We’re through a month of action as teams have started to settle into place and establish themselves in their competitions.
Strathmore will be taking on East Keilor at Lebanon Reserve this week in one of the most enticing matchups of the round.
The game was moved from Overland Reserve in a home game flip of their Round 14 clash and will be East Keilor’s biggest test.
They currently sit 4-0 but have yet to face a 2022 finalist, so who better to test yourself than against the reigning premiers.
It’s been an inconsistent start to the season for the Mores with a heavy defeat to Keilor, a narrow victory over Airport West, and a couple of big wins in between.
Avondale Heights will host Airport West as they search for their first win since their after the siren thriller against Marby.
It’s been a rough patch for the Heights since then losing by 44 points to Essendon Doutta Stars and losing a 45-point lead at halftime last week to go down to Greenvale.
Airport West are still hunting their first win and are coming off their best outing thus far, dropping last week’s game by just 13 points against Strathmore.
Greenvale will be on the road again as they prepare to face Aberfeldie at Clifton Park.
The Jets will be buoyed by their first win of the season in their comeback triumph over the Heights, while Aberfeldie are coming off a heavy loss to Keilor.
Maribyrnong Park will face a tough task when they take on the rampant Keilor who have put away the 2022 finalists through their first four games.
They took care of business last week without Nick O’Kearney and Brad Xavier as the inclusions of Corey Ellis and Damien Cavka have no doubt made a huge impact.
Brad Swain’s men are yet to record a win, but have shown a competitive edge that they’ll need to turn up to 11 this week.
Pascoe Vale and Essendon Doutta Stars will round out the top flight at Raeburn Reserve.
The Panthers have placed themselves as one of the top sides through their busy summer and early season form and will expect to take the chocolates on Saturday.
Barry Prendergast will be hoping to instill some confidence into his young side with a competitive showing and take it to one of the top sides.
The Nena and Pasadena EDFL Match of the Day van will travel to Lakeside Oval this week to see Roxburgh Park take on Keilor Park.
This matchup became a whole lot more interesting following Round 4’s results with Roxy knocking off the undefeated Hillside, and Keilor Park moving to 3-1 after their victory against Rupertswood.
Could Keilor Park move one step closer to firmly placing themselves out of the relegation battle or will Roxburgh Park steady their finals push
Rupertswood and Craigieburn also poses as an interesting matchup with Rupo falling just outside finals last year; they're yet to get going as we know they can, sitting 2-2.
Craigieburn on the other hand are beginning to find their feet with a refreshed list, currently on par with Rupo’s record.
Moonee Valley will be wanting to bounce back from last week’s game against the Eagles as they head back to Ormond Park, but will be tasked with Hillside who are wanting to rebound from their first loss last weekend.
The Fog have been competitive and in most of their games this season and will no doubt be looking to respond after last week.
Speaking of responding, Tullamarine will need to do just that after their 131-point loss last week to Deer Park as they take on St Albans.
The Saints have pushed flag fancies Deer Park and West Coburg in their only two losses for the year and will present a tough task for Tulla.
In other games, Deer Park will play Glenroy, and West Coburg will play Westmeadows.
It’s the second week of the Strathmore Community Bank Division Two split round as Burnside Heights host Taylors Lakes, and Oak Park travel to play Coburg Districts.
Burnside Heights are sitting 1-2 with losses to Coburg Districts and Northern Saints, the former a side expected to be in the mix come September, and the latter a side that’s undefeated through four games.
They’ve been competitive in their losses but have given up an average of 91 points in those games.
Taylors Lakes have started to gel and following their Round 1 loss to premiership favourite Oak Park, their kicking boots have well and truly been on.
In the other match, it’s a prelim final replay from 2022 with Oak Park travelling as expected, and Coburg Districts firing following their disappointing first outing.
Could we see Oak Park falter for the first time in 2023 or will they continue to stake their claim as the team to beat?
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
ABERFELDIE v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
MARIBYRNONG PARK v KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
STRATHMORE v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
PASCOE VALE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Raeburn Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v KEILOR PARK
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Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
TULLAMARINE v ST ALBANS
Saturday 2:15pm at Jacana Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
RUPERTSWOOD v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
GLENROY v DEER PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
WEST COBURG v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
COBURG DISTRICTS v OAK PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Cole Reserve
Split round
