2017 Annual Report Contents 2 Chairman’s Report 3 CEO’s Report 4 Football Operations Report 5 Media Report 6 Umpiring Report 7 AFL Victoria Development Report 8 Senior Interleague 9 TAC Cup Representatives 10-11 Junior Interleague 12-27 Club Reports 28-29 2017 Awards 30 2017 Teams of the Year 31 2017 Junior Best & Fairests 32 2017 Ladders 33 2017 Grand Final Results 34-36 All Time Best & Fairests 37-39 All Time Premiers 40 EDFL Life Members Photography supplied by: 41-55 2017 Financial Report Jamie Morey Photography 56 2017 EDFL Sponsors 2017 EDFL Board & Staff Chairman Football Operations Officer AFL Victoria Football Brett Scott Shannon Colgan Development Managers Gavin Mahony Board Members Media Manager Mark Morgan Bernie Shinners Adem Saricaoglu Robert Castellas Romy Gutbier Umpiring & Development Tanya Taylor Manager Wayne Anthony Rowan Sawers Chief Executive Officer Umpiring Administrator Marc Turri Ken Waters Head Office 78A Napier Street Corporate Services Manager Female Football & Essendon 3040 Greta May Netball Development Ph: 9373 2700 Manager Web: essendondfl.com.au Football Operations Pauline Leslie Manager Stuart Balloch Contents | 2017 EDFL Board & Staff The 84th Essendon District Football League Annual Report 1 Chairman VER the past five years the EDFL has has been met with some angst, it has set the experienced many significant changes, EDFL up to control its own destiny. I doubt Ochanges that we believe have made there is another community competition the EDFL a stronger and more relevant anywhere that can proudly say that all its brand. Community football as we know it has members are financial. We do not want to re- changed dramatically and will continue to vert to the past where clubs were borrowing change in the foreseeable future. Unfortu- from the future to pay for the present. nately, if we as a league or you as clubs do not embrace change, then we will all be left Interleague behind. In 2017 the EDFL played the Eastern Football League at Bayswater for the right to chal- Growth lenge in 2018 for the title of number one The relocation to Windy Hill cannot be community football league in Victoria. In a underestimated in providing the EDFL with high-quality, fast-paced game and despite a superior vehicle in which to attract quality having more scoring shots, we went down people to our competition. It has provided us by two points with the last kick of the game with facilities to be able to better administer shaving the goal post. To our coaches, the EDFL. If we had not relocated, we would players and support staff, thank you for your In Division 1, Glenroy finally had the chance not have been able to support the com- efforts in preparing the EDFL for a quality to invest in their on-field activities after years petition and manage the growth we have competition. If there is to be a negative, then of dedication to improve the facilities at experienced. it is that not one player who finished in the Sewell Reserve. With a loyal and long-term When we talk about growth there are two top 10 of the EDFL best-and-fairest made committed administration led by EDFL stal- significant areas - players and umpires. The themselves available for selection. warts Adrian McDonald, Murray Nilsson and EDFL has grown by over 100 teams in the Ross Terranova, Glenroy will be more than past five years and by over 150 umpires in Board prepared for the rigors of Premier Division. the same time frame. In times of change, strength and stability Jacana made their intention clear early on An extra 100-plus teams equates to an of administration plays a vital part in the with the recruitment of Cameron Cloke. extra 2000-plus players. When you factor in ongoing success of any organisation. To With strong off-field leadership from Rick parents and membership, they are significant board members Bernie Shinners, Wayne Lloyd and Khan Sayers combined with a new numbers. Anthony, Tanya Taylor, Romy Gutbier and on-field team led by Robert Fletcher, they The EDFL reached a stage where we were Rob Castellas, I would like to thank you for delivered the ultimate prize to their loyal asking clubs to provide club umpires, a poor your significant contribution and your tireless supporter group. The step up to Division 1 reflection of an admired competition. How- commitment to the EDFL. You the clubs will be difficult, however Jacana has again ever, over the past five years we have grown can be assured that we are committed to a made its intention clear with the recruitment to 500-plus umpires each year, which again strong, vibrant EDFL. of Josh Young and Jason Cloke. is a significant achievement. What makes this achievement even greater is that each year Premiers Challenges Ahead we lose 150 umpires. Our aim is to reduce In Premier Division, Aberfeldie cemented There are many challenges facing the EDFL the turnover of umpires, an area that you the their status as the number one club in the in 2018 and beyond, including fixturing, clubs can have a significant impact upon. EDFL. Under the strong astute leadership of grounds, facilities, female football, netball, Both these areas will continue to increase. John Larkins and Adam Potter, Aberfeldie finances, finals, sponsorship, Windy Hill and have finally embraced their strong junior pro- succession planning. Club Finance gram and have got the correct mix on-field. Two of the biggest challenges and concerns Possibly the greatest achievement is the This strong on-field, off-field combination are the salary and player points caps. The financial status of all EDFL clubs. Whilst the could see a dynasty of which we have not theory behind both models is sound with administering of the clubs’ financial status seen before. long-term sustainability paramount for all. However, equalisation by restriction in an un- even arena is fraught with danger. One may ask how a club improves its ladder position when restricted by salary and point caps. The last thing we want the system to do is elimi- nate hope and ambition. If all clubs are meet- ing the league’s affiliation requirements, why should we then restrict the clubs’ resources? It is worth noting that our Premier Division grand finalists, Aberfeldie and Greenvale, played with 32 and 31 points respectively. An unfortunate by-product of the modern football era is the increase in the layers of administration. Are we making it to difficult? Brett Scott Chairman Chairman’s Report 2 2017 Essendon District Football League Annual Report Chief Executive EASON 2017 has been another year of which has continued to rise year-on-year and growth and change within the Essendon simultaneously created more competitive SDistrict Football League. It has been competitions around the state. pleasing to see the hard work of volunteers It is too soon to determine what impact the at clubs being effective in sustaining and Club Sustainability Program will have on its managing growth on a year-by-year basis. stated aims, but it has been great to see all This continued growth ensures the EDFL clubs take on the salary cap and player points maintains its position as one of the leading system and work within the boundaries of community football competitions in metro- these policies. politan Melbourne. Financial League Growth The EDFL continues to maintain a strong A change to the constitution allowed new financial position and I am pleased to clubs to enter the EDFL as affiliated members. report an operating profit of $17,901 for The 2017 season saw Coburg, St Francis, Sun- the 2016/17 financial year. Turnover has in- bury Lions and VU Western Spurs officially creased by 5.78 per cent to over $2.3 million. recognised as affiliated clubs of the EDFL. All Whilst expenses increased by 4.64 per cent, four clubs had previously participated in EDFL the rate of the increase being lower than the guidance and to the EDFL staff of Greta May, competitions, but 2017 was the first time that increase in income resulted in a net profit for Shannon Colgan, Adem Saricaoglu, Rowan these clubs were able to call themselves EDFL the EDFL. Sawers, Ken Waters and Mark Morgan. clubs as associate members of the EDFL. In I welcome Pauline Leslie, who is the EDFL’s addition, Ascot Vale became an affiliated EDFL Partners first dedicated resource for female participa- member of the EDFL in 2017. It is a return to I must extend my appreciation to the Strath- tion, focussing on growing female football the past, with the Ascot Vale name having a more Community Bank, who is a wonderful and establishing a netball competition. connection to the EDFL dating back to 1930. partner of the EDFL and many of our football I must make special mention of the hard Team numbers surged to 377 teams com- clubs. The Strathmore Community Bank is the work and support of Stuart Balloch and Gavin peting in the EDFL. This is an increase of naming rights sponsor of the senior Premier Mahony, both of whom left a positive impact 45 teams from 2016, or roughly 1000 more Division and Division 2 competitions. on the league. participants playing football than we had last The continued support of the Strathmore I would like to acknowledge the support of year. When extended out, this figure of 377 Community Bank is felt not only by the EDFL, AFL Victoria, in particular CEO, Steven Reaper, is an increase of 88 teams, or roughly 2000 but also the wider community. This support Metropolitan Football Manager, Mick Dani- participants when compared to the 2013 and generosity has seen the Strathmore her and Club Sustainability Manager, Darryl season when there were 289 teams compet- Community Bank inducted into the Commu- Collings.