2019 RECAP
Tipped to be in the relegation hot seat from the get-go, Avondale Heights managed to survive the drop with four wins proving enough to finish ninth on the table in 2019.
In crucial late season games against Essendon Doutta Stars and the eventually-relegated Airport West, the Heights scored some hard-fought wins when it mattered most.
Finishing ninth for points-scored, the Heights struggled to find consistent avenues to goal, costing them dearly in a handful of close games throughout the year.
BEST & FAIREST TOP FIVE
1st - Donnacadh Cleary
2nd - Connor Byrne
3rd - Jackson Robb
4th - Matthew Cravino
5th - Justin Morris
GOAL KICKING TOP FIVE
18 - Hisham Kerbatieh*
18 - Justin Morris
15 - Sean Bolger
14 - Brad Robb
11 - Matthew Borg
RISING STAR AWARD
Donnacadh Cleary
*outgoing transfer lodged
2021 PREVIEW
Coach: Patrick Byrne (1st season, replacing Donald McDonald)
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Danko Bzenic (Montmorency), Matthew Chisari (Bacchus Marsh), James Collingridge (Maribyrnong Park), Nathan Croft (Riddell), Matthew Darby (Riddell), Jayden Defina (Yarraville Seddon Eagles), Aaron Gundry (South Bendigo), Dominic Killworth (Mallee Eagles), Harrison Macreadie (Carlton), Dominic Makur (Mallee Eagles), Tyler Miceli (Altona), Josh Robinson (London Swans) & Jacob Tonkinson (Albion)
Out: Frank Chirchiglia (Robinvale-Euston), Matthew Chisari (Boort),Ben Cosgriff (Violet Town), Luke Edwards (Morningside), Jake Edwards (Portland), Jordan Filakis (Woodend-Hesket), Scott Harding (Taylors Lakes), Adam Harris (Keilor Park), Bailey Johnson (Altona), Hisham Kerbatieh (Hillside), Dominic Killworth (Hinterland Blues), Blake Laverie (Woodend-Hesket), Cory Lobb (Noosa), Taylor McCormack (Devonport), Ismail Moussa (Maribyrnong Park), Jake Scardamaglia (Braybrook), Jacob Tonkinson (Albion), Fabian Usai (Keilor Park), Ravin Willara (Woodend-Hesket) & Sam Zito (Old Ivanhoe Grammarians)
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
It's been tough slogging for Avondale Heights in recent years after last making the finals in 2014, but as shown in some crucial games late in 2019, this is a side with plenty of heart and plenty of promise.
New coach Patrick Byrne has brought in some very handy players to complement a promising young list looking to take the next step, with Danko Bzenic, Matthew Darby, Aaron Gundry and Harrison Macreadie (if available) all adding valuable experience to the side.
The Heights will well and truly find themselves in the midfield pack fighting to contend for a sneaky finals berth, but if they don't bring enough consistency against the sides around them on the ladder, then they may be at risk of again being stuck in the lower end of the ladder.
2021 FIXTURE
