By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE Essendon District Football League’s Division One competition will feature a 16-game fixture with nine clubs, should Burnside Heights be approved to enter Division Two next year.
The Bears’ push for a senior berth in the EDFL looks to be just about over the line, but is still waiting for formal approval when the league board next meets in three weeks’ time.
Both Burnside Heights president Justin Peagram and league general manager Marc Turri believe the appointment of senior coach Shane Rayment is a pivotal step forward toward the bid’s approval.
“With the way the club’s progressing, I’d say their chances are very good,” Turri told Star last week.
“They’ve been very impressive as a committee and a club and very progressive, and for such a young club, they’ve got a real strong culture about them already and that’s the most pleasing thing.
“So I think there’s a lot going in their favour to have seniors quite early in the picture.”
To this point, Peagram is confident Burnside Heights has met all of the league’s requirements, and said he would be surprised if the bid does not get approved.
“Something would have to go drastically wrong for it not to occur,” Peagram said.
“The discussions that we’ve had with the board would indicate that everything’s going to be going to plan.
“We submitted our draft budgets and the feedback we’ve had from Marc (Turri) and (EDFL chairman) Brett (Scott) at the EDFL has been very positive.
“Now that we’ve got Shane on board, we’re starting to tick off all the boxes, so I really can’t see why they won’t sign off on us.”
In anticipation of Burnside Heights’ likely inclusion into Division Two next season, the league recently decided to increase Division One from eight teams to nine, with no relegation out of Division One to occur this year.
A move to promote both Hillside and Moonee Valley into Division One and have Westmeadows be relegated to Division Two was recently knocked back, according to Turri.
Discussions on the possible introduction of a final five finals system for the Premier Division remain ongoing.
