By Luke Mathews
Pascoe Vale will take on Strathmore with Keilor awaiting the winner when they face off in a blockbuster qualifying final at Greenvale Recreation Reserve.
The two neighbours once again find themselves at the pointy end of the ladder, however it was the Panthers who had the better home and away season notching up 15 wins including two against the Mores, while Strathmore managed 13 victories for the year.
Earlier in the year, Pascoe Vale scored two big wins against the rivals winning by 30 points back in Round 2 and 60 points in Round 11.
Matthew Watson did the damage for the Panthers in both of their games against Strathmore this year with the veteran kicking five goals across the two games and will be one to look at for at Section Road on Saturday.
Fortunately for the Mores, youngster Matthew Foley has qualified for finals and will take on the Panthers this weekend.
The 20-year-old has had a year to remember taking out Essendon VFL’s rising star award after a fantastic second season in red and black.
After not featuring in his side’s two games against the Panther’s this year, the young gun should provide a huge boost that could see his side come away with the win.
Aberfeldie will take on Greenvale in a do or die elimination final at Piranha Park on Sunday.
The Jets only just scraped into finals, while it's been an up and down year for Abers who've done enough to return to September action.
When the two sides met back in Round 11, it was Abers who claimed the four points winning by 25 points at Section Road, before the Jets got their revenge last weekend winning by 35 points to secure a finals berth.
For Greenvale to get over the line on Saturday, Josh Porter will need to play a huge role once again.
The forward has been in fine form throughout 2024 and was dominant against Keilor and East Keilor kicking six goals in both games.
After a relatively quiet game last week, the sharpshooter will be hoping to make amends this week to ensure his side’s season extends by at least one week.
For Abers, vice-captain Ben Ronke will need to lead from the front once again if Abers want to come away with the win.
The prized recruit has stood tall and has had an excellent season kicking at least one goal in every game bar one.
Another dominant display should ensure Abers feature in the second week of the finals.
By Joseph Ibic
Maribyrnong Park takes on West Coburg in a qualifying final at Joe Brown Oval this Saturday to book the first spot in the grand final.
Marby head into the clash having had last week off on account of finishing the home and away season in first place.
Given Marby haven’t lost a match since all the way back in May, they will be the favourites heading into the match but will know they can not underestimate West Coburg.
The two sides have faced off twice this year during the home and away season.
The first occasion was back in Round 1 and was a 16-point victory for West Coburg, while the second and most recent meeting was in Round 17 in a match that Marby Park convincingly won by 79 points.
Alex Barba, Matthew Gaul, and Lachie Plowman were all instrumental in Marby’s victory in that game and will be players West Coburg will want to keep quiet this weekend.
West Coburg are coming off a hard fought 20-point victory over Hillside in last week's qualifying final.
The game was close all day but the Burgers held firm to push away late.
They will be tested once again this weekend against an opponent who well and truly had their measure last time out, so they'll need to be at their best if they're to head to a third straight grand final.
Hillside takes on St Albans at Joe Brown Oval this Sunday in an elimination final, with the winner set to head to a preliminary final.
Hillside are coming off a 20-point loss to West Coburg in last week's qualifying final and will be looking to avoid a straight sets exit.
St Albans are coming off a 14-point victory over Oak Park in the elimination final last week where inaccuracy nearly came back to haunt them.
St Albans will need a much improved effort in front of goal if they are to defeat Hillside.
The two sides have faced off just the one time so far this season back in Round 12, in a match that Hillside were victorious in by 29 points.
The Sharks were incredibly accurate in front of goal scoring 15 goals from 21 scoring shots, something they’ll be looking to do again this weekend.
Captain Anthony Prestia was huge in that encounter scoring three goals and gathering plenty of the ball and will be someone St Albans keep a close eye on this week.
Both sides will be hoping to welcome back some key personnel in captain Zak Wunhym and vice captain Lachie Pettigrove for the Sharks, and skipper Jack Sims for the Saints.
By Luke Mathews
Burnside Heights will take on Westmeadows for a spot in the grand final at Salesian College with Taylors Lakes waiting for the winner at Windy Hill.
It was a dramatic first week of the finals for both sides with Burnside going down to Taylors Lakes by 11 points after leading during the early stages of the fourth quarter, while Westmeadows came from behind late to knock off Northern Saints in the lightning-delayed elimination final.
When the two sides met earlier in the year, it was the Bears who convincingly won their first match by 59 points, before the Tigers turned it around later in the year to defeat the Bears by 16 points.
The battle between the forward lines looms as the deciding factor on Saturday.
For the Bears, Daniel Hovey (expected to return) and Nick Gregson have been in fine form all year with 95 goals between them, while for the Tigers both Aaron Evans and Rex Hickman have had fantastic years with 33 and 32 goals respectively.
Both defences will have their work cut out for them on Saturday and if one of the duos gets on top, they should find themselves in a grand final.
Burnside Heights were depleted in last week's final and will have to make some changes, but they proved last week they're not too be counted out.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
PASCOE VALE v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
ABERFELDIE v GREENVALE
Sunday 2:15pm at Coburg City Oval
MARIBYRNONG PARK v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
HILLSIDE v ST ALBANS
Sunday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
