2019 RECAP
Airport West gained promotion into Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division after winning the Division 1 flag in 2018, but after just one year in the top flight, the Eagles are now back in Division 1.
They only mustered two wins in 2019 and their relegation fate was sealed in a disappointing 77-point loss at Avondale Heights in the penultimate round of the season.
An 82-point home win over the Heights in Round 8, an 11-point win at Glenroy in Round 13 and the outstanding individual season of new recruit Damandeep Aujla (who will play for Pascoe Vale in 2021) were the few bright spots in what was a lowly year among the big boys for Airport West.
BEST & FAIREST TOP FIVE
1st - Damandeep Aujla*
2nd - Tyson Young*
3rd - Clayton Rogers
4th - Anthony Aloi
5th - Scott McAllester
GOAL KICKING TOP FIVE
35 - Damandeep Aujla*
16 - Alex Penaluna
14 - Tyson Young*
13 - George Nabbout*
11 - Chris Lawton*
PREMIER DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR
Damandeep Aujla* (forward pocket)
*outgoing transfer lodged
2021 PREVIEW
Coach: Trent Rogers (1st season, replacing Jimmy House)
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Patrik Balta (Essendon Doutta Stars), Cameron Dawson (Thomastown), Frankie Galtieri (Keilor), Isaiah Ibrahim (PEGS), Tyler Killick (Essendon Doutta Stars), Adam Meiorin (Oak Park), Luca Muratore (Keilor), Ivan Pavlovic (Essendon Doutta Stars), Vincent Rizzo (Albanvale), Trent Rogers (Prahran Assumption), Muhammad Saad (Avondale Heights), Benjamin Ward (Rupertswood) & Spencer Zahra (Keilor)
Out: Damandeep Aujla (Pascoe Vale), Koolyn Briggs (Balwyn), Anthony Daw (North Heidelberg), Nathan DeZilva (Keilor Park), Lachlan Di Sebastiano (Port Douglas), Angus Dunkley-Price (Rupertswood), Jesse Eddy (Violet Town), Jake Horwood (North Brunswick), Joshua Kanellos (Sunbury Kangaroos), Tyler Killick (Keilor Park), Kurt Lane (Phillip Island), Christopher Lawton (Diggers Rest), Corey Le Favi (Pascoe Vale), Bior Malual (Seymour), Corey McDonnell (Jacana), Aaron McKenna (Moonee Valley), Adam Meiorin (Greenvale), George Nabbout (Westmeadows), Evan Penaluna (Berri), Jayden Ranno (Westmeadows), Nathaniel Ravanello (Moonee Valley), Bailee Revell (Rupertswood), Curtis Schultz (Melton Centrals), Luke Sultana (Rupertswood), Reuben William (Redland) & Tyson Young (Port Douglas)
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
A lot had changed coming into what was going to be the 2020 season and again coming into 2021, Airport West has a very different look about it.
Trent Rogers is the new coach after Jimmy House left before even coaching in a single game, while 2017 Hutchison Medallist Tyson Young and fellow premiership player Koolyn Briggs have now joined Damandeep Aujla, George Nabbout and Chris Lawton as key departures.
Muhammad Saad (if available) and Vincent Rizzo are among some of the Eagles' handy new recruits but given all of the change that has taken place at Etzel Street over the past 18 months, Airport West really could finish anywhere on the ladder.
2021 FIXTURE
