With the 2022 season just around the corner, EDFL Media has taken a look at all the teams heading into Round One.
2021: 7th (4W, 7L, 105.91%)
Coach: Aidan Stott (6th Season)
Lodged Transfers
In: Chris Metcher (Glen Orden), Jacob Elia (Aberfeldie), Cajetan Feranda (Glen Orden), Gregory Constantinou (Aberfeldie), Claudio Compos (East Sunbury), Matthew Romeo (Greenvale), Liam Mercieca (PEGS) & Julian Costanzo (Strathmore)
Out: Michael Shailer (Braybrook), Luke Ford (Braybrook), Caleb Spackman (Braybrook), Joshua Covelli (Hillside), Nathanael Smith (Keilor Park), Chris Younger (Merrigum) & Jordan Filia (Caroline Springs)
EDFL Media Says: The Bears will have to find a home away from home with Tenterfield Drive under ground repairs for the 2022 season. Brookside Recreation Reserve will be Burnside Heights' temporary Den for the year as Aidan Stott's side aims to bounce back from a sluggish 2021. The big name coming out of the Burnside Heights' forward line is Josh Covelli. The power forward will try his hand in Strathmore Community Bank Division One this season, leaving a gaping hole up forward. Covelli kicked 269 majors across his 59-game spell at the Bears. Team of the Year forward Anthony Fawcus is more than capable of leading the forward line but will require plenty of support to make up for the big loss. A huge challenge faces the Bears in Round One with Oak Park making to trip to Brookside Reserve.
Round 1 Fixture: Oak Park (H)
2021: 3rd (7W, 4L, 150.88%)
Coach: Tom Gleeson (2nd Season)
Lodged Transfers
In: James Philpot (East Keilor), Ryan Caundle (Pascoe Vale), Callum Moore (Hadfield), Kane Moroney (UHS-VU), Rhys Dawes (Monash Blues), Lachlan Woodham (Black Rock), Jamie Gauci (East Sunbury), Connor Mooney (Greensborough), Hayden Clark (Heidelberg), Jack Barnes (Mulwala), Harrison McPhee (Rochester), Riley Bourke (Strathmore) & Kane Moroney (UHS VU)
Out: Rakis Vasilakis (Northern Saints)
EDFL Media Says: After a slow start to 2021, Coburg Districts were able to bounce back from a 1-4 form line to finish the season in third place with six consecutive victories. There has been minimal action on the transfer side of things for Tom Gleeson as the playing-coach continues to build depth in his squad. Given the way he had his travelling at the back end of the year, you'd suggest the Lions have the talent capable of pushing for premiership glory already available. Speaking of Gleeson, the playing-coach will again lead the side inside 50 after kicking 46 goals from his 11 games last season. With Team of the Year nominations going to defender Ben Fisher and ruck Cooper Keogh, the Districts have plenty of A-Grade talent across all lines. A trip to newly relegated Taylors Lakes in Round One presents an opportunity for the Lions to flex their muscle against a premiership contender.
Round 1 Fixture: Taylors Lakes (A)
2021: 5th (4W, 6L, 169.99%)
Coach: Brett Pitts (4th Season)
Lodged Transfers
In: Rhys Gleisner (Macleod), Jake Hopkinson (Roxburgh Park), Shane Lindsay (East Sunbury), Joshua Marino (Girgarre), Matthew Gray (Northern Saints) & Samuel Layton (Therry Penola)
Out: Callum Moore (Coburg Districts), Simon Marchitto (Craigieburn), Andrew Ruberto (East Keilor) & Scott Gilliland (Oak Park)
EDFL Media Says: Hadfield enjoyed one of its strongest seasons for years in 2021, proving Brett Pitts has the Hawks heading in the right direction. The challenge for 2022 will be turning Hadfield from a flash in the pan side to a consistent performer week-in-week-out that is capable of challenging for finals and maybe even a premiership. Rhys Gleisner should prove to be a major coup for the brown and gold with the big man providing height and strength through the middle of the ground in the absence of Keegan Shrimpton as he continues to recover from a knee injury. Tom McIntosh and Mark Sabatino won plenty of fans last season in their first year as Hawks. Both secured Team of the Year nominations and should feature heavily once again for Hadfield in 2022.
Round 1 Fixture: Keilor Park (A)
2021: 9th (0W, 11L, 4.12%)
Coach: Glenn McIntyre (2nd Season)
Lodged Transfers
In: Joshua Gough (Craigieburn), Benjamin Gough (Strathmore), Ryan McConnell (Strathmore) & Noah Bone (Tullamarine)
Out: Paul Aspros (Westmeadows)
EDFL Media Says: While it was a winless season for Jacana last year, its biggest win was getting the purple and gold back on the field playing football. The numbers are looking steady once again for the Jags, as Glenn McIntyre continues to get the club back to a point where it can put out competitive performances every week. As 2021 progressed, the efforts continued to be valent by Jacana with six of their lowest conceded scores coming in the last seven rounds of the year. Jacana won't field a reserves team in 2022 with Aberfeldie Under-23s set to fill the void in the Division Two Reserves fixture again this season.
Round 1 Fixture: Northern Saints (H)
2021: 6th (4W, 6L, 102.86%)
Coach: Paul Guicas (2nd Season)
Lodged Transfers
In: Cameron Harris (Avondale Heights), Nathanael Smith (Burnside Heights), Damien Cavka (Deer Park), Nicholas Spano (East Keilor), Bryce Whelan (East Sunbury), Andrew Salvatico (Hillside), Mark Salvatico (Hillside), Julian DiPasquale (Hillside), Brandon Brancatisano (Macedon), Brett Thomas (Moonee Valley), Bradley Kingdom (Sunshine Heights), Andrew Casmi (Taylors Lakes), Joshua Debono (Taylors Lakes), Robert Castello (Westmeadows), Jordan Filakis (Woodend-Hesket), Adrian Di Curzio (Keilor), Angus Dunkley-Price (Rupertswood), Kristopher Thomas (Moonee Valley), Mark Salvatico (Hillside), Vincent Schiavello (East Keilor), Jarrod Chapman (East Sunbury), Rhys Deacon (Mount Pleasant) & Billy Showler (Taylors Lakes)
Out: Edward Buijs (Keilor), James Todoroski (Maribyrnong Park), Jack Thomson (Tullamarine) & Christopher Markland (Maribyrnong Park)
EDFL Media Says: Keilor Park have been busy over the off-season sporting some of the biggest incoming transfers in not only Strathmore Community Bank Division Two but the entire senior men's competition. Considering the club went winless through 2019 and were unable to field a side for the 2018 season, the excitement the Devils are generating this year is almost unfathomable. The heralded return of Robbie Castello headlines a number of major coups for Paul Guicas' squad. The Keilor Park junior returns to the Devils after an illustrious career in the VFL, Premier Division and most recently with Westmeadows in Division One. Alongside Castello, the Devils have secured the signature of former AFL prospect Damien Cavka. With a healthy list and linear improvement, some are bullish enough to suggest Keilor Park will be right in the action come September.
Round 1 Fixture: Hadfield (H)
2021: 8th (3W, 7L, 79.85%)
Coach: Tamer Abdallah (1st Season, replacing Peter Lohner)
Lodged Transfers
In: Mohamed Abdullatif (Glenroy), Rakis Vasilakis (Coburg Districts), Dwayne Bulmer (Fitzroy) & Jake Recchia (South Morang)
Out: Chris Nabbout (East Keilor), Carlo Graziano (Essendon Doutta Stars), Matthew Gray (Hadfield), Anthony Ricupero (Oak Park), Stefan Valensisi (Pascoe Vale), Aaron D'Cruz (St Albans), Jason McCormack (Taylors Lakes), Thomas Kosmak (Taylors Lakes), Bernardo Tenace (Taylors Lakes), Nicholas Bruno (Tullamarine), Peter Dispenzeri (Tullamarine), Matthew Bennardo (Tullamarine), Eyob Gebreselassie (West Footscray) & Shaun Tomkinson (Glenroy)
EDFL Media Says: Tamer Abdallah will take the reigns of his beloved Northern Saints, a role he has described as "a dream". Abdallah will still be pulling on the boots in the 2022 season and the Saints will need their head coach at his best ahead of a bumper year. The Saints managed three wins out of 2021, with a sweet victory over local rivals Hadfield and fellow up-and-coming side Keilor Park amongst the 'Ws'. It goes to show the Saints are capable on their day but Abdallah will have to instil some consistency within this side as they look to re-build for the future. Unfortunately for Northern, a trio of Saints have turned sinners with Peter Dispenzeri, Matthew Bernardo and Nicholas Bruno all heading to Tullamarine. The latter being the only Saints representative in the 2021 Division Two Team of the Year. A trip to Jacana in Round One may be what the Saints need to start the season with a bit of momentum.
Round 1 Fixture: Jacana (A)
2021: 2nd (10W, 1L, 225.90%)
Coach: Todd Clark (2nd Season)
Lodged Transfers
In: Hirsi Twomey (Lalor), Joshua Gough (Strathmore), Scott Gilliland (Hadfield), Anthony Ricupero (Northern Saints), Mitchell Robinson (Aberfeldie), William Wales (West Coburg), James O'Meara (Strathmore), Jye Piescik (Strathmore), Mitchell Bates (Strathmore), Marcus Andropof (Strathmore) & William Owens (Strathmore)
Out: Steven Goodwin (Lalor) & Nicholas Ryan (Therry Penola)
EDFL Media Says: Plenty will consider Oak Park premiership favourites heading into the 2022 season. The Kangaroos suffered just one loss under first season coach Todd Clark at the hands of Moonee Valley but they were also the only side to beat the team promoted to Division One. The Roos had five players finish in the 2021 Division Two Team of the Year with the recently drafted Zac Taylor the only unreturning member. With plenty of A-Grade talent still at their disposal, it's hard to see how Oak Park won't be one of the teams causing problems come September. Starting with a match-up against Burnside Heights in Round One, a block of games against Taylors Lakes, Coburg Districts and Keilor Park from Round Four to Six may set the tone early for the Kangas.
Round 1 Fixture: Burnside Heights (A)
2021: 10th (0W, 12L, 16.14%)
Coach: Charles Cuzzupi (3rd Season)
Lodged Transfers
In: Luke Nappi (Keilor), Samuel D'Andrea (Old Mentonians), Anthony Tiricola (Yarraville-Seddon), Brenden Lucas (East Keilor), Oliver Lake (Keilor), Daniel Gray (Hillside), Luke McCormack (East Keilor), Jake Watson (St Albans), Jason McCormack (Northern Saints), Thomas Kosmak (Northern Saints), Bernardo Tenace (Northern Saints), Daniel De Napoli (Keilor), Simon Borzillo (Keilor), Jaxon Holliday (Hillside), Thomas Hardy (Keilor), Samuel D'Andrea (Old Melbournians) & Anthony Tiricola (Yarraville Seddon)
Out: Aaron Di Matteo (Airport West), Emanuel Chrisoulis (Airport West), Jake Hobbs (Bundoora), Jye Collins (Craigieburn), Daniel Sargent (Keilor), Andrew Casmi (Keilor Park), Joshua Debono (Keilor Park), Vincent Giacchi (North Brunswick), Luke Denny (Point Cook), Salvatore Melilli (Tullamarine), David Jackson (Hillside) & Billy Showler (Keilor Park)
EDFL Media Says: It was a difficult year for Taylors Lakes in 2021 as the Lions never really got going amongst the Covid disruptions and breaks in the season. It won't be an easy read on how the Lions will perform this year either. While his game time was limited last season due to VFL commitments, the Lions have lost arguably their best player in Jake Hobbs to Bundoora while Salvatore Melilli has opted to stay in Division One with Tullamarine after he polled quite well in last year's Hutchison Medal. With early fixtures against Coburg Districts and Oak Park in the first month, we might be able to get a form line going for how the Lions will stack up this season.
Round 1 Fixture: Coburg Districts (H)
