Avondale Heights will travel to Section Road to take on Greenvale following their important win against Marby last week.
They’ve moved out of the relegation position by a game and although an upset would be pivotal to their chances of staying in the top flight, chipping away at the percentage difference between them and Marby is another battle for them should the Lions snag another win.
25 per cent is the difference which is a lot to make up, but with seven games left, who knows which way the results will go for either side.
The Jets are keeping touch with the top four and wins are paramount for their bid due to facing similar percentage troubles.
They’re 63 per cent and a game behind Strathmore in fourth, so a percentage booster would be nice for them, but winning as many games as they can is their ticket to September.
With the Jets chasing down Strathmore, their clash with Airport West is incredibly high stakes.
The last time these two met, the Eagles were able to push Strathmore to the very end with the difference just 13 points.
Airport West led at half time in a game that kicked their season into gear and will want to produce a similar effort to shake up the back end of the season.
Old rivals in Keilor and Aberfeldie will meet at Joe Brown Oval as the Blues look to keep their foot on the throttle, while the Two Blues aim to beat the streak.
Aberfeldie have come the second closest of any team to Keilor who have been on a tear in 2023, but that difference was still 50 points.
After quarter time, Keilor kicked 10 goals to three, so Adam Marcon will be hoping for a four-quarter performance to give themselves the best chance at winning and staying within reach of the top four.
In the final two games, Maribyrnong Park will take on Pascoe Vale, while East Keilor will look to keep their separation on fourth spot against Essendon Doutta Stars.
Craigieburn will have a chance to thrust themselves into the finals conversation when they take on a depleted Hillside outfit.
Hillside’s Thirds weren’t able to field a side, the Reserves lost their first game of the year, and the Seniors took a beating at the hands of West Coburg.
The Sharks are sitting fifth with a healthy percentage, so while a win may not move Craigieburn up the ladder, it’ll give them a better platform for their finals tilt.
Their only hurdle is their best performer from their last meeting in Jake Carlisle will not suit up due to serving a one-match suspension.
Facing a similar chance to dream about finals footy is Keilor Park who will face Moonee Valley.
The Devils are out of the five by a game and a large amount of percentage and will be after another win in 2023 against the Fog to keep in touch.
For Moonee Valley, they are just one game out of the relegation zone but have shown their quality in patches of the season so far.
The finals landscape will continue to shift when Roxburgh Park takes on Rupertswood at Lakeside Oval.
A win for Roxy could see them slot into finals (if Hillside lose), while a win for Rupo will solidify their position in third (or equal third depending on percentage).
Rupertswood got the better of this contest earlier in the season with a 20-point victory.
As if this round couldn’t get any more intense, Nena and Pasadena EDFL Match of the Day will be treated to a top of the table clash when Deer Park hosts West Coburg.
The Burgers are undefeated so far in 2023 and the last meeting between these two sides resulted in a three-point victory for West Coburg.
Deer Park let some opportunities slip in that game with 12 more scoring shots, but would have been affected by West Coburg who have been staunch in defence all year, ranked number one.
With Levi Greenwood’s transfer back to John McLeod Reserve approved, we’ll wait with baited breath for selection as to whether he’ll run out with the Lions.
At the other end of the ladder we’ll see Tullamarine and Glenroy fighting to get out of the relegation zone.
Tullamarine are yet to win at Jacana Reserve this year but were able to win this matchup by 63 points earlier in the season
If Glenroy were to win, it’d make it an incredibly interesting watch to finish the season.
In the final game, St Albans will travel to Willowbrook Reserve to play Westmeadows.
Westy were able to upset Hillside a couple of weeks ago but will come up against a St Albans outfit fresh off five wins in a row.
Both coming off disappointing losses, Northern Saints and Sunbury Kangaroos will be looking to get back on the winner’s list.
Northern Saints lost to Hadfield in an upset, while Sunbury Kangaroos were demolished at the hands of Oak Park.
Last time these two met, Northern Saints got the job done by 23 points.
Oak Park are back on top of the ladder and will face Coburg Districts who’ve solidified their position in the top four.
Coburg Districts are two games clear in the top four and came within four goals of Oak Park last time they met.
Jedd Taylor was unstoppable for the Kangaroos in that game booting six goals, while Liam Bianco slotted four up the other end.
East Sunbury are still searching for their first win of the season and will face a buoyed Hadfield side.
The Hawks upset Northern Saints last week and had the wood over the Thunder last time out.
Taylors Lakes will host Burnside Heights as they look to maintain their position in the four.
The Bears sit two games out following their loss on the weekend, with East Sunbury and Hadfield to come, they will be wanting to build some momentum into a tricky final three games to have a red hot crack at finals.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
AIRPORT WEST v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Hansen Reserve
GREENVALE v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
KEILOR v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
MARIBYRNONG PARK v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
EAST KEILOR v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
TULLAMARINE v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Jacana Reserve
HILLSIDE v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Reserve
KEILOR PARK v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v RUPERTSWOOD
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
DEER PARK v WEST COBURG
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Saturday 2:15pm at John McLeod Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v ST ALBANS
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
OAK PARK v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
NORTHERN SAINTS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 2:15pm at Charles Mutton Reserve
EAST SUNBURY v HADFIELD
Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
