2019 Annual Report Contents 2 Chairman’s Report 3 Chief Executive Report 4 Football Operations Report 5 Media Report 6 Umpiring Report 7 Female Football Report 8 Team Listings 9 AFL Victoria Development Report 10-13 Junior Interleague 14-35 Season Review 36 EDFL Awards 37-41 Teams of the Year 42 Junior Best & Fairest Results 43 Grand Final Results 44-45 All Time Best & Fairests 46-47 All Time Premiers 48 League Sponsors & Partners Richard Thwaites marks in a score during the 2019 Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division Grand Final. League Board & Staff Chairman Football Operations Manager Female Football Bernie Shinners Stephen Webb Development Manager Pauline Leslie Board Members Football Operations Officers Robert Castellas Taylah Morris AFL Victoria Football Janette Chantry OAM Ken Waters Development Managers Romy Gutbier Shane Abdilla Andrea Tacono Umpiring & Samuel Malual Tanya Taylor Development Manager Mark Morgan Steele Waterman Rowan Sawers Nish Moses Chief Executive Officer Umpires Administrator Photography Suppliers Craig Armstead Patrick Moloney Corporate Services Managers Media Manager Greta May Adem Saricaoglu Chantelle Raniolo The 86th Essendon District Football League Annual Report 1 Chairman’s Report HE Essendon District Football League clubs, to examine the performance of our has experienced another strong year. competitions and the individual clubs against TThe continued growth in female football the strategic objectives of these systems. is credit to all clubs which have embraced it. With the increasing number of teams involved in our competitions and the finite Football number of ovals, it is important that the clubs Across the three senior men’s competitions, and the league work together in maximising we saw the rare feat of Premiers & the use of the ovals by innovative and flexible Champions completed by both Keilor fixturing. These approaches could open (Premier Division) and the Sunbury opportunities for new or increased revenue Kangaroos (Division 2). Congratulations to sources for clubs. both clubs on a magnificent feat. Division 1 was won by Craigieburn, beating Windy Hill Redevelopment the form side for the year, East Keilor. The league, through the work of Craig Congratulations to the Eagles. Armstead and Jan Chantry, has been actively An important development this season was involved in the user and community group the re-emergence of Keilor Park after a year consultations of the Imagine Windy Hill in recess and there are encouraging signs Project undertaken by the Moonee Valley that the club will have two senior teams Council. The aim of this project is to create competing next season. This addition was a single long-term vision for Windy Hill unfortunately offset by the withdrawal of with input from current user groups and Jacana from the Division 2 competition the community guiding the future of this instead return to club land. Romy has made midway through the season. The league is space towards 2040. The league’s current a very valuable contribution with his depth assisting the club in its efforts to return to and future participation in this project is an of knowledge of the competition and his the senior competition with a particular focus important step towards ensuring our voice is dedicated and cautious approach to the on building and improving its volunteer and heard and that the continued and hopefully league’s finances as treasurer since 2017. junior base. greater use of Windy Hill by our competition Thank you and well done. Our women’s competitions continue to is embraced as an essential part of the Rob Castellas is also stepping down after grow in strength, with two divisions of 10 community’s use of Windy Hill. five years. I would like to acknowledge Rob’s teams in Season 2019 compared to one dedication to the league and his board division of 13 teams in the previous season. Municipal Partners role over that period and in particular, to Congratulations to Aberfeldie in Premier It is extremely important for our league, his active interest and role in maintaining Division and Essendon Doutta Stars in together with our clubs, to maintain good the reputation of the league as a premier Division 1. Aberfeldie’s Premier women’s relations with the councils operating in the metropolitan football competition. team also went Premier & Champions. areas covered by our competition, namely The success at senior level is very much Moonee Valley, Moreland, Melton, Hume Life Membership tied to the development of juniors through and Brimbank. These councils are important This year the league, with the support planned and focussed junior development partners in the development of our sporting and cooperation of the clubs, made Geoff programs and clubs are very much facilities and on behalf of the league, I want Brown a life member of the EDFL. Geoff encouraged to focus their efforts on this to express our thanks to each of these was presented with his medallion at the important area of club administration. councils for the vital work they each do in EDFL Season Launch and his award was investing in ovals, changeroom and social unanimously acclaimed by all who attended. Umpires facilities (such as improved lighting), as well It was testament to the high regard with Our umpiring department is second to none as the general support extended to our clubs. which he is held by the EDFL and all clubs and continues to meet the needs of our for his tireless support of league activities, in competitions and congratulations go to the Board of Management which he selflessly contributed to. work of Rowan Sawers and his team, which I would like to take this opportunity to thank works tirelessly over the year, particularly in each of my fellow board members for the EDFL Clubs coordinating umpiring academies so essential work they have put in this year as the board To all the clubs and in particular, club to the recruitment of junior umpires. continues its transition to a more strategic presidents and your committees, thank you role. My thanks to Tanya Taylor, Andrea for your contributions to the league and our Netball Tacono, Jan Chantry, Romy Gutbier, Rob strong competitions. This season saw the inaugural EDFL netball Castellas and Steele Waterman. John Larkins, after more than 20 years as competition commence with two divisions. One aspect of the election of board members president of Aberfeldie, has decided to retire In partnership with the Essendon District last year that reoccurs with this coming year’s from that role. I extend my congratulations Netball Association, the competitions were election of board members puts a light on and sincere thanks for the enormous conducted at the netball courts at Aberfeldie. the operation of Rule 9. Whilst it provides contribution made to your club and to the Aberfeldie Sports Club fielded teams in that board members will each serve for a EDFL, in particular your participation on the both divisions and ended up claiming both two-year term, three members must retire Rules Sub-Committee and the many other premierships. Well done and congratulations. each odd year and four members each even less formal roles you performed. John is a year. So this year, as was the case last year, a true gentleman and an indomitable and Future Development - Competitions board member with only one year’s service intrepid supporter of his club and the EDFL. This year was the third season under which will need to stand for re-election. This is both the Player Points System and the Player unsatisfactory and needs to be addressed. Bernie Shinners Payments System have operated. It is time Romy Gutbier, after eight years on the board, Chairman for the league, in consultation with the will retire and not stand for re-election and 2 2019 Essendon District Football League Annual Report Chief Executive Report EASON 2019 demonstrated the Infrastructure & Clubs growing diversity and breadth of Continued expansion of our competitions is SEDFL competitions and therefore, the creating more pressure on club infrastructure. requirements on our organisation. It was It was satisfying to see many projects pleasing to witness many successes on being undertaken this year. Developments, and off the field. Growth and change bring including new and upgraded change rooms, challenges which we will continue to embrace social facilities, lighting, amenities and and work closely with our stakeholders to grounds, are all vitally important to ensuring find the best solutions. we continue to deliver the best possible community sporting opportunities. Growth The five Local Government Agencies where Another year of growth was very pleasing, EDFL clubs are based are critical to the where over the past three years we have ongoing success of the EDFL. We thank them added 96 teams to our football competitions. for their assistance in our club operations and Female participation continues to grow and with these infrastructure projects. it’s fantastic to see the positive impact our While welcoming new clubs to the EDFL, female players are having at their clubs and supporting our existing clubs wherever we throughout the EDFL. In 2019, female teams can will always remain a high priority. This represented 21 per cent of EDFL football. assistance takes many forms. Indicators for An area for concern has been the decrease in the EDFL are the diversity of clubs whose the number of teams competing in our Under teams play in grand finals and which clubs 19 competitions. Following analysis and provide players who are successful in our $130,410, which reflected a lack of resources discussions with our clubs, the decision was league best-and-fairest awards. In 2019, we and investment in some areas. These issues made to convert the age group to an Under were very happy that 24 clubs competed in were addressed this year and when added 18.5 competition for 2020.