EAST KEILOR v CRAIGIEBURN
Semi Final (Qualifying)
📻 Radio Game 📻
Saturday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
FOR a second week in a row these two teams will meet, but this time a lot more is on the line.
Last week it was for a minor premiership and a top two spot.
This week they are playing off for a Grand Final berth.
The Cougars will take the upper hand coming into this match-up, having won both home-and-away meetings this season.
The question is, how much can you take from last week’s match?
They would have likely taken some small things out of it, but both sides would have kept some cards close to their chest, with one eye on this Semi Final.
East Keilor enters finals on the back of a 10-game winning streak.
They have done most of that without their best forward, Dion Hill, who hasn’t played since Round 12.
Despite that, he still finished second in the division’s goal kicking.
Does he return? And if he does, what impact will he have after not playing for a number of weeks?
While Hill’s status remains in doubt, the Cougars have plenty of other experienced players you can’t take lightly.
Three of the Cougars’ best performers this season have been Joseph Palazzolo and the Grabowski brothers, Josh and Nick.
They have brought a lot to the Cougars, including finals experience from NFNL power, Bundoora, a club that has tasted a lot of success.
All three played in a premiership with the Bulls in 2017.
If things get tight here at Windy Hill, expect these three to step up.
For Craigieburn, you’d expect a few changes coming into this weekend.
The likes of Tye Browning, Jesse Davies, Ryan Bongetti and Christian McErlain were among those not to play last week.
Browning and Davies have been standouts when they have taken to the field and Browning, who has played NAB League and VFL footy this season and was also part of Craigieburn’s 2016 premiership win as a 16-year-old, adds some x-factor.
Davies, who won the RDFNL Best & Fairest last year, has continued that form this year and been named in the Eagles’ best players nine times.
Expect this game to be won in the midfield, with both sides having a lot of forward options.
TULLAMARINE v WESTMEADOWS
Semi Final (Elimination)
🎥 Broadcast Game 📻
Sunday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
It’s been hard to get a read on these two sides in the back half of the season, with ‘inconsistent’ probably being the best word to use to describe them.
The Demons, who could have sealed up a top two spot in the final round last week, haven’t won two games in a row since Rounds 11 and 12.
While they dropped a match to minor premier East Keilor, the other two losses have come against teams that didn’t make finals.
It would be a little bit of a worry for Tullamarine, who were hoping to hit their peak come finals.
It appears they might have a couple of key players to come back into the side, but it was still a pretty strong 22 that took the field and ultimately went down to Hillside last week.
The big bonus for the Demons, though, was the return of Anthony Prestia.
Prestia is arguably their most important player, as he can turn a game in the space of a quarter, which he did against East Keilor earlier in the year.
If he gets going in the midfield or even up forward, he will be hard to stop.
On paper, the Demons enter the game as favourites, but Westmeadows would like its chances here.
The Tigers have probably been the most inconsistent side of Division 1 all year, having gone win-loss since Round 6.
When they have been good, the Tigers have been really good, defeating both East Keilor and Craigieburn early in the season.
Westmeadows has also beaten those it’s had to, with all of their losses coming against top five sides.
It has been a couple of players at opposite ends of their careers that have stood out for the Tigers this season.
Jordan Hollow, who played Under 19s footy last season, has been solid and is exemplary of the young talent coming through the club.
Meanwhile experienced captain Robbie Castello has starred in his first year at Willowbrook and is a massive key for the Tigers.
Westmeadows will also be hoping to have Mitch Church back in the forward line to take some of the pressure off Omar Saad, who kicked three goals last week to claim the Division 1 goal kicking title for 2019, ending his home-and-away campaign with 53 majors.
FINALS ENTRY PRICES:
Adults: $15.00
Concession: $8.00
Under 14 years: FREE
Windy Hill Premium Viewing/Legends Bar: $20.00
ANIMAL ACCESS RESTRICTIONS:
No animals will be permitted into any finals venues, except for dogs to assist people whose vision is impaired.
MATCH FILMING & PHOTOGRAPHY - ALL VENUES:
The EDFL will only permit approved media outlets and suppliers to take photos and film matches at all EDFL Finals venues.
Any photographers or videographers who are not wearing the official EDFL Media Coloured Vest will be asked to cease their activity immediately or risk being ejected from the venue.
All Media Vest requests are to be referred directly to adem.s@essendondfl.com.au.
