By ADEM SARICAOGLU
EXPECT a very different looking Keilor Park side in Division Two of the Essendon District Football League this year.
The Devils got stung by their crosstown rival East Keilor in last year’s first semi-final after finishing the year at 10-8 and fourth on the table.
As a result, Keilor Park has seen a large number of senior players come and go over the summer period, and will enter the new 2014 campaign hoping its new-look side can avenge for the disappointments of last September.
“I don’t ever want that experience to happen again,” coach Rob McCluskey said of the 43-point defeat to East Keilor.
“We realised in the finals that we just lacked that leg speed, but we beat every side except for the side that won the grand final (Hillside).
“So this year we’ve gone out and recruited leg speed, and got some good, young players and I think we’re at least a five-goal plus better side than we were last year, so we should be there-abouts.”
Keilor Park’s list of outs is substantial, with Luke Wilson, Jake Thomas, Jordan Garita and Luke Vivian headlining a list of several players not suiting up for the Devils in 2014.
However, with Judd Darby (Ovens and King Football League), Daniel Poynton (Riddell District Football League) and Allan Hill (Ballarat Football League) all set to join a number of other new recruits, McCluskey is confident his list now has more quality and depth than that of 12 months ago.
McCluskey said he is particularly chuffed about midfielder Darby, telling Star he will be the new face to look out for in the green and orange this season.
“He’s won three out of the last four best-and-fairests for his club (Bonnie Doon) in the Ovens and King league and he hasn’t missed a training session, so he’s the stand-out from pre-season so far,” McCluskey said.
Meanwhile, Keilor Park has welcomed former Essendon ruckman and premiership player John Barnes, who has come on board as football director.
The Devils will also host Coburg Districts on Anzac Day in round three.
The new EDFL season begins on the first weekend of April, where Keilor Park will host Roxburgh Park.
