After a month of football in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division the ladder is starting to take shape, with a few surprises emerging from the opening four rounds.
We knew East Keilor were ambitious heading into the 2022 season, but could even the most staunch of supporter seen this 4-0 start coming?
On the back of knocking off 2021 ladder leader Strathmore last week, the Cougars will return home to host Maribyrnong Park in Round 5.
Rodney Van Reit, one of the Cougars' high profile off-season recruits, has transferred back to the WRFL after playing just one game at Overland Reserve, but you sense they won't be phased about it at Cougarland.
Chris Stewart has had a terrific start to the season and the likes of Lockie Rayner, Brandon Coletta and Victor Micallef are all flourishing in the higher division of football.
For Maribyrnong Park, they snuck home in a great win last week, defeating Glenroy by a point at Monk Oval.
The Lions endured eight omissions on the day and senior coach Brad Swain also missed with the contest with COVID.
It will be a wait and see as to what kind of line-up Marby put out come Friday with the status of a number of those exclusions still up in the air.
It bodes as a great opportunity for East Keilor to continue their unbeaten run in front of their home fans.
The only other undefeated side in Premier Division is Aberfeldie, and Adam Marcon's team will travel to Sewell Reserve to take on a plucky Glenroy side.
As aforementioned the Roys went down by the smallest of margins last week and while there have been some positives to come out of their season so far, the task of Aberfeldie won't be an easy one.
The Two-Blues are travelling nicely despite missing some key personnel with Zac Hislop, Stef Rasinac, Jayden Foster and James Peters all unavailable for last week's match with Keilor.
But with the form that reigning Reynolds Medallist Nick Meese is in, it will be hard work for Ross Terranova to stop Aberfeldie's influence around the contest.
Pascoe Vale have managed to steady their season to a 3-1 form line after a hiccup in Round 2 against East Keilor but will be tested this weekend by Strathmore.
While the undermanned Mores are not the team they were in 2021, Matt Horne's side has shown that they are still capable of playing good football, albeit only in bursts.
With Digby Morrell demanding plenty from his side, this game shapes as a good opportunity for Pacco to keep pressure on the top two while condemning a fellow challenger to another loss.
At Nipper Jordan Oval, Essendon Doutta Stars may well go in favourites against Greenvale if recent form is anything to account for.
Paul Barnard's side secured their first four points last weekend against the lowly Avondale Heights, but that victory topped off a highly competitive opening month for Douttas.
Having only lost to the currently undefeated Aberfeldie and East Keilor by 25 and 15 points respectively, the men from Nipper Jordan Oval were keeping in games against some of the league's best teams.
John Roumeliotis has had a great start to the season after almost ending up a Cougar in 2022, a few denied transfers has seen the former Calder Cannons product stick around at Douttas and is playing some his best football to date for the club.
There are worries emerging for the Jets, with the team from Section Road the lowest scoring side after the opening four rounds.
A heap of weight goes to Jacob Thompson in the Greenvale forward line and if the opposition are able to limit his supply, the question is, where do the Jets get their goals from?
Finally, at Joe Brown Oval, Keilor will be desperate to bounce back after having their colours lowered by Aberfeldie last week.
Mick McGuane's men will come up against a tenth-placed Avondale Heights side who has failed to fire much this season.
While the Heights faced some tough opening fixtures against Strathmore, Maribyrnong Park and Aberfeldie, last week's effort against Essendon Doutta Stars suggests they could be one of the key candidates in the relegation conversation in 2022.
In Strathmore Community Bank Division One, two of the competition's biggest premiership fancies will get the opportunity to create some distance between themselves and their challengers.
Airport West will take on West Coburg as first plays third and Tullamarine face off against Rupertswood in a battle between second and fourth.
At Hansen Reserve, the Eagles will fancy themselves at home with Trent Rogers equipped with a flurry of choices on his magnet board.
It's been an opening month that has seen Airport West with a spread of contributors across the board, with the Eagles are travelling so well that even reigning Hutchison Medallist Nikola Hrkac had run in the reserves last week against Moonee Valley.
But Dale May will be backing in his side after a valiant performance against Tullamarine last week on the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day.
While there will be question marks on Lynden Dunn's return to the West Coburg forward line, the effort and commitment from some of the lesser known Burgers is unquestionable.
Young guns Patrick McCallum and Perry Patrikios were some of the better players last week and compliment the more experienced heads like Abdi Fitaax and Jesse Martini who have started the season strongly.
At Leo Dineen Reserve, Tullamarine will be looking to put together a more consistent four-quarter performance after storming home against the Burgers last week.
It's been a trait synonymous with Tulla for a few seasons now, and while running out games strongly is a great asset to have, a few tight finishes have probably been too close for comfort for co-coaches David Connell and Ben Chapman.
The Demons will take on an exuberant Rupertswood team that have started the season 3-1.
Rupo have been a bit of a surprise packet, with their only loss coming against Airport West in a highly competitive tussle.
Skip Bray has got his forward line ticking along nicely, taking the second lowest scoring side in 2021 to the third highest, sitting only behind the undefeated Airport West and Tullamarine.
The Sharks have got a number of options forward of centre with Ben Said, Jacob Chahine and Zak Saad all combining nicely in the opening month as well as Mitch Johnson snagging four goals on debut last week.
Elsewhere in Division One, Roxburgh Park will be looking to keep the pressure on the top four as they welcome Moonee Valley to Lakeside Drive.
The Magpies have steadied to a 3-1 start after a strong win away from home against Westmeadows last week.
Jack Elliot has lead his team valiantly in his first season as skipper and has been one of their best early days for Michael Farrelly.
Expect a good contest between Elliot and reigning Division Two best and fairest winner, Bevan Newell, as the Fog look to secure their first win of 2022.
It was the fixture from hell for Moonee Valley to open their Division One campaign, but after seeing their way through four tough matches, Ian Denny's side will look to start taking some scalps as their schedule opens up.
Hillside will go head-to-head against Craigieburn with both sides starting the season at 1-3.
The Eagles were able to get their first win last week since their 2019 Grand Final victory and a recent run of results shows the Justin Sherman's side is on the improve.
A tight two-point loss against Roxburgh Park and a 101-point thumping of the Sunbury Kangaroos will have breathed a bit of belief back into the team at DS Aitken Reserve.
On the flip side, the Sharks have fallen off a bit the last two rounds, suffering back-to-back defeats.
All eyes will be on the team releases tomorrow to see if Charlie Denaro will get his star forward in Josh Covelli back for this contest.
Under lights, the Sunbury Kangaroos will finally get the opportunity to take the field at Eric Boardman Reserve after room renovations delayed a homecoming for Leigh Sporle's team.
Westmeadows will be their challenger in the 6pm start with both teams desperate to get their seasons back on track.
The Kangaroos had been struck down by COVID absences in last week's shellacking at the hands of Craigieburn, but the ladder unfortunately doesn't care for inclusions and exclusions.
Similarly, Westmeadows have struggled to get going so far in season 2022.
For Mo Kaakour's team that is littered with talent, the ability to execute their game across four quarters is seemingly what has evaded the Tigers so far this year.
It's a split round in Strathmore Community Bank Division Two but the sole game this weekend is set to be a big one.
The Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day van travels to Keilor Park Drive to get a good look at where things stand for the Devils and Taylors Lakes.
After an opening round stumble, Keilor Park have bounced back to secure three wins on the trot.
The Devils were lauded for their off-season recruiting drive and the added depth to Paul Guicas' line-up has been evident.
With the top end talent of Robbie Castello and Damien Cavka entering the fold, the team in green and orange have had a spread of contributors across all lines.
Taylors Lakes are much more questionable product right now as the Lions settle into life in Division Two.
Sitting at 2-2 after victories against the Northern Saints and Jacana, while succumbing to defeats at the hands of Oak Park and Coburg Districts, the suggestion can be made that the Lions are roundabouts in this competition but still off the pace against the division's best teams.
However, the contest against the Devils is the perfect opportunity to make a statement.
Sonny Briz is a passionate leader of this club and will relish the big stage of a tough contest and their is plenty to be excited about when it comes to Zachary Steinhoff-Pino, who has continued his development after making his senior debut last season.
With Strathmore Community Bank Division Two so tight at the moment, it will be a massive four points up for grabs come Saturday.
Be sure to tune in to the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day from 2pm on Saturday thanks to Cluch TV and 98.9 North West FM to catch all the action.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
KEILOR v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
EAST KEILOR v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
PASCOE VALE v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Raeburn Reserve
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Nipper Jordan Oval
GLENROY v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
AIRPORT WEST v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Hansen Reserve
HILLSIDE v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Drive
TULLAMARINE v RUPERTSWOOD
Saturday 2:15pm at Leo Dineen Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 6pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
KEILOR PARK v TAYLORS LAKES
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Reserve
