SEASON 2018 of EDFL football concludes this weekend with five grand finals and presents the opportunity for more players to write their names into our history books.
The clubs competing in the two senior grand finals provide perspective on the growth and breadth of the EDFL competition. The Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division Grand Final features two powerhouse EDFL clubs in Aberfeldie and Keilor who have shared the past three premierships between them, and with Aberfeldie competing for the sixth consecutive occasion. Conversely the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 Grand Final will feature two of the newest clubs to EDFL football in Roxburgh Park and East Sunbury. As neither club has won an EDFL senior premiership, history will be made by 5pm Saturday.
I am sure that this weekend will see the continuation of incredible senior finals played last weekend. In the Essendon Ford Division 1 Grand Final, Tullamarine was down by over seven goals at half time and then kicked nine goals to one in the third term, only for Airport West to reassert themselves and win by 13 points. Congratulations to coach Geoff Maddern and all at the Airport West Football Club.
Then on Sunday, the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division Preliminary Final saw Keilor trail by 44 points at three-quarter time, and then kick the only seven goals in the final quarter to overrun an incredibly unlucky Strathmore team by two points.
The finals series to date has been a fantastic advertisement for EDFL football and we thank and congratulate the players, coaches and clubs involved.
In Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division seniors, will Aberfeldie go back-to-back or will it be a repeat of the 2016 grand final where Keilor proved too strong? The two coaches, Mick McGuane (Keilor) and Adam Potter (Aberfeldie) are both renowned for their deep understanding and insight of the game and tactical brilliance on match days. Add to that star players on both teams and all is set for a memorable finale to the 2018 EDFL season.
With one win each in the home-and-away matches, and an eight-point victory to Aberfeldie in the second semi-final, the result could go either way.
The path to the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 Grand Final has been very different for the competing teams. Roxburgh Park won the second semi final by 10 goals to comfortably progress to the grand final. East Sunbury had only one loss after the first nine rounds but with three rounds to play, they were facing the distinct possibility of missing finals altogether. However, the Thunder has hit strong form, winning its semi and preliminary finals by a combined 97 points to become #WindyHillBound. Congratulations to Roxburgh Park, who will also play in Division 2 Reserves Grand Final against Moonee Valley.
Good luck to the Greenvale and Keilor reserves teams who will battle out the grand final on Sunday. Special mention to the Greenvale reserves, who have incredibly progressed to their eighth consecutive grand final. Also, best wishes to Maribyrnong Park and Aberfeldie who will no doubt provide a high-quality display of football in the AGA Apprenticeships Plus Under 19.5 Premier Division Grand Final.
For the final time this year… good luck for the weekend.
