Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division moves to a top-five finals series in 2024 and will be hotly contested.
Deer Park will enter after earning promotion in a highly anticipated placement in the top flight.
The action kicks off today!
ROUND 1 MATCHES
Airport West v Aberfeldie at Hansen Reserve - 2:15pm
Greenvale v Avondale Heights at Greenvale Recreation Reserve - 2:15pm
Deer Park v Keilor at John McLeod Reserve - 2:15pm
East Keilor v Strathmore at Overland Reserve - 2:15pm
Essendon Doutta Stars v Pascoe Vale at Nipper Jordan Oval - 4:45pm
2023: 6th (8W, 9L, 1D, 110.74%)
Coach: Clay Illman
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Cameron McLeod (Avondale Heights), Benjamin Ronke (St Bernards), Samuel Medland (Woodend-Hesket), Samuel Beckinsale (Burnside Heights), Gabriel Cristiano (Burnside Heights), Matt Weber (Gisborne), Tom Pound (Woodend-Hesket), Heath Ollington (North Launceston), Ayden Trinh (Keilor Park), Declan Aylward (Keilor Park) & Joshua Wratten (Keilor Park).
Out: Samuel Cattapan (Wangaratta Rovers), Michael Gerace (St Bernards), Mitchell Wilson (Aberfeldie), Jack Mapleson (North Heidelberg), Lachie Hall (Glenelg), Jean-Luc Velissaris (Parkside), Finn Cashmore (Therry Penola), Joseph Scuteri (Diggers Rest), James Drakatos (St Bernards), Jack Whitehead (University Blues), Matthew Peart (Daylesford), Luke Farmelo (St Kevins), Lucas Rocci (Werribee Districts), Jaryd Cachia (Portarlington), Samuel Corbino (Maribyrnong Park), Will Erlenwein (University Blacks), Alexander Paporakis (Macquarie University) & Robert Paradzayi (South Barwon).
EDFL Media Says: It was a strange sight not seeing Aberfeldie playing finals footy in 2023 which was perhaps a sign of their lack of continuity with their availability and an indication the strength of the top flight has increased. The newly promoted Clay Illman certainly has the cattle to restore their finals glory but it won't be a given with the likes of Greenvale, Deer Park, and Airport West also competing with the incumbents to comprise the top five.
Round 1 Fixture: Airport West (A)
2023: 7th, (6W, 12L, 87.74%)
Coach: Brent Taylor
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Jed Brereton (Strathfieldsaye), Ahmed Zahraman (Pascoe Vale), Cooper Janevski (Preston Bullants), Matthew Hanson (Myrtleford), Mick Edwards (Deer Park), Frank Papaleo (Sunshine Heights), Connor Leeflang (North Launceston), John Delacoe (Coburg Districts), Willem Eager (Seymour), Chris Nield (Mooroopna), Jackson Connor (Deer Park), John Roumeliotis (Maribyrnong Park), Tarkan Yilmaz (Hadfield), Anthony Mardini (Coburg Districts) & Yusuf Abdullatif (Northern Saints).
Out: Elijah Wood (Hinterland Blues), Charlie Di Stefano (Parkside), Abdul Shire (Glenroy), Jacob Albazi (Glenroy), Stuart Hobijn-Allen (Melton South), Shannon Prigg (Tullamarine), Brandon Raad (Taylors Lakes), Andrew Saico (Greenvale), Gareth Laidler (Essendon Masters), Kevin Klix (Laverton), Michael O'Dwyer (Essendon Masters), Marwan Abdul-Wahad (Maribyrnong Park), Muhammad Saad (West Coburg), Jason Denny (Moonee Valley), Bailey Simmons (Seaford), Blake Fairservice (Hillside), Tom Aylett (East Brighton), Musa Hussain (Northern Saints) & Joe Tornese (Essendon Masters).
EDFL Media Says: Outgoing Airport West coach Trent Rogers wanted to ensure the Eagles weren't just surviving in Premier Division but were competitive - mission accomplished. Incoming coach Brent Taylor has been able to bolster their list and will have their eyes on the newly created fifth spot in finals - along with a host of other clubs. Consistency will be the key for Airport West who were up and down through periods of 2023, can they put it together for longer in 2024 and put themselves in the finals conversation?
Round 1 Fixture: Aberfeldie (H)
2023: 9th (3W, 15L, 46.11%)
Coach: Patrick Byrne
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Liam Bianco (Coburg Districts), Danko Bzenic (Woorinen), Thomas Clark (Moonee Valley), Daniel Gervasoni (Watsonia), Myles Gollant (St Bernards), Zayas Leonedas (Moonee Valley), Liam Amit (Keilor), Muharem Muja (Noble Park), Lachlan O'Hara (University Blacks), Patrick Payne (Griffith Swans), Nathan Ryan (Inner West Magpies), James Sheridan (Keilor), Jack Stratford (Old Xaverians), Vetim Aliaj (Keilor), Bayden Mom (Beechworth), Andrew Bellinger (Robina), Jaiden Martin (Tarneit), Thomas Gleeson (Coburg Districts), Liam Jacobs (South Bendigo), Marcus Currenti (Moonee Valley), Dylan Stapleton (Watsonia), Joshua Browne (East Fremantle), Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne), Brody Watts (Sunbury Kangaroos) & Anthony Curtis (Tarneit).
Out: Rocco Tripodi (Sunbury Kangaroos), Silver Yousif (Euroa), Aaron Clarke (Perth), Thomas Hird (Hurstbridge), Cameron McLeod (Aberfeldie), Jhdara Jones (Tatura), Nathan Ryan (Keilor), Ned Hawkins (Old Scotch), Jake Olivieri (Sunbury Kangaroos) & Aidyn Johnson (Tatura).
EDFL Media Says: It was a fruitful off season for the Heights who managed to bring in some players who they'd expect can suit up on a regular basis and provide value for a side entrenched in the relegation conversation again. There's optimism of an improved outfit at Canning Reserve but due to the strength of the sides above them, it'll need to be a significant improvement for them to make strides up the ladder and out of the relegation battle.
Round 1 Fixture: Greenvale (A)
2023: 2nd, Division One premiers, (14W, 4L, 199.71%)
Coach: Jamie Madigan
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Mason Crozier (Kyneton), Steven Georgiou (Deer Park), Jacob Kavanagh (Caroline Springs), Mutaz El Nour (Caroline Springs), Jamieson House (Launceston), Josh Chatfield (North Ballarat), Anthony Daw (Moulamein), Diesel Moloney (Point Cook), Jack Noonan (Williamstown CYMS), Joshua Cooper (Sherwood Districts), Lukas Woodhouse (Port Melbourne Colts), Caiden Connelly (Eynesbury), Majak Daw (North Heidelberg), Jayden Baillie (Rupertswood) & Jamie Brook (Albanvale).
Out: Kevin Johnson (Yarraville Seddon Eagles), Craig Plant (Braybrook), Mick Edwards (Airport West), Tim Quick (East Keilor), Lachlan Smart (East Keilor), Nash Holmes (Montmorency), Jackson Connor (Airport West), Taygen Dennison (Sunshine), Mark Nicholls (East Keilor), Matthew Boyle (Huntly), Kobe Brown (West Preston-Lakeside) & Roger Boll (Glen Orden).
EDFL Media Says: Deer Park will enter EDFL Premier Division after earning their spot with the Division One premiership and will be led by Jamie Madigan with some on-field personnel changes alongside him. Some key premiership players have departed but they'll unveil a host of new faces – some full time and some VFL-aligned – as they look to compete against the league's best. Many thought the Lions should've come straight in to this division but finals are far from guaranteed with the fight for the top five expected to hotly contested. They'll be tested immediately with red-hot flag favourites Keilor in Round 1.
Round 1 Fixture: Keilor (H)
2023: 4th (12W, 6L, 113%)
Coaches: Pat Christofi and Ali Hamad.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Tyson Old (Red Cliffs), Jason Ryan (Wyndham Suns), Tim Quick (Deer Park), Tom Silvagni (Old Xaverians), Ismail Moussa (Newport), Malik Elfakahani (West Preston-Lakeside), Nayef Hamad (Newport), Reuben William (Redland-Victoria Point), Dean Roberts (Brunswick), Hussien Kadour (Newport), Aliyy Elmaghraby (Hillside), Kamal Badra (Newport), Lachlan Smart (Deer Park), Robbie McComb (Western Bulldogs), Abdul-Rahmen Abdo (Parkside), Michael Dalrymple (Tullamarine), Danny-Lee Rigby (Mernda), Aojak Mayen (North Shore), Adrian Hallal (Keilor Park), Benjamin Nesci (Thomastown), Jake Napoli (Keilor Park), Mark Nicholls (Deer Park) & Edwin Nyembo (St Mary's).
Out: Brandon Coletta (St Albans), James Gazetas (Braybrook), Austin Harris (North Adelaide), Jamie Liddle (Parkside), Ethan Langwell (Parkside), Cameron Wild (Hurstbridge), Luke Marston (Hillside), Michael Walsh (Western Rams), Dean Muir (Sunbury), Chris Stewart (Wallan), Mark Mazzeo (Sunshine), Caleb Smith (Cobden), Joel Pickering (Keilor Park), Lindon Bektash (Keilor Park), Nicholas Grabowski (Wycheproof Narraport), Chris Bachtsevanos (Hillside), Lachlan Dickie (Dookie United), Riley Hardiman (Sunbury Kangaroos), Heath Beveridge (Mitta United), Luke Peters (Keilor Park), Kamal Badra (Newport) & Anthony Tashevski-Beckwith (Old Melburnians).
EDFL Media Says: East Keilor were able to make great strides in countering their depth issues with a big recruiting spree, bringing in a number of quality players in the process. Their points will be squeezed even tighter with the departure of some best-22 players but they'll certainly have the cattle to be pushing for finals. Consistency will be the key for the Cougars who experienced interruptions and lapses during 2023, simultaneously showing their best in providing Keilor their closest result.
Round 1 Fixture: Strathmore (H)
2023: 8th (5W, 13L, 60.2%)
Coach: Barry Prendergast
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Josh Robertson (Keilor), Bailey Ryan (Hillside), Noah Weihrauch (West Coburg), Liam Mercieca (Burnside Heights), Andre Jaycock (Maribyrnong Park), Bayley Overend (Coburg Districts), Kelton Overend (Greensborough), Joshua Blake (Banyule), James De Virgilio (Yallourn Yallourn North), Dylan Laurie (Caroline Springs), Michael Kiraly (Macleod), Angus Murray (Seymour), Julian Callegari (Doncaster East), Luke Hakim (Maribyrnong Park), James Loeliger (Moonee Valley), Brodie Evans (Maribyrnong Park), James Ryan (St Bernards), Jack McCartney (Oak Park), Jack Allen (Sunbury Kangaroos), Jack Williams (Mooroopna) & Patrick O'Sullivan (St Bernards).
Out: Luke Rowland (Tullamarine), Zach Hijazi (St Albans), Tom Wallis (North Heidelberg), James Harrold (Old Melburnians), Harvey Connor (Nunawading), Billy Cootee (Norwood), Sean McLaren (Hurstbridge), Campbell Wearne (Diggers Rest), Dylan Gwynne (St Bernards), Jack Barnes (East Sunbury), Jordan Davis (Sunshine), Ethan Sivijs (Sunshine), Thomas Barker (St Bernards), Dean Johnson (Reservoir), James Duggan (Lancefield), Matthew Evans (Rupertswood), William Clowes (Rupertswood) & Liam Clowes (Rupertswood).
EDFL Media Says: Douttas have brought in a range of young talent who they’ll be hoping can add to the culture of their already youthful group, while also helping bring them out of the relegation battle. They lost experience and their top-three best and fairest recipients over the summer but will be hoping they can carry the momentum they built with some strong performances to end 2023 into 2024.
Round 1 Fixture: Pascoe Vale (H)
2023: 5th (11W, 7L, 102.34%)
Coach: Darren Bewick
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Dylan Watts (Tullamarine), Daniel Del Borrello (Craigieburn), Raymond Murphy (Deniliquin Rovers), Thomas Chandler (Deniliquin Rovers), Jordan Drummond (Tullamarine), Andrew Saico (Airport West), Tristan Kaman (Craigieburn), Benjamin Borrelli (Craigieburn), Baker Smith (Clarence), Liam Peterson (Northern Saints), Peter Marinkovic (Caroline Springs) & William Madden (Redan).
Out: Chase Wassell (Braybrook), Brodie Batticciotto (Thomastown), Jordan Butt (Thomastown), Jacob Laurie (Thomastown), Michael Rigon (Thomastown), Liam Mann (Thomastown), Riley Houston (Northern Saints), Addam Maric (Simpson), Theo Letsos (Tullamarine), Matthew Condo (Braybrook), Justin Condo (Braybrook), Liam Bartolo (Roxburgh Park), Zain Yassin (Glenroy), Fort Caruso (Hillside), Nat Caruso (Hillside), Tristan Cavallo (Lancefield), Trent Warrn (Old Carey), Jacob Albazi (Glenroy), Daniel Xerri (Roxburgh Park), Kyle Lech (Lancefield), Rhys Takacs (Strathmore), Ethan Xerri (Roxburgh Park), Luke Ranno (Simpson), James Khouri (Roxburgh Park), Ali Kanjou (North Heidelberg) & Matthew Pennelli (Roxburgh Park).
EDFL Media Says: Had the 2023 season been a top-five finals series, the Jets would've tasted finals action again. That fifth spot is expected to be hotly contested and while the Jets weren't super active in the offseason, their retention was solid enough to keep them right in the mix.
Round 1 Fixture: Avondale Heights (H)
2023: 1st, premiers, (18W, 0L, 283.97%)
Coach: Mick McGuane
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Joshua Long (Wodonga Raiders), Cody Brand (Sunbury), Jermarl Daly (Ouyen United), Melvin Tataya (Ouyen United), Sam Heinnen (Flemington Juniors), Xander Keating (Flemington Juniors), Matthew Bartlett (Blackburn), William Burke (Donald), Josh Honey (Carlton), Nathan Ryan (Avondale Heights), Liam Thornton (Taylors Lakes), Zachary Papamihail (West Footscray), Derek Padoon (Halls Creek), Oskar Smartt (Leitchville Gunbower), Xavier Alikakos (St Albans), Jack Doolan (Keilor Park) & Patrick Bright (Bell Park).
Out: Liam Amit (Avondale Heights), Vetim Aliaj (Avondale Heights), James Sheridan (Avondale Heights), Lachlan McMullin (Taylors Lakes), Ben Spargo (Taylors Lakes), Joshua Renda (Hillside), Mate Mandic (Diggers Rest), Josh Robertson (Essendon Doutta Stars), Matthew Clark (Tyabb), Jack Browne (Charlton), Mark Tartaglia (Epping), Luke Moutafis (Hillside), Angus Taylor (Navarre), Daniel Ruscigno (Keilor Park), Jonathan Marsh (Manly Warringah), Trent Coles (Keilor Park), Mitchell Meridith (Keilor Park), Daniel Norman (Burnside Heights), Daniel Yankovski (East Sunbury), Kofi Annan (Bundoora), Aaron Ford (Point Cook Superules), Campbell Barton (Woodend-Hesket), Brock Jacobsen (Keilor Park), Jack Read (PEGS), Stephen Duval (Newport), Tom Head (Beaufort) & Cameron Freake (Bacchus marsh).
EDFL Media Says: Who can stop Keilor? That is the ultimate question considering their 2023 dominance and their offseason acquisitions highlighted by the returning Josh Honey and Cody Brand. They already enjoyed a controlled victory against Strathmore on Good Friday, they'll face Deer Park in Round 1 action.
Round 1 Fixture: Deer Park (A)
2023: 2nd (13W, 5L, 138.58%)
Coach: Leigh Tudor
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Jeremy Rodi (Merbein), Jared Eckersley (Broadbeach), Mohammed Yassine (West Preston-Lakeside), Jake Moorhead (Strathfieldsaye), Jye Piescik (Oak Park), Mitchell Egan (Therry Penola), Ethan Ritchie (Chiltern), Ahmed Saad (West Preston-Lakeside), Cooper Richardson (Therry Penola), Lukas Dimech (Coburg Districts), Robert Ahern (Therry Penola), Matthew Verduci (Reservoir), Ryan Bagaric (Keilor Park), Liam Bagaric (Keilor Park), Muhammad Said (West Coburg) & Christian Scarpino (Oak Park).
Out: Dylan Arnold (Rushworth), Michael Sikora (Tullamarine), Abdulah El-Rafei (Northern Saints), Ahmed Zahraman (Airport West), Joseph Sophia (Glenroy), Brad Inglis (Freeling), Stefan Valensisi (Northern Saints), Adam Clemente (Oak Park), Owen Train (Tweed Coast), Liam Di Martino (Canterbury), Ben McDonell (Cheltenham), Josh Cauchi (Cobden), Jacob Polizzi (Hadfield), Arthur Armstrong (Cobden), Zain Yamak (Hillside), Mitch Heywood (Tatura), Daniel Brisci (Brunswick), Maclayn Hallows (Lavington) & Jibril Yamak (Hillside).
EDFL Media Says: It was a second consecutive preliminary final exit for the Panthers who provided Keilor one of their few scares early in the 2023 season. Leigh Tudor has replaced Digby Morrell and will relish having Ahmed Saad at his disposal alongside a suite of players with VFL experience. Pascoe Vale should expect to find themselves in the top end of the ladder as they look to go one week further than last season.
Round 1 Fixture: Essendon Doutta Stars (A)
2023: 3rd (12W, 5L, 1D, 140.41%)
Coach: Nick Ash
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Cale Du Plessis (Point Cook Centrals), Trent Dumont (Port Adelaide), Sam O'Loughlin (Carngham Linton), Nick Ingleton (Macorna), Zen Sell (Tullamarine), Todd Oakley (Preston Bullants), Shaun McKernan (Bundoora) & Luke Holian (East Fremantle).
Out: Xavier Allison (Wangaratta Rovers), Tom Condon (Parkside), Jack Condon (Parkside), Lachlan Johnson (Old Scotch), Nash McRae (Oak Park), Archer Payne (Therry Penola), Joseph Rahme (Northern Saints), Will Ryan (Coburg Districts), Ellias Farah (Oak Park), Joseph Chalhoub (Oak Park), Blair Huggins (South Barwon), Finn Hanegraaf (University Blues), Elliot Mahoney (St Kevins), Jack Duggan (Woodend-Hesket), Luke Cuffe (Woodend-Hesket), Lachlan Ford (Inglewood), Bailey Ward (Therry Penola) & Nicholas Fluke (Hillside).
EDFL Media Says: It was another off season of change in the coaching ranks for the Mores with Nick Ash stepping in for Marty Allison, while some big names came in and out of the club. Despite this, Strathmore are well and truly poised to be competing for the ultimate prize again. They'll be without a home base until mid-season with resurfacing works at Lebanon Reserve.
Round 1 Fixture: East Keilor (A)
