By ADEM SARICAOGLU
KEILOR Park has set itself up beautifully for the run home in Division 2 of the Essendon District Football League after claiming its third consecutive win on Saturday.
A heavily undermanned Devils outfit was mauled by more than 100 points by Hillside late last month, but with some of their regular starters gradually filtering their way back into the side since that day, Keilor Park has re-emerged as a premiership contender.
Keilor Park got rolled by Coburg Districts the first time they met back in May, but in Saturday’s rematch at Districts’ Cole Reserve, the Devils were comfortable 51-point winners.
They were dominant from the start, hitting the scoreboard nine times in the opening quarter, only to lead by seven points after kicking 1.8.
However the six-pointers soon started ticking over, and by half time the game was effectively dead with Keilor Park up by 33 points in wet and gloomy conditions.
Coach Rob McCluskey is pleased with how his injury-hit squad is shaping up with three crucial games coming up in the last month of the home and away season.
“We’re starting to get some players back but we’ve still got 20 injuries at the moment,” McCluskey said.
“We’ve got a couple coming back this week (to face East Sunbury), but with a lot of new guys in the side we’re just starting to gel at the right time of the season.
“We’ve won three in a row, play East Sunbury this week which will be four in a row, and that sets us up for the last three games of the year.”
The Devils are 8-6 and fifth on the ladder, but only percentage is currently keeping them out of the top four.
After what is almost certain to be a percentage-boosting win this Saturday, Keilor Park will face East Keilor (third) and Roxburgh Park (fourth) before ending the regular season on the road against Division 2 frontrunner, Hillside.
While the Devils have had East Keilor’s measure twice already this season, they are yet to beat Roxburgh Park in two attempts.
However, with more players expected to return and some new recruits expected to make an appearance in coming weeks, McCluskey is confident Keilor Park can claw their way into the four by season’s end and contest for a grand final berth.
“There’s no side in the competition we fear,” he said.
“Hopefully we meet Hillside on the last day of the year and anything can happen, depending on conditions and injuries.”
