Roxburgh Park), Zeyad Elayoubi (Roxburgh Park), Nikola Ninkovich (Bulleen Templestowe) & Adam Hussein (West Coburg).
EDFL Media Says: Northern Saints are establishing themselves as a genuine flag contender in 2024 after a strong resurgence under Tamer Abdallah in 2023. He will again lead the Saints who were active in the off-season retaining a lot of key players and attracting some best-22 players. They've also regained homegrown juniors which is a great sign for the club.
Round 1 Fixture: Coburg Districts (A)
2023: 4th, runners up, (8W, 8L, 119.18%)
Coach: Shanon Carroll
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Trent Cranwell (Sunbury), Riley Eales (Sunbury), Thomas Eiszele (Riddell), Brandon Smith (Coomera), Rocco Tripodi (Avondale Heights), Benjamin Cannon (Rupertswood), Andrew Siekai (Maryborough Giants), Mitch Collins (Wandella), Cooper Anson (Jabiru), Timothy Walsh (Gisborne), Nicholas Agnello (Rupertswood), Ethan McDonald (Sunbury), Jake Olivieri (Avondale Heights), Riley Hardiman (East Keilor), Tyler Morton (Rupertswood) & Yasin Erdem (Roxburgh Park).
Out: Rhys Magin (Hinterland Blues), Matthew Arnold (Ballan), Joshua Arnold (Ballan), Jai Pettman (East Sunbury), Brody Watts (Avondale Heights), Jesse Smillie (East Sunbury), Angus Moore (East Sunbury), Jack Allen (Essendon Doutta Stars), Riley Hardiman (Caroline Springs), Braiden Wilson (East Sunbury), Brad Salter (Cootamundra) & Thomas Simpson (East Sunbury).
EDFL Media Says: After a remarkable second half of 2023, Sunbury Kangaroos enter 2024 as one of the sides touted to be heading back into Division One. They've lost a couple of handy players but have also brought in a swathe of quality to add to a well-retained list. The Kangaroos should certainly be in the mix for a double chance come the end of the season as they look to go one better than 2023, and they'll be in for a hard contest when they face Taylors Lakes in Round 1.
Round 1 Fixture: Taylors Lakes (A)
2023: 2nd (13W, 3L, 162.7%)
Coach: Steve Burns
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Lachlan McMullin (Keilor), Ben Spargo (Keilor), Brandon Raad (Airport West), Yanni Apostolidis (Caroline Springs), Connor Roach (North Footscray), Declan Wakefield (North Footscray), Ben Weightman (Mount Pleasant), Vincent Schiavello (Keilor Park), Shaun Ujcich (North Footscray), Matt Brown (Keilor Park), Joel Sposato (Hillside Superules), Nathanael Smith (Keilor Park), Michael Di Pietro (Western Saints Superules), Dylan Birdo (Tullamarine) & Joseph Girgis (Westbourne).
Out: Bernardo Tenace (Northern Saints), James Wemm (Sunshine Heights), Reece Sidebottom (Echuca United), Frank Agresta (Coburg Districts), Darren Marks (Doveton Eagles), Liam Thornton (Keilor), Max Hobbs (Echuca United) & Stephen Creed (Hillside).
EDFL Media Says: The Lions enjoyed a significant boost up the ladder and were agonisingly close to a grand final berth in 2023. With their list retention and the recruits they've brought in, on paper it looks as though Taylors Lakes will only improve again. While we share Steve Burns' sentiment that it'll yet again be an open and even competition, his group are well and truly in the premiership conversation – if not the favourites – and they'll have a chance to avenge their preliminary final heartbreak when they take on Sunbury Kangaroos in Round 1.
Round 1 Fixture: Sunbury Kangaroos (H)
2023: 11th, Division One (4W, 14L, 66.9%)
Coach: Ash Flavel
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Jakob Hanlon (Coburg Districts), Jordan Taglieri-Sclocchi (Moreton Bay), Connor Michielin (Coburg Districts), Corey McCawley (Roxburgh Park), Kayne Councillor (Three Springs), Jake Watson (Roxburgh Park) & Sean Andrews (Oak Park).
Out: Finbar Delbridge (South West Sydney Blues), Omar El-Ladekani (Glenroy), James Duell (Albanvale), Dayne Tannenberg (East Sunbury), Michael Gillard (Epping), Michael Portelli (Hillside), Robert Castiglia (Maryborough), Alexander Aleksovski (Whitehorse Pioneers), Shaun Knott (Marong), Joshua Hale (Brunswick), Caleb Tucker (Oak Park), Can Demir (Oak Park), Daniel Field (Greater Springfield), Jake Galizia (Mernda), Ibrahim Hammoud (Glenroy), Patrick Worden (Hadfield) & Taylan Bozkurt (Therry Penola).
EDFL Media Says: It was a tough season for Westmeadows who had to contend with a mass exodus from their semi final side of 2022, but the young group showed some positive signs to finish the season. The Tigers were a fighting chance of avoiding relegation, but they'll feel renewed in Division Two with a chance to regain some on-field success. They'll be similarly unpredictable early on like Glenroy which could play into their favour.
Round 1 Fixture: East Sunbury (A)
