FAIR to say the Live Scores on EDFL Team App will get a fair workout to end the Essendon Ford Division 1 home-and-away season.
Craigieburn v Westmeadows
Though it is extremely unlikely, neither of these two are yet locked into their current position on the Essendon Ford Division 1 table. The Eagles got the tune-up they needed away to Taylors Lakes last week, escaping from Lionheart with a comfortable 123-point win. Cam Cloke kicked another eight to reach 81 for his year, brother Jason snagged three, as did Nick Fletcher. It came at a bit of cost, though, as word is Fletcher has yet again come under an injury cloud. He did miss last year’s Grand Final with injury. Aaron Kite is back from overseas and has slotted straight back into his key defensive post well. Regardless of what happens here against the Tigers, percentage should already have the Eagles taking home the minor premiership ahead of a Qualifying Final date with Tullamarine at Windy Hill next Saturday.
Westmeadows was shocking against Tullamarine with second spot on the line. They were fumbly and second to the ball, the only shining lights being a classy six-goal haul from Brock Heathcote and a promising performance from lead-up forward Cody Wight, who kicked three. It does have to be said Westmeadows has been decimated by injuries and the very fact they still sit third in this division is testament to their quality and depth. Some of those outs include Mitch Church and Robbie Mullen, two of the best players in Essendon Ford Division 1. There is a mathematical scenario where Westmeadows can slip out of the four and miss finals, but it will require a 15- or 16-goal loss to Craigieburn here and a 10- or 11-goal win at JP Fawkner Reserve for Oak Park over Taylors Lakes.
Oak Park v Taylors Lakes
You often hear people talk about teams out of finals contention themselves relishing the opportunity to at least shape who does and does not get to the post-season. That opportunity has presented itself here for Sam Tankard and Taylors Lakes. The five per cent gap that currently has Hillside in the four and Oak Park at fifth means the Kangaroos have to win and win well for the right to get to Elimination Sunday next week at Windy Hill. Taylors Lakes will take this game very seriously, even if it means knocking Oak Park out of the finals gets rival Hillside in. James Vistarini has been a star this year for the Lions and will lead from the front.
Oak Park had the bye and will welcome Ben Chapman back to the sidelines after he missed out on coaching against Glenroy last start with illness. Given the requirement of a 10- or 11-goal margin to leapfrog Hillside and potentially Westmeadows, the game plan has to be all-out attack. The Kangaroos have only scored 100-plus points four times this season, but those opponents were the bottom two – Hadfield and the Northern Saints. First time around Oak Park did beat Taylors Lakes but it was only by four points in a game that totalled nine goals combined. The odds are seemingly against Oak Park yet again and they probably only have themselves to blame.
Expect a wonderful atmosphere with many Hillside people cheering for Taylors Lakes to keep Oak Park outside the final four.
Tullamarine v Northern Saints
The Demons chalked up another decent win last week, knocking over Westmeadows at Willowbrook by 33 points on EDFL Match of the Day. The Burns boys, Justin Marcy and Dean Simmons were all ultra-impressive through the middle and Will Becker’s move to permanent forward was an inspired one, kicking four to earn the Sportsmoves best-on-ground hoodie. Tulla has now won eight in a row, its last loss all the way back in May at home to Westmeadows. Anthony Leydin has done a terrific job with this unit and it is now one of the most well-drilled teams we’ve seen in this competition. Of late, they have done enough to prove they can catch raging premiership favourite Craigieburn – a side they will meet in a Qualifying Final at Windy Hill Saturday week.
What a magnificent week it was for the Northern Saints. Coach Daniel Foley told the boys on EDFL Tonight it was the Saints’ Grand Final at home to Hadfield, and in the end his side delivered. Daniel Boudoloh has just about been the Saints’ best player in 2016 and he was the star of the show with seven goals as his side clung onto a two-point margin as the final siren sounded at Charles Mutton Reserve. It was a spirited win for a side that had led at every break and was desperate for a win given it had been almost two years since their last victory at senior level. It also means that there’s a tiny mathematical possibility of avoiding relegation. A very, very tiny one. They would have to beat the hottest team in the division by a huge margin and hope Hadfield loses by a similarly massive margin against Glenroy.
Hadfield v Glenroy
We love a healthy rivalry between close neighbours and that’s what we have here. Fair to say Hadfield will have one eye on the Live Scores on EDFL Team App from Leo Dineen Reserve to make sure the Northern Saints aren’t surprising Tulla, as a Demons win there will render the result of this game at Martin Reserve completely irrelevant. Hadfield was down by five goals at quarter time against the Saints but clawed their way back into the contest to eventually only go down by less than a kick. It’s been a long second half of the season for the Hawks having now lost eight in a row, but provided their nine per cent gap on the Saints will be enough to finish eighth, they’ll be happy to have gotten through 2016 without falling straight back down to Strathmore Community Bank Division 2.
Glenroy’s on again, off again performance against Hillside pretty much sums the Roys up. Another finish in the ‘no man’s land’ territory of the Essendon Ford Division 1 table will no doubt be frustrating but there’s plenty of promise coming out of Sewell Reserve. A surprise win over Craigieburn and a healthy list of youngsters capable of decent senior footy should leave Ross Terranova feeling pretty good about 2017 and beyond. Here, it’ll at least cap off season 2016 nicely to take care of Hadfield down the road and get stuck into another classic Glenroy Mad Monday.
