FOOTBALLER

Preview - Strathmore Community Bank Division 2
By MICHAEL HABER
Jacana vs East Keilor
Possibly the marquee match of Round 1 in the
Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 season will
be between last year’s losing grand finalists, Jacana,
and the team that was relegated from Essendon Ford
Division 1, East Keilor. Jacana’s strong midfield will
boast the likes of Mick Evans whereas East Keilor will
be sporting a younger team this season, with a few
18-year-olds stepping up to senior football. Jacana will
be out to prove that last season’s Grand Final berth was
not a fluke and East Keilor will be wanting to show that
they are the team to beat. This match will be fierce as
both teams want to show that they are the best in the
division and that they deserve the promotion.
Keilor Park vs Moonee Valley
Keilor Park had the season from hell last year,
everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong.
They only managed to muster up the two wins for the
season but are hoping that this year they can be more
competitive as their old coach, Marcus Barclay takes
back the reigns. Moonee Valley were stunned last
year as they lost in the finals after finishing third in the
division. They will be rearing to get off to a strong start
against Keilor Park so that they can get into a strong
position after the first game. This will be a tough match
for Keilor Park but they went through some massive
changes during the preseason and are out to be a
more competitive side in 2016.
in one of last year’s leading goal-scorers, Osama Saad
from Hadfield. The match will be a tight contest as both
teams are looking to play finals and will be wanting to
start the year off strongly against good competition.
Burnside Heights vs East Sunbury (5pm start)
Burnside Heights play East Sunbury at home in the
first twilight match of the season. Both teams had a
very average 2015 and finished well off the pace of
fifth-placed Coburg Districts. Both of these teams
have a ‘cellar dweller’ reputation and are definitely
wanting to shake that this season. This match can
create the competitive spirit that both these teams need
in 2016. Both of the teams have recruited younger
players and are developing depth and this match will
be good for trying out new tactics so that they can get
the combative culture needed to do well against the
stronger teams in the division. Under lights, this game
will feel like two teams wanting to get away from their
gloomy past and start afresh in the light of a new year.
Roxburgh Park vs Coburg Districts
Roxburgh Park were a very strong team last season,
finishing second on the ladder but then lost in the finals.
They will be sporting a very different team in 2016 as
they have aimed to bring bigger bodies to the club
which was their weakness last year. They will however
miss last year’s Best & Fairest winner, Matt Walker,
who made the switch to Glenroy. Coburg Districts just
missed out on the finals despite having a very solid
2015 season. They have had many changes and pulled
THE FOOTBALLER – The Essendon District Football League Record www.essendondfl.com.au 33 33