KEILOR is the king of the EDFL once more.
In a tense and hard-fought Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division Grand Final, the Blues capped off a stunning 20-0 perfect season with a stirring eight-point victory over a gallant Aberfeldie.
With a considerable breeze favouring the Essendon Primary School end of the ground, Keilor stormed out of the blocks with four goals to two in the opening quarter to establish a handy 16-point lead by quarter time.
The game’s next goal was not scored until the 19-minute mark of the second, with Caleb Hislop booting the first of his two goals for the quarter, pegging the margin back to eight points by half time.
The eventual Reg Rose Medalist, Keilor skipper Kane Barbuto, kicked an important steadier for the Blues halfway through to the third term before two late goals to Todd Stevenson and Dean Galea stretched the margin out to a commanding 30 points by three-quarter time.
The breeze intensified during the third quarter and, as the final term got underway, a determined Aberfeldie outfit, searching for its third successive flag, found another gear.
Victor Carboni and Ryan Allan, who appeared to be carrying a shoulder injury, stood tall for Aberfeldie with quick goals within the first five minutes of the final term, before Jamie Papalia showed a cool head with a steadying set shot goal for Keilor two minutes later.
Aberfeldie kept on pressing and were able to produce repeat forward entries, but the Blues kept finding ways to answer the challenge.
A Zach Hislop goal at the 10-minute mark was quickly followed by a Joel Sadler reply.
With the game poised at 21 points in Keilor’s favour, the two-time defending champs needed a fresh spark.
Small forward Josh Pound, who was goalless through the first three quarters, was able to answer the call with a great goal from the pocket at the 15-minute mark, before defender-turned-forward, Daniel Thompson, launched a huge set shot from beyond the arc to bring the game within eight points as the final term ticked into time-on.
As time and a 6-6-6 infringement started to work against Aberfeldie, Keilor forward Matthew Clark managed to get on the score sheet with a steadying set shot goal, but Aberfeldie’s Jayden Foster replied two minutes later to bring the margin back to eight points.
Aberfeldie continued to push but Keilor held firm, eventually winning its 11th A-Grade/Premier Division flag and first since 2016.
Barbuto was an easy choice for the Reg Rose Medal, collecting 28 disposals to go with his three goals in a stunning midfield display.
It capped off a stellar season for the Keilor skipper, who will now enter Thursday’s EDFL Awards night as the favourite to claim the Reynolds Medal.
After being held goalless by Ryan Allan two weeks ago, Dean Galea ended the day as Keilor’s leading goal kicker with four.
For Aberfeldie, Jaryd Cachia stood tall in midfield with 34 disposals, while Caleb Hislop was the lone multiple goal kicker with three majors.
Keilor’s 20-0 run was the first perfect season in the EDFL’s top flight since Aberfeldie’s triumph in 2015.
KEILOR | 4.4-28 | 5.5-35 | 8.9-57 | 11.9-75
Goal Kickers: D. Galea 4, K. Barbuto 3, J. Papalia, J. Sadler, M. Clark, T. Stevenson
Best Players: K. Barbuto, T. Stevenson, D. Joyce, M. Rogerson, S. Radovanovic, B. Xavier
Reg Rose Medal: Kane Barbuto
ABERFELDIE | 2.0-12 | 4.3-27 | 4.3-27 | 10.7-67
Goal Kickers: C. Hislop 3, Z. Hislop, V. Carboni, J. Velissaris, R. Allan, D. Thompson, J. Foster, J. Pound
Best Players: C. Hislop, J. Toy, L. Blackwell, S. Cattapan, D. Thompson, V. Carboni
