By Luke Mathews
STRATHMORE v KEILOR
🎥 Streamer
📻 98.9 North West FM
Friday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
Full squads
Notable ins: Jack Sammartino, Tristan Borghouts, Alex Tonelli.
Notable ins: Tom McGuane, Jack Brown, Damon Hollow, Andrew Vavra.
EDFL Football returns on Good Friday with a grand final rematch between Strathmore and Keilor set to kick things off at Lebanon Reserve.
Friday’s clash will mark the twelfth meeting on the Easter weekend between the two sides with Keilor claiming 11 wins.
The Blues will be out for revenge after going down to Strathmore by 40 points in the semi final and 20 points in the grand final last year despite finishing on top of the ladder.
There have been key departures for both sides since then with Keilor losing Reuben William, Jermarl Daly, and Jovan Petric, and Strathmore losing stalwart Luke Jarrad.
The Blues will have access to a number of VFL-listed players including Tom McGuane, Damon Hollow, and Nathan Colenso to name a few.
Former Mores ruck Andrew Vavra made the move to Keilor and will go head to head with Sam Hayes.
Strathmore welcome Jack Sammartino and Tristan Borghouts to the side, alongside a number of Under 18.5 graduates including last year's best and fairest and grand final best on ground Alex Tonelli.
A big watch on Friday will be how does Strathmore cover for the loss of superstar Chris Scerri.
The youngster dazzled on grand final day last year and has since been picked up by Freo as an SSP selection and starred in his first two matches.
The Keilor midfield was dominant across the three finals last year and will be looking for someone to fill the void in 2026.
Friday, April 3 at Lebanon Reserve
9:50am: AGA Under 18.5 Men's Premier Division - Strathmore v Keilor
11:40am: Reserves Premier Division - Strathmore v Keilor
2:15pm: Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division - Strathmore v Keilor
4:40pm: Airport Toyota Premier Division - Strathmore v Keilor
HILLSIDE v PASCOE VALE
Friday 2:15pm at Hillside Recreation Reserve
Full squads
Notable ins: Ade Akintola, Connor Leeflang, Atu Bosenavulagi, Mo Yassine.
Notable ins: Todd Goldstein, Jed Anderson, Tyson Scoble, Jack Raines, Liam Ogden.
Hillside will begin life in Premier Division when it hosts Pascoe Vale at Shark Park on Good Friday.
After a number of near misses, the Sharks broke through in 2025 to claim the Division One flag and will be playing in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division for the first time in their history.
It was a busy off-season for Mo Kaakour’s men with the side bringing in Atu Bosenavulagi and Connor Leeflang, however lost full forward Josh Covelli.
2026 is set to be a new dawn for Pascoe Vale with the club turning to former Kangaroo and Sun and 2025 interim coach Daniel Harris to lead the side back to the top of the ladder.
The Panthers started 2025 on the wrong foot losing six of their first seven, however rallied late in the season and defeated the previously undefeated Keilor in Round 15.
Pascoe Vale will be without superstars Ahmed Saad, Matt Stillman, and Jayden Ranno in 2026 but will be boosted by the inclusion of Jed Anderson and Todd Goldstein.
All eyes on Friday afternoon will be on youngster Khalil Kaakour.
The former Panther took Division One by storm last year averaging 23 disposals and 12 contested possession a game on the way to taking out the AGA Rising Star award and David McWilliam Medal as the grand final best on ground.
Good Friday will be the first chance to watch the superstar in Premier Division and will be hoping to pick things up from where he left off.
Friday, April 3 at Hillside Recreation Reserve
11:50am: Reserves Division One - Hillside v Pascoe Vale
2:15pm: Strathmore Community Bank Division One - Hillside v Pascoe Vale
By Evan Tudor
STRATHMORE v KEILOR
🎥 Streamer
Friday 4:40pm at Lebanon Reserve
Full squads
Notable ins: Eloise Egglestone, Charli Sette, Ruby Vaina.
Notable ins: Lauren Caruso, Kaitlyn O'Keefe, Olivia Woods.
Good Friday football sees another season of Airport Toyota Premier Division kick off, with Strathmore taking on Keilor in a twilight contest at Lebanon Reserve.
It’ll be a battle of two powerhouses as the tenth year of EDFL women's footy begins, with both sides hoping to take away the Easter chocolates.
The match will mark Strathmore’s return to the top flight of women’s football after its perfect 2025 season in Division One.
The Mores went 14-0 in the regular season and conceded only 88 points all year en-route to the grand final, which they won in a one-goal thriller.
The last time Strathmore featured in the top flight was in 2023 when they were eventually relegated.
But a fate like this shouldn’t be much of a concern this time around given the successful result of the club’s rebuild.
Coach Shaun Bannister has signed on for another year, and some big signings over the off-season will rightfully give them some confidence ahead of this one.
The Mores haven’t lost since Round 13 of 2024 and will look to continue that streak in this match.
But their opponent, Keilor, is ready to rise up the Premier Division ladder in 2026.
While their 2025 campaign didn’t go the way they wanted, on many occasions we saw just how exciting this Keilor team can be when it's fully unleashed.
The Blues had an average margin of 36 points in its six wins last season, with some big victories indicating that this three-time premiership side is still certainly a club to take seriously.
A stronghold of the women’s football, Keilor has called Premier Division home since its inception in 2018 and have always found themselves in the top half of the ladder.
With both clubs fielding some of the best players in EDFL women’s footy, this match can swing either way and will put the cherry on top of what’s to be a spectacular day at Lebanon Reserve tomorrow.
By Eric Forman
TAYLORS LAKES v WEST COBURG
Friday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
Full squads
Notable ins: Brandon Coletta, Korey Flavel-Wood, Tomi Ibarra.
Notable ins: Brandon Ellis, Muhammad Saad, Thomas McRostie.
Taylors Lakes and West Coburg will meet on Good Friday for the first time to kick off the Strathmore Community Bank Division One season at Lionheart Reserve.
Old friends Steve Burns and Cole Harvey will stand in opposite coaches boxes after Harvey took on the West Coburg job during the summer.
Burns has a flawless record so far against Harvey, but this is set to be a cracking contest with both teams poised to compete late in the season.
Taylors Lakes welcomed Brandon Coletta in over the off-season as the marquee signing, with Korey Flavel-Wood joining from Westmeadows.
The Lions will also welcome back Rhys Bradley, Mitch Jones, and Tomi Ibarra who missed basically all of 2025.
One of the biggest signings over the off-season was for West Coburg with Brandon Ellis returning to his junior club after a stellar AFL career.
Ellis wasn't the only return to the Shoretress with Muhammad Saad back after a year away, both adding to the existing offensive firepower of Jesse Martini, Omar Saad, and Ibby Taha.
It'll be a task for Lions defence, but with stars all over the ground, it'll be a fascinating contest.
The player judged best on ground will receive the Bert Richards Medal, honouring a Life Member and former President of both clubs, who sadly passed away last year.
Friday, April 3 at Lionheart Reserve
9:50am: AGA Under 18.5 Men's Division One - Taylors Lakes v West Coburg
11:40am: Reserves Division One - Taylors Lakes v West Coburg
2:15pm: Strathmore Community Bank Division One - Taylors Lakes v West Coburg
By Evan Tudor
KEILOR PARK v COBURG DISTRICTS
Friday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
Full squads
Notable ins: Shylo Smith, Jamie Torre, Jamie Fisher.
Notable ins: Ahmed Elbaba, Ali Saad, Khaled El-Haouli.
Another season of Strathmore Community Bank Division Two is upon us, and it’s a mouthwatering clash between Keilor Park and Coburg Districts at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve that’ll get things underway.
With both clubs coming into this one after suffering an early exit in last year’s finals campaign, a feisty, fierce, and entertaining match is forecast for onlookers tomorrow.
The Devils were one of the most fun and standout clubs in 2025, with a strong start guiding them to the top two of the ladder before consolidating for third after a rocky mid-season.
As it was last year, Devils ball magnets Nick Nesci and Sam Pontin will be some to watch on Good Friday and all year round, with the duo averaging over 20 disposals each per game, a specialty most noticed which saw Pontin earn his place in 2025’s team of the year alongside teammate Ben Chisholm.
How the Devils respond to the absence of their leading goalscorer Daylan Kempster will be important to see, with Kempster owning 34 goals for Keilor Park last season.
Coach Colby Blyth will lead out the green and orange for a third-straight year, with a strong list set to ignite come 2:15pm on Good Friday.
But will Coburg Districts spoil the party?
Districts were sent packing after a loss in last year’s elimination final to eventual premier Rupertswood, a result that some may have not seen coming.
The Lions display talent from full-forward to full-back, with household names like Jack McNamara, Riley Bentley, and Aaron Aquilina paving the way.
McNamara is back for 2026 after his competition-leading 76-goal season that saw him average five majors a match, with two bags of double digits giving the Devils’ defenders something to train for.
Named in the team of the year along with McNamara was Bentley, a key half-back and leading-ball getter for the blue and white who defended his heart out, with 28-possesions giving Districts some breathing room week by week.
And Aquilina, known for raking up clearances like they’re leaves, can move the ball fast under pressure.
It’s always a spectacle when these two sides lock horns, and by the way they’re set up ahead of tomorrow’s season opener, it’s set to be a hot match of footy to warm up a chilly Good Friday.
Friday, April 3 at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
11:50pm: Reserves Division Two - Keilor Park v Coburg Districts
2:15pm: Strathmore Community Bank Division Two - Keilor Park v Coburg Districts
