BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v ABERFELDIE 1
Friday 7:30pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
ABERFELDIE will head into this match as the clear favourite, but if Burnside Heights can pull off an upset win, the finals race could really heat up.
Round 12 will be the first time Burnside Heights and Aberfeldie meet in 2019.
In 2018 the Bears prevailed by four points in a close contest.
This season, though, has presented different opportunities and challenges.
The Bears best win for the season remains their nine-point win over Westmeadows back in Round 5, having gone down to the Sunbury Kangaroos and Keilor for the second time since then.
They’re coming off a solid 23-point win against Sunbury Lions in Round 11, with Maria Afuhaamango taking her goal tally to 15 for the season on the back of three goals.
The strength of Brodie Stevens and Afuhaamango in the contest were significant to the win.
Meanwhile, Keilor are the only team to get close to the ladder leaders thus far.
Aberfeldie were inaccurate against Strathmore, kicking 9.17, but did control the game.
Ella Saunders popped up with three goals supported by Madeleine Saunders with two.
The Bears will need to get off to a quick start and will be looking to Kayla Ravanello and Krissy Trang to set the tone.
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v SUNBURY LIONS
Friday 7:30pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
The pride of Sunbury is on the line in this Friday night contest between the Kangaroos and the Lions.
Eight-nine points separated them the last time they met in a Round 2 blowout.
Round 11 was cut short for the Kangaroos with the game called off at quarter time after an unfortunate injury to one of Hillside’s key playmakers.
Before that Bronte Koutras looked threatening, starting the game strongly by finishing off good running play with two goals in the opening 20 minutes.
The Lions bounced out of the blocks to hold a seven-point lead against Burnside Heights at quarter time last week but went missing in the second and third quarters.
They then added another two goals in the last in a four-goal loss.
Mollie-Ann Gregory and Sera Catania provided run on their home deck.
The Sunbury Kangaroos are eyeing off a position within the top three and will go a long way to securing it with a win here.
WESTMEADOWS v HILLSIDE
Friday 7:30pm at Willowbrook Reserve
How the Tigers combat the pace of Hillside here though will be interesting as the Sharks have grown in confidence since their initial meeting back in Round 2, where Westmeadows proved too strong, winning by 10 goals.
Westmeadows currently sit two games clear of sixth-placed Hillside and can finalise their place in the finals with the four points in this match.
Natalie Linton has now kicked 14 goals over the past four weeks, steering Westmeadows to victory with seven goals against Craigieburn.
Danielle Fedoruk, Emily Brebner and Jacinta Scott also continued their goal kicking form, with two apiece.
Hillside were lively against the Sunbury Kangaroos early last Friday night before the game was called off, with Ebony Wilkie’s dash important in breaking open packs.
But the Sharks had difficulties penetrating a strong marking Kangaroos defence.
Hillside have the potential to challenge Westmeadows with their pace but will need to hit targets in their forward half to take the game away from the Tigers.
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 10:00am at Canning Reserve
Maribyrnong Park have now won three in a row but remain in sixth position with percentage still an issue, despite a 100-point win against Coburg Districts.
The Lions had 36 scoring shots to none, but could have extended their final margin as they kicked an inaccurate 17.19.
Gabrielle Mahoney did the most damage for the Lions up forward kicking five goals, but there were also plenty of other contributors, with eight players featuring on the scoresheet.
Ruby Bray and Imogen Buckle were influential around the ground.
Marthese Zahra, on permit from Keilor, was a key player for Avondale Heights in their four-goal loss to Roxburgh Park.
The Heights held a two-point lead going into the second half on the back of goals to Isabella Iaccino and Emily Markham, but the Magpies came out firing and won the game with a four-goal third quarter.
Avondale Heights will be looking for their third win of the season before facing Essendon Doutta Stars and Moonee Valley in the last two rounds, but Maribyrnong Park’s finals chances are on the line, so expect the Lions to burst out of the blocks and kick a large winning score.
COBURG DISTRICTS v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Sunday 2:20pm at Cole Reserve
The challenge for Coburg Districts does not get any easier, with Essendon Doutta Stars travelling to Cole Reserve in Round 12.
The best score for the season for Districts, however, came against the Stars in Round 3 when Abbie Storer, Hayley Carmichael and Madeleine Curotte each kicked a goal.
A repeat of this performance will be required here.
Essendon Doutta Stars have now answered all questions asked of them, with a notable five-goal win over Moonee Valley which firms them up as the favourite for the flag.
Down by a point at quarter time, the Stars finished full of running, adding 4.12 to Moonee Valley’s 1.1 after the first break.
Sophie Fazzolari was a standout, winning her own ball and finishing with four goals while Aleesha Hobbs, in a supporting role, kicked one.
The Stars have great spread, with the core group of players having featured among the best at some point during the season.
Abbie Storer and Maria Carbone have been Districts’ most consistent performers and will need to lead the way against difficult opposition.
GREENVALE v ROXBURGH PARK
Sunday 2:20pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
Roxburgh Park come into this match on the back of two reasonably straightforward victories against lower ranked competition in the past fortnight.
The second of these wins came against Avondale Heights, when the Magpies took the honours for three quarters of effort, despite Heights battling back to take the lead at half time.
Shelby Best was the leading scorer for the game with two goals.
The Magpies’ best win came against Tullamarine in Round 6 and they will need to find that form to hold onto a top five position with two tough games to come against Aberfeldie 2 and Keilor Park.
But can the Jets turn the tables and shock the Magpies for their third win of the season?
Bianca Torrijos and Courtney McLaughlin were among the best in the last match-up with the Magpies and are coming off resilient performances against Avondale Heights, but will need support to give their team a chance.
