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EDFL Headlines - Monday July 16th, 2018

Weekend Wrap


Douttas Claim Maiden Win, Could Avoid Relegation

ESSENDON Doutta Stars will not have to endure a winless season in 2018.

In what was the heart-warming story of the weekend, Douttas finally managed to convert their good recent from into a win, easily accounting for West Coburg at Nipper Jordan Oval on Saturday.

The Stars came into the game as a hot favourite and desperate for a win, and Dean Wallis’ men were able to rise to the occasion from the get-go.

After a sluggish start, Douttas were successful in adding scoreboard pressure against the division’s lowest-scoring team, establishing a commanding 28-point lead by half time.

In the end the Stars restricted the Burgers to just six goals for the day, with nine individual goalkickers getting on the board by the final siren.

Jordan Angus was named best-on-ground alongside Charles Lill and Karl Brown, all of whom are enjoying good personal form.

It was an important result for the Stars, as they are now only one win and a little bit of percentage behind West Coburg in the tightening Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division relegation battle.

The Stars will again fancy themselves this weekend away to Avondale Heights, while West Coburg has to face in-form Keilor and Strathmore in its next two outings.

Final: Essendon Doutta Stars 10.15-75 def. West Coburg 6.6-42


Blues Dominant In NAIDOC Game Win

KEILOR’S winning streak was increased to seven after a dominant second half display at Aberfeldie on Saturday.

The Blues are now equal with Maribyrnong Park and Greenvale at 10-3 on the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division table after steamrolling their way past the reigning premiers with 11 goals to five the second half of their inaugural NAIDOC Game at Clifton Park.

Dean Galea was again the star up forward with seven goals, which was his sixth bag of five or more for the year, while Nick O’Kearney’s Reynolds Medal chances increased with an outstanding best-on-ground performance.

Aberfeldie welcomed Kyle Reimers back into the line-up with the ex-Bomber kicking a goal in his return game, while Jayden Foster and Tom Hislop both snagged two in the 45-point loss.

Final: Aberfeldie 12.12-84 def. by Keilor 20.9-129


Mores Into The Four

STRATHMORE finds itself inside the top four for the first time since Round 1 after a thrilling five-point win over Maribyrnong Park.

Kyle Weightman and Tom Condon combined for five goals while Adam Iacobucci continued with his solid form in midfield as the Mores slowly edged their way ahead in what was an arm wrestle at Mascoma Street.

They led the Lions by 16 points at half time before Maribyrnong Park steadied in the third, with Jock Cornell (two goals), Panayioti Kokkinakis (two), Will Martiniello (one) and Nick Prowse (one) all stepping up for the ladder leaders.

It remained close for the entire second half but by the time the final siren sounded, it was Strathmore who emerged victorious for its seventh win in eight games.

The Mores’ draw now eases up with all of the bottom four sides and Aberfeldie (final round) still to come in their run home.

Final: Strathmore 10.13-73 def. Maribyrnong Park 10.8-68


Heights Almost Safe, Beat Roys At Sewell

AVONDALE Heights is a step closer to ensuring safety from relegation after cruising past Glenroy at Sewell Reserve.

With more on the line, Heights was able to recover from a five-goal-to-one first quarter to score a comfortable 35-point win that puts them 10 points clear of Essendon Doutta Stars on the ladder.

Luke Edwards and Jibril Yamak both starred up forward with seven combined goals while Mathew Cravino was named best-on-ground as Donald McDonald’s men wrested back control of the game after quarter time, finishing the game with 14 goals to Glenroy’s six after the first change.

Only four Roys could find their way onto the goal sheet come game’s end, with Aaron Kite leading the way with four for the day.

Zach Smith and Matt Walker were Glenroy’s best.

Final: Glenroy 11.7-73 def. by Avondale Heights 15.18-108


Demons Firming As Flag Favourites

TULLAMARINE showed off some of its premiership credentials by outlasting Craigieburn at DS Aitken Reserve on EDFL Match of the Day.

Both sides were hampered by some key omissions but that didn’t get in the way of what was a great spectacle of Essendon Ford Division 1 footy.

In ideal conditions, both the Eagles and Demons continually traded blows on the scoreboard throughout the day with the margin staying within single figures at each of the first three changes.

But it was Tullamarine that stayed in front for the entirety.

Dean Limbach’s battle with Russell Laurie was a highlight throughout the day.

After escaping last week’s tribunal hearing with a reprimand for striking, the division’s leading goalkicker kicked three goals.

His third goal came eight minutes into the final term, reducing the margin to one point, but the Demons steadied with three more goals to Craigieburn’s one to escape with a hard-fought 16-point win.

Tullamarine midfielder Dean Bartrop was awarded the RAWFORM Seamless Compression EDFL Player of the Day prize.

Final: Craigieburn 13.14-92 def. by Tullamarine 15.18-108


Saints Continue Dominance Over Magpies

THE Northern Saints have now swept Roxburgh Park for the 2018 home-and-away season.

In the third and final home-and-away meeting between the two Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 contenders, the Saints powered home in the final term to claim a 12-point win that returned them to the top of the ladder and sent Roxburgh Park down to fourth spot.

Khodr Taleb kicked another bag of five to take his season tally to 45 but up the other end, Luke Capuano finished with seven in a solid return to form.

The Magpies clawed their way back into the game in the third quarter but were left to rue some missed opportunities in front of the sticks, going into the final change down by a point after kicking 4.8 to the Saints’ 2.1 for the quarter.

It was the sixth time this year that Roxburgh Park has finished a game with more behinds than goals.

Ahmed Abdul-Wahed was best-on-ground for the new ladder leader.

Final: Roxburgh Park 11.12-78 def. Northern Saints 13.12-90


Valley Puts Another Dagger Into Lions’ Finals Hopes

BRADEN Padmore’s three goals were enough to see Moonee Valley edge past Coburg Districts in an Ormond Park thriller on Saturday.

The Fog got an early jump on the Lions in the first term before Coburg Districts made use of the scoring end in the second, kicking five goals to one to go into the portables up by four points during the main break.

As it was back in Round 1 and Round 8, little separated the two sides.

In Round 1, the Valley held on to win at home by less than a goal.

Three months on, it happened again, but with less than one per cent separating the Fog from the Northern Saints, the Valley still slipped to second spot after claiming a five-point win.

Richard Potter and Connor Ahern proved more than handy support acts for Padmore up forward with two goals each, while up the other end the Vesnaver brothers combined for seven goals for the Lions – who remain a game outside the top four.

Final: Moonee Valley 13.12-90 def. Coburg Districts 13.7-85


Devils End Season With Victory

NOTHING but pride was on the line between the two cellar dwellers of EDFL Women’s back on Friday night.

Neither Roxburgh Park nor Keilor Park were in the running for a finals berth as they went head-to-head in their final outing for the season and for three quarters, it was a hot contest at Lakeside Drive.

Little separated the two throughout the night, with Samantha German providing a spark for the Devils at one end and Danira Leafa playing well across the ground for the Magpies.

The winless Devils led by just five points at three-quarter time.

Desperate to end their long season on a high note, they managed to kick clear of the Magpies in the final term, slamming through three unanswered goals to claim a thrilling 20-point win.

German’s three goals were enough to earn her best-on honours.

Both sides ended their 2018 EDFL Women’s campaigns at 1-11.

Final: Roxburgh Park 3.8-26 def. by Keilor Park 7.4-46


Women’s Finals Series Set After Final Round

THERE was no change to the ladder order following the final round of EDFL Women’s, with all the favourites getting up on the final Sunday of the home-and-away season.

Madeleine Saunders kicked thee goals in a best-on-ground display in Aberfeldie’s 36-point win over the Sunbury Lions while Pascoe Vale’s Siobhan Carlton claimed the EDFL Women’s goalkicking title with six majors in what was her 150th game.

The Panthers were relentless against a Craigieburn side that was fighting for a slim chance of sneaking into the final fight, scoring an easy 91-point win to finish as the undefeated minor premier.

The Sunbury Kangaroos took care of business away to Strathmore at Mascoma Street, only allowing two Mores’ goals in their 74-point win, with Tylah Bell (five goals) and Tara Crisp (three) dominating up forward.

In the final game, Brooklyn Ash was best-on-ground in Westmeadows' low-scoring 23-point win over Keilor.

Avondale Heights/Taylors Lakes forfeited its game to Burnside Heights.

There will be no EDFL Women’s action this weekend, with finals kicking off on Sunday July 29.

Using the AFL’s final eight system, these will be the match-ups for Week 1 of the 2018 EDFL Women’s Finals Series:

Qualifying Finals - Sunday July 29:

Burnside Heights v Sunbury Kangaroos - 12pm @ Keilor Reserve

Pascoe Vale v Aberfeldie - 2pm @ Keilor Reserve

Elimination Finals - Sunday July 29:

Sunbury Lions v Keilor - 12pm @ Highgate Reserve (Oval 2)

Westmeadows v Strathmore - 2pm @ Highgate Reserve (Oval 2)

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