HILLSIDE v WEST COBURG
🎥 Broadcast Game 📻
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Reserve
THIS shapes as an important match in the finals hopes of both sides.
A loss could severely dent the chances of making a move into the top four in the final weeks of the season.
The Sharks currently sit a game and percentage outside the four and the Burgers are a further game adrift.
Hillside has had two weeks off, with the bye and split round, which could work one of two ways.
Coach Steve Burns will hope that it freshened up the playing group following two losses in the lead-up to the break.
The Sharks have a tough run home, with upcoming matches against three top four sides, so this is a must win.
The Burgers have really stepped it up in the second half of the season but weren’t able to stick with Craigieburn for four quarters last week.
After leading at half time, they kicked just four goals in the second half.
Andrew Careri kicked three goals for the Burgers to be one of their best, while Dane Lucas, Trent McRostie and Mitchell Miller also had strong games.
Last time they met it was a thriller and it could quite easily be another one here on EDFL Match of the Day.
WESTMEADOWS v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
Finding consistency in the last few rounds is the key for Westmeadows as it looks to seal up a finals spot.
The Tigers have gone win-loss their last six games, leaving them still having to fight for their top four spot in the final rounds.
After a poor performance two weeks ago against East Keilor, the Tigers need to win this week.
Last time they faced Taylors Lakes, they won by 51 points after kicking away in the second half.
They will be hoping for another performance like that this weekend.
Westmeadows was one of numerous clubs to make a coaching announcement over the split round, with Mo Kaakour to take over as coach from Grant Smith in 2020.
The announcement didn’t come as a surprise, with Kaakour doing a lot of the work behind the scenes while Smith is interstate for work.
To go with the coaching announcement, skipper Robbie Castello and forward Dean Clare have re-signed for next season, which is important for the club.
Taylors Lakes, who is coming off a win last up against Roxburgh Park, are another side that feels like they are on the right track.
Being able to hold off a fast finishing Roxburgh Park to get their third win of the season will give the side more confidence heading forward.
Many of the playing group has already signed on for next year and they will want to finish the season on a high.
The Lions are looking for scalp in the run home and if Westmeadows aren’t switched on, the Tigers could find it tough here.
CRAIGIEBURN v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
For a side that is sitting in the top four, Craigieburn is quietly going about its business.
On a three-game winning streak that sits second only to East Keilor, the Eagles are building nicely towards finals.
On Saturday, they accounted for an improved and dangerous West Coburg side.
Trailing at half time, the Eagles kicked 14 goals to four after the main break to run away with the win.
Brent Gordon and Billy Morrison kicked four goals each for the Eagles, with Morrison named best-on-ground.
As well as getting the win, the Eagles are starting to get games into players who missed a lot of football early on.
Corey Viani and Ryan Bongetti are two of those.
The Eagles will be expected to get another win this weekend and keep pressure on the top two, but Roxburgh Park will look to make it hard.
The Magpies continue to show signs of development and have pushed a lot of teams.
Last up against Taylors Lakes, they fell just short of claiming their fourth win of the season, which would have all but removed them from the relegation debate.
Instead they remain in that discussion, but Roxburgh Park have shown they belong in this division.
Off the field it has been a good week for the Magpies after announcing Michael Farrelly has signed on as coach for two more years.
With the coach locked in, expect to see the Magpies a become bit more active this off-season as they look to add more depth to the squad.
OAK PARK v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
It’s crunch time for Oak Park in the relegation battle, with it looking more and more likely they will finish last.
The Kangaroos sit two wins behind Roxburgh Park and Taylors Lakes, meaning they would likely need to win three games to avoid relegation.
The key for them is to play consistent football for four quarters.
On Saturday they pushed Tullamarine for a half but were unable to maintain it for the duration.
Having put numbers behind the ball, life was hard for the Kangaroos’ forwards, who had limited scoring shots.
Aden Harris kicked two goals and was the only multiple goal scorer for the day.
Harrison Wilson was named the Kangaroos’ best for the second time in his six games.
It doesn’t get any easier for Oak Park here, with East Keilor looming as this week’s opponent.
The Cougars will come into the match fresh, having had the second week of the split round off.
They will be hoping it doesn’t halt their momentum, which has seen them become the form team of the competition.
Last time these two teams met, the Cougars enjoyed a three-figure win and they will be hoping to play some good football with a testing run home coming up.
