Round One might be in the books, but scouting ahead at each club's season outlook doesn't stop. We chat to Keilor coach Mick McGuane who provides some insights on what their 2024 campaign will look like.
2023: 1st, Premiers (18W, 0L, 283.97%)
Coach: Mick McGuane
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"It was more about attitude and getting back to work. Without doing the work you won't get results. The boys have come back well and attacked training pretty strongly."
LIST SHAPE
"I'm looking forward to the year to start despite losing two premiership players in Matty Clark and Jono Marsh. They're not easy to replace, especially Clark who's been in our forward line for six odd years, they don't fall out of the sky. We also know we have some emerging talent that are connected to pathways or VFL. We've witnessed the impact Keighton Matofai-Forbes had on Good Friday this time last year, and we also have Jovan Petric who we know is a super talent and we're not sure how much we'll see of him at this stage.
"Josh Honey is coming back to the club and for him, it was about what he wanted to do with his career. He decided he wanted to come back to local full time and play at his junior club. Cody Brand had the connection with Kyle O'Connor and we knew he'd help fill that void in front of the ball, he can play defence if we need, he could be a ruck, he's a competitor. He was a viable and flexible candidate to play all over the ground for us.
"We like to grow our own, Keilor has 15 in the pathway programs and a number on VFL lists. We know they're all capable players."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"Chris Kosmas has the ability to go to another level. I'm really excited about his progress and development. I think Joel Sadler can go to another level again, he works hard, is tough on the inside and give us some outside balance. That combination of Nick O'Kearney, Corey Ellis, Kane Barbuto, O'Connor, Honey, and Sadler is an exciting prospect."
2024 OUTLOOK
"We're really a cause and effect team. We want to get the causes right. On the back of getting the causes right, the process will look after itself. The outcomes will be a product of what we do. The coaching staff has ensured we nip any complacency in the bud from the outset.
"They're a young, hungry group and have played a lot footy together. The club is a learning environment that teaches these boys how to play the game the right way and we think that's conducive to winning games of footy."
ON THE RECORD WITH MICK MCGUANE
You've tested yourself against some strong opposition in practice matches in Sunbury Lions and Heidelberg. How important is it to test yourself against sides with quality players and systems?
We're pretty conscious of getting a map right going into the season, we've done that regularly. We want to give our boys good exposure, and give good opportunities for players to prove their ability. It also gives those guys good opportunities to learn, if they're willing to listen, to make them better senior footballers heading into the season.
Shot after the siren to win, who do you want kicking it?
Corey Ellis.
Biggest pest at the club?
Dead heat between Kyle O'Connor and Jay White.
Who might be viewed as the coach's pet?
The boys might think I'm an Ellis man, an O'Kearney man, a Barbuto man!
One opposition player you’d love in your side?
Adam Iacobucci (Strathmore). I love what he stands for – humility, discipline, terrific guy. He brings a lot of quality that our club would sign off on.
Flag tip outside of Keilor?
Aberfeldie.
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.
Ladder Prediction: First, unbackable favourites.
2024 FIXTURE
