ABERFELDIE v GREENVALE
THE Jets are in prime position to exact revenge on Aberfeldie for last year’s decider.
The premiers have been going OK at 2-0-1 but last week’s draw with Avondale Heights certainly raised some eyebrows.
We’ve been yet to see Aberfeldie roll out a side that is close to resembling its best 22, with Kyle Reimers, Jacob Craven, Jayden Foster and James Peters all missing in Round 3.
If that remains the case heading into this one, then Greenvale is not only the favourite, but should win with some level of comfort.
You can’t fault Paul Chapman and his men so far this year and they did what they had to do at home to Glenroy last week, keeping the Roys to 12.6-78 without star definer, Nick Parthenopoulos.
It’ll be a grand final re-match full of competitive tension, with Greenvale looking to make amends against an undermanned Aberfeldie.
PASCOE VALE v MARIBYRNONG PARK
The Panthers simply had to win against Strathmore last week and what was most pleasing was the return to form for Matthew Watson and Lachie Hansen.
Pacco has also started 2018 with key players missing and will look to get better as the season develops, while Maribyrnong Park has been just fine without its playing coach, Robbie Castello.
Castello was again missing as the Lions took care of West Coburg at Monk Oval to maintain their top spot on the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division ladder.
Reynolds Medallist Zac Keogh was back to his best form on the weekend with four goals while many of Maribyrnong Park’s other prime movers are all enjoying good form so far this season.
On paper the Lions should have Pascoe Vale outgunned across the ground, but if Watson and Hansen can continue to have an impact, the Panthers may be able to get over the top.
Only problem is, this is at Raeburn Reserve and for some strange reason, Pacco isn’t particularly good when playing at home.
WEST COBURG v KEILOR - Shore Reserve
The Blues took care of business and boosted their percentage against Essendon Doutta Stars last week, with Dean Galea booting nine goals and Josh Martin, maybe the EDFL’s recruit of the year to date, snagging seven.
They find themselves in the four at 2-1 and have been in good form since going down on Good Friday to Strathmore.
Keilor needs to bring that form into Round 4, because West Coburg is a tough proposition at Shore Reserve.
The Burgers are better at their spiritual home than they are at Coburg City Oval – a venue the division’s better teams occasionally get to play at in finals.
West Coburg doesn’t look to have shown any major improvement from their 2017 output and is still struggling to hit the scoreboard, only scoring a combined 13 goals in its two recent losses to Aberfeldie and Maribyrnong Park.
Daniel Archer and Cam Conlon only have three goals each to their name so far this season and the output needs to be much higher up forward here with Galea and Martin in fine form of late.
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Douttas’ 131-point reality check against Keilor was as harsh as it gets.
Charles Lill returned for his first game of 2018 and played well with three goals, but unfortunately for Dean Wallis, he simply doesn’t have the cattle to compete in this division.
Head-to-head, Avondale Heights will most likely have the Stars covered in this one as well.
All of the Heights’ A-graders stood up to the premier at Clifton Park and were desperately unlucky not to emerge with two more premiership points, settling for a draw.
If Avondale Heights can stay healthy, its 2018 campaign won’t be anywhere near as dire as some predicted pre-season, and this should be its first win for the year.
All you can ask of Essendon Doutta Stars at this point is some effort and pride in its performance, especially at home.
