New Ladder Leader After Lions Lose Again
ABERFELDIE is on top of the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division ladder for the first time this year after cruising past Maribyrnong Park on Saturday.
Josh Pound continued his outstanding year with three goals and was joined on the goal sheet by Joel Madden (three goals) and Jayden Foster (two) as Abers led at every change against an inaccurate Lions outfit.
Marby could only muster 5.12 for the day, with Connor Maher kicking two goals alongside Scott Clarke and Jock Cornell – the Lions’ only other goal kickers on Saturday.
After losing a thriller to Greenvale in Round 7, Marby will enter the Queen’s Birthday break on a two-game losing streak but remains second on the ladder.
Final: Aberfeldie 11.9-75 def. Maribyrnong Park 5.12-42
Blues Back In Form After Bringing Down Jets
DEAN Galea and Josh Martin combined for five goals each to sink Greenvale in one of the surprise results of the weekend.
The Blues welcomed premiership captain Dylan Joyce back into the side as they continued with their good form from Round 7, blowing the Jets out of the water after half time to win by a convincing 38 points.
Kane Barbuto was best-on-ground while veteran Mick James had his usual impact with two goals.
Youngster James Bailey was also impressive alongside Kieran Bell.
The win kept Keilor in the top four ahead of Pascoe Vale on percentage with Avondale Heights next on the agenda after the Queen’s Birthday break.
Final: Keilor 18.6-114 def. Greenvale 11.10-76
Lions Show Heart In Division One Classic
TAYLORS Lakes sent a stern reminder to its Essendon Ford Division 1 rivals that it is a contender in 2018.
The Lions handed Tullamarine its first loss of 2018 in a Lionheart Reserve thriller on Saturday.
Stephen Tieppo made a hero of himself, with his third goal late in the final term putting the Lions over the top to claim a one-point win.
The Demons clawed their way back from a 21-point deficit at quarter time to keep it close for the duration of the game, but with Tieppo, Rory Alexander and the returning Jackson Wright all on-song, the Lions withstood the Tullamarine challenge to claim their fifth win – keeping them in the top four.
For the Demons, Keilor premiership player and former Oak Park star Jack Kennedy made his first appearance in red and blue after transferring across from the Blues last week.
He kicked two goals.
Final: Taylors Lakes 14.9-93 def. Tullamarine 12.20-92
Roos Score First Win Against Battling Cougars
IN another Essendon Ford Division 1 thriller, Oak Park eased some pressure in its relegation battle with a one-point win at East Keilor.
Travis Anderson was the star up forward with three goals and skipper Danny Rajab was best-on-ground with two of his own as the Kangaroos stormed home in the final term with six goals to three, coming from 15 points down to claim their first win of the year.
The Cougars, who are now level with Oak Park at 1-6, showed signs of improvement through the first three quarters, with Dion Hill (three goals) and Tom Madden having an impact.
But with some off-field drama and injuries continuing to derail its 2018 campaign, the Cougars couldn’t hold on in the final term.
After the Queen’s Birthday break, East Keilor will have a chance to bounce back away to Westmeadows while Oak Park will be looking for back-to-back wins at home to Jacana.
Final: East Keilor 10.15-75 def. by Oak Park 11.10-76
Hot Pies On Fire At Lakeside
ROXBURGH Park firmed as a Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 flag fancy with its best win of the year to date.
The Magpies welcomed the EDFL Match of the Day crew to Lakeside Drive and put on a show, leading at every change in what was an entertaining game against Coburg Districts.
The Lions kicked the first three goals of the game before Roxburgh Park got going, heading into the quarter time huddle up by seven points.
The game then opened up in the second term as the Magpies’ potent three-pronged attack of Luke Capuano, Osama Saad and Tumay Hamza wreaked havoc in the Lions’ back line, ending the day with three goals each.
The Magpies kicked away in the second half, with Alex Powell, Travis Cooke and RAWFORM Seamless Compression EDFL Player of the Day Jack Elliott all starring in the 38-point win.
The Lions are now two games out of the top four at 3-5, while Roxburgh Park is third and only two percentage points behind second-placed Moonee Valley.
Final: Roxburgh Park 16.10-106 def. Coburg Districts 10.8-68
Wayward Abers Into Women’s Top Four
ABERFELDIE has stormed into the EDFL Women’s top four with a hard-fought 13-point win over Craigieburn on Sunday.
Julia Watkin, Amber Wescombe and Olivia Madden got among the goals and Ella Saunders was best-on-ground as Abers kept Craigieburn goalless through the first three quarters of the game at Aberfeldie Park West.
The Eagles tried to mount a comeback in the last with two unanswered goals to Samantha French, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the wayward Aberfeldie, who could have inflicted more scoreboard damage had it kicked straighter.
Aberfeldie is now 5-2, with a big Friday night home game with Burnside Heights coming up next after the Queen’s Birthday break.
Last week the EDFL announced a top eight finals series for this year’s EDFL Women’s competition.
