EAST Sunbury has taken its next step towards fielding a senior team in Essendon District Football League with the appointment of Casey Whelan as coach for next year.
Whelan is a former Jacana senior coach who has had success at under-18 level with EDFL club Aberfeldie.
East Sunbury will become the seventh team in the recently created division 2, the third tier of EDFL.
"He did a training session with the under-18s filling in during the season; he did say he didn't want to coach," East Sunbury club president Peter Methven said.
"But when his feet hit the grass the passion came back."
Methven said the club's playing stocks were sufficient for a senior team and recruiting would continue through the offseason.
East Sunbury's rivals in the division next season will be Hillside, East Keilor, Moonee Valley, Roxburgh Park, Keilor Park and Jacana.
East Keilor advanced to this season's division 2 grand final by beating Hillside in the qualifying final at the weekend.
However, this season's premier will not be promoted to division 1.
East Sunbury is holding a meet-and-greet session with its new senior coach this Sunday at 2pm at East Sunbury. For more information, go to www.essgroup.org.au