Keilor looks to have covered all its bases as it prepares for the new Essendon District Football League season.
With a view to signing some top-end talent, the premier division outfit has added two key position stars and two high-calibre midfielders.
Full forward Dean Galea joined the Blues from Avondale Heights at the end of last season and will give the club a huge boost inside its 50-metre arc.
Galea is a two-time winner of the Jim Miller medal, which is presented to the leading goalkicker in the VFL competition. He won the award while playing for Port Melbourne.
Also crossing over from Avondale Heights are swingman Michael Tanner and gun midfielder Luke Cartelli.
Cartelli is a former Keilor junior who will be joined in the middle by Ryan Hards, who played in the Sunraysia league last season.
While the former Avondale Heights trio is already well known in EDFL circles, Keilor coach Mick McGuane said he had been particularly impressed by Hards.
“Ryan’s record speaks for itself,” he said.
“He was impressive in the two practice matches we played. He’s clean, hard and a good decision-maker.
“He uses the ball well. We felt we needed some class through that middle of the ground and we’re more than happy to have him.”
Keilor has also added Mick McGuane’s cousin, former AFL player Luke McGuane, to its coaching ranks for this season.
Luke may also play, depending on the outcome of an AFL injury compensation issue.
Not returning to Keilor this year will be Rhyce Prismall and Timmy Peck.
The Blues are coming off an ultra-impressive campaign last year which ended with a loss to Greenvale in the preliminary final, a result which appears to have only added more fire to its premiership push.
Keilor showed some exciting signs in its practice matches, knocking off Riddell District Football League outfit Sunbury Kangaroos by 74 points and Western Region Football League club Spotswood by 76.
Keilor’s season opens with a Good Friday blockbuster against Strathmore, which will be played as a stand-alone fixture this week.
“We know we need to be up, ready and raring to go before other clubs,” McGuane said.
“It’s a great concept … two really good teams go head to head.
“Keilor and Strathmore like beating each other but no matter who wins, there’s a lot of mutual respect there.”
