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Round 8 Preview - Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division

By ADEM SARICAOGLU


SELECTED SQUADS - CLICK HERE

ABERFELDIE v MARIBYRNONG PARK

AFTER suffering its first loss last week against Greenvale, Maribyrnong Park now has to back up against the other team that played in last year’s grand final, Aberfeldie.

The Lions were definitely good at Monk Oval against the Jets and had their chances late to snatch a victory – proving they are worthy of contender status in 2018.

When you have Scott Clarke, Will Martiniello, Zac Keogh, Caleb Vearing and Brodie Romensky all at your disposal, then you’re a big chance of going all the way in this competition.

But it’s in games like this where you need to prove it.

There’s nothing to take from Aberfeldie’s big win over Essendon Doutta Stars last week.

Luke Blackwell, Josh Pound and Sam Cattapan were among those missing at Nipper Jordan Oval but with what has been a fairly settled line-up of late, Adam Potter will have some selection headaches in the lead-up to this one.

Last week’s Monk Oval clash was a thriller, and there’s no reason why this won’t be, either.

Genuine coin flip.

KEILOR v GREENVALE

You could make an argument last week’s big win over Glenroy was Keilor’s most important victory since the 2016 grand final.

With roughly half of its ideal best 22 on the sidelines (or running water), the Blues played their best game of the year against a Glenroy outfit that some tipped to get the win.

Of course, it helps when you still have Dean Galea, Kane Barbuto, David Gourdis and Mick James at your disposal.

Glenroy simply couldn’t match them for class nor experience.

However, against contenders, Keilor hasn’t been as good so far this season.

Prior to last week, the Blues dropped consecutive games to Aberfeldie and Maribyrnong Park, the latter of which won by 51 points.

Here they’re going to battle against an in-form Greenvale who’s coming off a very solid win over the Lions.

WEST COBURG v AVONDALE HEIGHTS

On form, this is West Coburg’s to lose.

It’s a somewhat tricky argument to make for a 2-5 side, but the Burgers are facing a 1-6 team that is already thinking about 2019 and beyond… and if Donald McDonald and his crew aren’t, then they should be.

Despite taking Ls on both occasions, West Coburg has played some pretty good footy in the past fortnight against Greenvale and Strathmore respectively.

To push Greenvale within a couple of kicks at Section Road is particularly impressive for a side at this stage of development.

Daniel Archer finally got some snags against Strathmore and will be looking forward to a little bit more delivery this weekend.

If he combines with Tom Baravi, Ruairi Cleary and Daniel Johncock well, then the Burgers should have the scoring power to overcome Avondale Heights.

ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v STRATHMORE

The goal for Strathmore in this one is simple.

The Mores need a percentage boost, because they are a whopping 44.38 per cent behind Pascoe Vale on the same win-loss at 4-3.

The other 4-3 team, Keilor, is a further 12.58 per cent ahead.

So Strathmore needs to have big day in front of the sticks.

Unfortunately, it seems Essendon Doutta Stars won’t be able to do much about it if Strathmore decides to go all guns blazing in the forward half.

Teams are using their games against the Stars to build percentage and the Douttas backline is leaking an average of just under 20 goals a game.

The likes of Alex Grima and Sam O’Loughlin will be looking to take advantage, and their team needs them to.

GLENROY v PASCOE VALE

About a month ago this was a game to maybe look forward to as a potential belter.

A month is a long time in football.

After a promising start to the year, player unavailability is going to start taking its toll on Glenroy, and we saw that last week against Keilor.

Travis Dulic, Aaron Kite, Matt Walker, James Bennie and Tom McIntosh were among those missing in Round 7, and it showed on the scoreboard.

Dulic in particular is going to leave a huge void in games like this, where the opposition has some powerful options to kick to inside forward 50.

Matt Watson is fast making his case for recruit of the year, averaging just over four goals a game.

He’s coming off a nice bag of seven against Avondale Heights and the week before Lachie Hansen snagged eight while Watson settled for five.

It could get ugly again for the Roys.

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