At this time of year there’s a lot of talk about ‘football factories’.
The phrase refers to a TAC Cup or VFL side with a reputation for getting players drafted into the AFL.
Ben Ross, Ben Brown and Kyle Hartigan are testament to the highly successful factory at VFL side Werribee, while the Calder Cannons earned the title after developing a host of high draft picks in recent years, including Joe Daniher, Dion Prestia and Tom Liberatore.
Now, Essendon District Football League club Keilor is proving you don’t need the resources of a TAC Cup side or the money of a VFL team to produce top-line talent.
The Blues are in the early stages of a golden run at the draft table.
Jayden Laverde, Corey Ellis, Paul Ahern and Damien Cavka are four Keilor juniors in the mix to be picked up this year.
The players represented Vic Metro at this year’s national championships and were joined in the side by bottom-age star and potential 2015 high draft pick Nick O’Kearney.
Keilor president Craig Teal knew the club had something special as the group moved through the respective junior-age grades.
“You would struggle to get a better local junior side than the one these boys played in together,” he said. “They went through the two years of under-10s, two years of under-12s, two years of under-14s and two years of under-16s and won every flag.”
Keilor is in the unique position of having its representative players split between two TAC Cup teams, the Western Jets and Calder Cannons. When the two sides squared off in round one earlier this year, the match had a distinctive Blues’ feel to it.
A total of nine players across the two teams played their junior football with Keilor.
Teal said the incredible achievement was a huge thrill for the club. Keilor undertook a restructure at that level a few years ago and is now reaping the rewards.
“The one thing it does do is vindicate the path you’ve taken,” Teal said.
“We set up junior support staff at each level. We put in place a coaching director of junior football. In doing all that sort of stuff, we just tried to make sure the kids coming through had the right path in terms of development.
“That’s really worked for us. It’s a very proud moment for the club and unheard of in paddock football. To get so many kids come out of one side and be so dominant is an incredible effort.”
The group’s performances for Vic Metro has generated plenty of excitement throughout the club, according to senior head coach Mick McGuane.
He’s witnessed their development through the junior programs and even coached some of them at senior level.
O’Kearney made his debut for the Keilor seniors aged 15.
McGuane said it was great to see the group not only represent Vic Metro but be among the best players in the competition.
“At the start of this year, we had nine in the opening TAC Cup game,” he said.
“If you fast-track four months, we get two All-Australians [Laverde and Ahern] at the under-18 championships.
‘‘That’s notwithstanding the fact Corey Ellis is clearly under the eyes of AFL recruiters I speak to, and Nick O’Kearney is another one you can put on the draft table.’’
The latest batch of top-line talent is nothing new for Keilor, with the club boasting a rich history when it comes to former juniors playing in the AFL.
Richmond’s Ivan Maric and Gold Coast’s Michael Rischitelli are two former Blues in the AFL system. Last year, the club celebrated when James Sicily’s name was called out by Hawthorn at pick 56.
Having been drafted to the reigning premier, Sicily is still waiting to make his debut but has been named as an emergency multiple times.
“I remember seeing James play in a final against Doutta Stars a couple of years ago,’’ Teal said. ‘‘In his second quarter, everyone just looked at each other and said, ‘Wow!’.
‘‘It was just an unbelievable quarter of football from someone who, unquestionably, is going to be an elite talent.’’
Sicily has already been back to Keilor and spoken to the next wave of talented juniors on the way through the club.
A busy season for Keilor’s potential draftees will ramp up in the next month.
The Cannons and Jets have finished the TAC Cup season first and sixth on the ladder, respectively, and could face off in a final next month. There’s also the matter of November’s AFL draft to look forward to.
“When you’re a volunteer … you get your reward each week, but every now and then you get the icing on the cake when you see those kids,” Teal said.
“If you have had anything to do with their development … it’s just a wonderful thing.”
