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EDFL Women's Weekend Outlook - Thursday August 8, 2024

Presented by Airport Toyota | By Eric Forman


Airport Toyota Women's Premier Division finals will kick off this weekend with Hillside taking on Oak Park for the first position in the big dance.

Lionheart Reserve will see the best defensive side in the Sharks looking to stop the best attacking side in the Kangaroos.

Hillside has found success in that regard this year against Oak Park winning both previous matchups, the first convincingly, and the second in a nailbiter.

League leading goalkicker Caitlin Sargent kicked five as the Sharks cruised to a 42-point victory in Round 3 after keeping the reigning premiers scoreless to halftime.

The second game was a much closer affair with Hillside prevailing by just three points in tough conditions.

Alex Quigley was kept quiet on both occasions with just one goal from the two games, but the star forward has been in ominous form kicking 18 goals in their last four games.

The Kangaroos will be relying on Quigley to maintain that form to kick a winning score which may be the difference with stars all over the ground for both sides.

For Hillside, they'd be happy to maintain the status quo which has seen them dominate this season dropping just the one game in 2024.

The winner heads to the big dance, the loser will have utilise the double chance in the prelim.

Aberfeldie and Essendon Doutta Stars will battle it out in the elimination final at John McMahon Recreation Reserve.

It's been another strong season for Aberfeldie who've finished strong winning their last five games, including knocking off the previously undefeated Hillside.

With a new coach and some new recruits, it seems they've found that chemistry as the season progressed with an improved Shark outfit and the reigning premiers in Oak Park sitting above them.

Essendon Doutta Stars have done a terrific job to make finals the first year after promotion but had to wait until the last round's results were in to know their fate.

The two blues have enjoyed two five-goal wins against Douttas this season with a spread of performers and goal kickers highlighting such performances.

Finding more avenues to goal will be key with Jessie Hulett (14 goals), Aleesha Hobbs (11), Yasmin Welsford (10), and Marie Napoli (7) accounting for more than half of their goals in season 2024.

It'll be the first Premier Division final for Douttas, while Aberfeldie looks to begin their path to redemption.

Who'll book their spot in the preliminary final?


Burnside Heights will have to utilise their double chance when they face Airport West in the preliminary final at Buckley Park.

The Bears were outplayed in week one by Greenvale, while the Eagles enjoyed a comfortable win in the elimination final against Keilor Park.

It's been three comfortable wins for Burnside the three times these sides have met with Airport West kicking just one goal in each meeting.

They've had a spread of contributors but captain Kayla Ravanello has proven hard to stop kicking multiple goals on each occasion.

Second quarters have burst the game open on each meeting with the Eagles often remaining in the contest early, but just can't quite sustain it.

Eagles coach Marcus Barclay says it's a "free swing" for his side with the the best team throughout the season in the Bears having everything to play for.

The Bears will go in as favourites and will be hoping to avoid a consecutive straight sets exit, with the winner heading to the grand final.


An exciting preliminary final looms at Nipper Jordan Oval as Sunbury Lions and Roxburgh Park battle it out to book the second spot in the decider.

The Lions established themselves as an early favourite as the newly-formed Magpies were finding their feet, but when Roxburgh Park handed Sunbury their first defeat, the makeup of this matchup changed drastically.

Sunbury won the first encounter by 44 points with Natachia Abela (four goals) and Bianca Pepper (two goals) starring.

Both were absent the next time around and the Magpies took full advantage with a 13-point win at Clarke Oval, making a statement to the competition.

While the focus for the Magpies will be on league leading goal kicker Abela, Jameson Best and Natalie Tull-Boyle will provide headaches for the Lions defence combining for 39 goals this season.

The Magpies have won eight of their last nine matches, and the Lions earnt the minor premiership making this contest one you can't miss!


THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES

HILLSIDE v OAK PARK
Saturday 1:50pm at Lionheart Reserve

ABERFELDIE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 1:50pm at John McMahon Recreation Reserve


BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 1:50pm at Buckley Park


SUNBURY LIONS v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 11:50am at Nipper Jordan Oval

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