2019 RECAP
After producing a 10-5 home-and-away record, percentage was the only thing that kept Coburg Districts out of the top two come season's end.
The Lions put together an impressive five-game winning streak in the middle of the season, which included victories over fellow finalists Burnside Heights and Moonee Valley to help set up their top four finish.
In the Elimination Final at Section Road, Districts fell away badly after trailing by two points at three-quarter time, going on to lose to Burnside Heights by 40 points.
BEST & FAIREST TOP FIVE
1st - Spencer Aitken
2nd - Matthew Vesnaver
3rd - Ben Fisher
4th - Ricky McGill (pictured)
5th - Nick Sim*
GOAL KICKING TOP FIVE
30 - Tom Gleeson
26 - Matthew Vesnaver
20 - Jack Slavich
14 - James Scheriani
14 - Ricky McGill
DIVISION TWO TEAM OF THE YEAR
Ben Fisher (half back flank)
Matthew Vesnaver (wing)
*outgoing transfer lodged
2021 PREVIEW
Coach: Tom Gleeson (1st season, replacing Chris Tankard)
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Mitchell Annett (Tullamarine), Daniel Bray (Jacana), Dylan Bray (Jacana), Jarrod Bryant (Swifts Creek), Kobe Bryant (Swifts Creek), Anthony Cannata (Pascoe Vale), Joseph Contin (Onkaparinga Valley), Jordan Crowley (Moonee Valley), Lukas Dimech (Mernda), Jake Eddy (East Keilor), Ryan Evison (Trafalgar), Thomas Ferris (Essendon Doutta Stars), Jake Howells (Essendon Doutta Stars), Cooper Keogh (Therry Penola OB), Jon King (Fitzroy), Joshua Leitch (King Valley United), Dylan Letoga (Flemington Juniors), John Lindon (West Coburg), Kevan McLellan (Sunbury Kangaroos), Jesse Lim-fry (Jacana), Luigi Oppedisano (Mernda), Daniel Pearson (Tullamarine), Ameer Selek (Hadfield) & Benjamin Storer (Oak Park)
Out: Stuart Allaway (Yeronga South Brisbane), Mitchell Caddy (Maribyrnong Park), Troy Fisher (North Footscray), Simon Fox (Braybrook), Louis Fulgaro (Northern Saints), Scott Gilliland (Hadfield), Aiden Giove (Bairnsdale), Jacob Glass (West Brunswick), Zachary Green (Cottesloe), Stephen Katsios (West Preston-Lakeside), Eli Lovell (Moonee Valley), Scott Lumsden (Southern Saints AFL Masters), Justin Lumsden (Moonee Valley), Chris Metcher (Glen Orden), Callum Moore (Hadfield), Gregory O'Shea (Albanvale), Scott Pennay (Swinburne University), Nicholas Sim (Moonee Valley) & Andrew Willett (Millewa)
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
A couple of key outs will see new playing coach Tom Gleeson look to blood some youth in 2021, making the Lions a bit of an unknown prospect.
The core of the 2019 group is still intact with only Nick Sim lodging an outgoing transfer from the 2019 best-and-fairest top five, which is a good sign of stability.
Normally a perennial finals contender, it's hard to know if Coburg Districts will improve, hold or slide, but until we get a our sample size of form in the opening couple of rounds, it's safer to assume the Lions will again be fighting for a top two finish come season's end.
2021 FIXTURE
