The battle for finals positions in Airport Toyota Women’s Premier Division will be the focus this weekend.
While the top four has been sorted in the lower two divisions, three sides are still in the mix for the final spot in Premier Division.
Three of this week’s matches will have an impact on the fight for finals, while that last match could see the top two locked up.
Aberfeldie has one foot in finals after a strong win against Hillside last week. After a loss to Keilor the week before, Abers showed the form that we have come accustomed to in the second half of the season.
Ilaria Akers had her best game against the Sharks, while Michelle Reid has become a focal point up forward.
Abers will be favourites to beat Burnside Heights. The Bears have plenty of talent in the midfield in the likes of Krissy Trang and the Stevens sisters, but don’t have enough talent up forward.
The Bears will need to make it a low scoring affair if they’re any chance of getting an upset win.
Maribyrnong Park need to win this week and hope results go their way to keep their finals alive.
It won’t be an easy task, facing Keilor.
The Lions will need to step it up, after losing to Westmeadows last week. The Lions scored just one goal against the Tigers, coming in the final quarter.
Nicole Porter had a second straight good performance, while India Barker was another strong performer.
The Lions will need an even spread across the board, if they’re to upset the Blues.
The Blues have been the most consistent side of the competition and showed that again against Burnside Heights.
The Blues consistently score more than 50 points a game, something not many other women’s sides can lay claim to.
The Blues have started to find a few more options in front of goal with four players scoring multiple goals against the Bears.
Sarah Cachia has come back into the side in recent weeks and has added extra depth to the side, along with all the VFLW players.
The other team in the mix for fourth spot is Moonee Valley. The Fog sits two points behind Aberfeldie.
As they have for much of the season, the Fog were solid enough against Oak Park in their last match.
They will go in as favourites against Hillside this week.
The Sharks had one of their more disappointing performances last week against Abers. Most of their stars were playing, yet they struggled to hit the scoreboard and saw their finals hopes go down the toilet.
The last match of the round is Westmeadows and Oak Park. Both teams are guaranteed finals, but a top two spot is on the line.
The Kangaroos were solid against Moonee Valley and did enough to come away with the win. Their VFL stars were among the standouts.
Westmeadows will back itself in, after returning to from last week. After a tough period, they turned the tables with a strong win.
Newly named Senior Women’s Coach for next year, Gemma Wright produced her best performance of the season and it could be a danger sign for other teams.
In Airport Toyota Women's Division One, the match of the round is Essendon Doutta Stars and Greenvale. The first match up between the two teams was the Jets only loss of the season so far.
Both teams enter the match in good form.
The Jets’ run and carry proved too much for the Sunbury Kangaroos last weekend. While the Kangaroos fought hard, the class of the likes of Zoe Hardiman and Terira Fry stood out.
The Stars had plenty of opportunities against an understrength Sunbury Lions side.
Marie Napoli kicked five goals as 12 players hit the scoreboard, one of the biggest spreads this season.
A win here would seal top spot for the Jets. A win for the Stars could keep top two hopes alive, dependent on other results.
Strathmore hosts the Sunbury Kangaroos in what shapes as another interesting match. The Kangaroos pushed the Mores last time with their pressure.
The Mores have plenty of forward options, with Robyn Randell a key target down there. For the Kangaroos, they will be hoping to finish their season with a scalp.
They’ve put in some good performances the last two weeks against the Essendon Doutta Stars and Greenvale.
A win here would be a reward for the hard work they’ve put in.
Moonee Valley 2 hosts Gisborne in the other match. The Bulldogs are fresh off a bye, while the Fog have continued to battle on.
Alexandria Caddy returned to the side on Saturday, and didn’t look like she had missed a beat.
In Airport Toyota Women's Division Two, Coburg Districts heads out to face the Sunbury Kangaroos 2. The Lions are one of the few teams to have played on the second oval at Eric Boardman Reserve, which might come in handy.
The Kangaroos will be looking to keep the pressure on and convert their hard work on the scoreboard.
Airport West is set to face Oak Park 2. The Kangaroos were again short on numbers last week and forfeited again.
Hopefully they can get the numbers to finish the season on a high.
The most interesting game in the division is Westmeadows 2 against Tullamarine. With both sides finals bound, it’s a chance to work on things ahead of the pointy end of the season.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
ABERFELDIE v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 11:15am at Aberfeldie Park West
KEILOR v MARIBYRNONG PARK 1
Saturday 11:15am at Joe Brown Oval
MOONEE VALLEY v HILLSIDE
Saturday 1:10pm at Ormond Park
WESTMEADOWS 1 v OAK PARK 1
Saturday 1:10pm at Willowbrook Reserve
STRATHMORE v SUNBURY KANGAROOS 1
Saturday 11:15am at Lebanon Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY 2 v GISBORNE
Saturday 11:15am at Ormond Park
GREENVALE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 11:50am at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
Sunbury Lions have the bye.
SUNBURY KANGAROOS 2 v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 10am at Eric Boardman Reserve - Oval 2
AIRPORT WEST v OAK PARK 2
Saturday 11:15am at Hansen Reserve
WESTMEADOWS 2 v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 11:15am at Willowbrook Reserve
Maribyrnong Park 2 have the bye.
