NORTHERN SAINTS v COBURG DISTRICTS
THIS is the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 game of the weekend that has the most at stake for both outfits.
The Northern Saints have had two weeks to think about their disappointing loss to East Sunbury, while Coburg Districts is inexplicably stuck at 1-3 after squandering a 15-point three-quarter time lead at home to Burnside Heights last week.
The Lions’ only win has been against the battling Hawks and their draw has been somewhat soft.
Chris Tankard’s men have not yet faced the Saints and East Sunbury, and after those two games will take on top-of-the-table Moonee Valley.
Whether we see Luke Vesnaver return is key, but while brother Matthew is kicking multiple goals up forward and Chris Lynch is having an impact in the ruck, maybe the Lions need to figure out exactly how he fits.
The Saints are coming off back-to-back losses and need to re-establish some control of their home deck after getting done by Moonee Valley at Charles Mutton Reserve in Round 2.
More pressure coming for the loser of this one.
HADFIELD v MOONEE VALLEY
If you’re Hadfield coach Brett Pitts and trying to sell a bit of hope to your playing group, then you’re fighting an uphill battle in this one.
The winless Hawks face their toughest challenge yet in Moonee Valley, who is the form team of Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 and as a result for its Round 4 win over East Sunbury, the new premiership favourite.
Jordan Faba has been near unstoppable up forward with 17 goals from four starts, while the class of Braden Padmore, Cory McGrath and Ned Wilson, among others, is proving too much to handle for the rest of the division to date.
After competitive efforts against both the Northern Saints and Burnside Heights, the Hawks have had two straight shockers against both the Lions and Magpies.
Ryan Potter and Adam Sayers have both battled hard alongside their coach Pitts in most of their games so far this season, but they haven’t had enough of a supporting cast around them to help keep them in games.
The Round 7 bye probably can’t come quick enough.
ROXBURGH PARK v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Consensus is all things being equal, Roxburgh Park should get up in this one.
But the smart money might be on Burnside Heights.
It remains to be seen if last week’s come-from-behind win over Coburg Districts is the new normal or just an anomaly for the Bears in the context of Season 2018.
It’s games like this where they need to prove to the wider EDFL community that Round 5 was the former and not the latter.
Fans taking a look at this one up at Lakeside Drive will be treated to some high-quality Division 2 forward play at both ends of the ground.
At one end you have the near-unstoppable force that is Josh Covelli, who is fast becoming the dominant forward of the division.
The Magpies, on the other hand, will be hoping their three-pronged attack of Luke Capuano, Tumay Hamza and Osama Saad can again deliver the goods after combining for 15 goals last week.
If conditions suit, this could be a real shoot-out.
