The three Airport Toyota Women’s divisions are starting to ramp up with a number of mouth watering clashes across all three grades this weekend.
Some top of the table clashes, a couple of match ups with sides searching for their first wins, a local derby and two of the competitions biggest rivals playing each other headline this week’s matches.
In Airport Toyota Women's Premier Division, the gap between the top sides and the bottom sides could become even bigger this week with the top four sides playing the bottom four sides.
Burnside Heights will have its hands full against Westmeadows in the first match of the round.
The Bears are without a win, while the Tigers are one of the two undefeated teams after three rounds.
The Tigers have been impressive so far, led by the likes of Courtney Bligh, Courteney Munn and Gemma Wright, while a number of other players have stepped up when needed.
For the Bears the likes of Brodie Stevens and Krissy Trang have been really good, but they don’t appear to have the depth to match it with the top sides.
Hillside faces Oak Park in the battle between top and bottom.
On paper and looking at results this season, it would be easy to pencil in a win for Oak Park, but the Sharks still have some talented players headlined by Emily Paterno.
The Kangaroos depth though has been hard to stop this season.
Trilby Sheppard has been the only player named in the best in all three games, showing the spread of contributors.
Maribyrnong Park against Moonee Valley shapes up as the most interesting match in the Premier Division.
The Lions, while coming off their first loss of the season, they still showed some good signs in their previous match.
So far they seem to be the best of the rest, behind the three top sides. Moonee Valley comes into this game after back-to-back wins.
The Fog was always going to take time to adjust to this level.
Anita Ovenden is one who stepped up in the most recent round with eight goals. Expect her to be a key target again.
The last match of the round sees old rivals Keilor and Aberfeldie play each other.
The Blues are again one of the teams to beat, while Abers struggles have continued this year.
It would be a match the Blues expect to win, but if Abers can play like they did in the second half of their match against Westmeadows, they can push them.
The match of the round in the women’s divisions, would have to be Greenvale and Gisborne. Both sides are undefeated in Airport Toyota Women's Division One and are yet to be really tested.
Both teams, who are coached by former Calder Cannons assistant coaches, set up well and have a number of key players.
The Bulldogs have a bit more experience, led by Shannon McFerran, who was best on ground last week, while the Jets have a bit more pace and class.
Whoever wins will be the early premiership favourite.
Essendon Doutta Stars and Strathmore have both struggled with player numbers this season, but the talent they have on the park has played really well.
The experience of Megan Runting and Georgia Sampson has shone through for the Stars, while Mores have had a group of seven or eight players who have stood up each week.
The Sunbury derby is another of the interesting matches this weekend. The Sunbury Kangaroos have won every match between the two sides so far and will be hoping for that trend to continue.
Both sides have one win so far, with the Kangaroos having a better for and against. These matches are generally well fought out and this one should be the same.
The last match of the round sees Moonee Valley and Pascoe Vale both going for their first wins of the season.
Neither side has had much luck this season and been heavily beaten in each match. This result is vital in the battle to stay away from bottom.
In Airport Toyota Women's Division Two, Airport West will face its biggest test so far. After two big wins to start the season, the Eagles face a Tullamarine side which started its campaign with a big win.
Both these two sides have a lot of experience, having come down from Division One last season and have been the pace setters.
Another match which will decide an early premiership favourite.
The other two matches see the second sides play against each other. The two Kangaroos sides, the Sunbury Kangaroos and Oak Park will be aiming to get sides on the park.
Both forfeited their last match, so getting out on the park is a win itself, before the ball was even bounced.
In the other match, Westmeadows will host Maribyrnong Park. The Tigers have been the better of the second sides and would be expected to come out on top in this one.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v WESTMEADOWS 1
Saturday 11:15am at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve - Oval 2
HILLSIDE v OAK PARK 1
Saturday 11:30am at Hillside Reserve
MARIBYRNONG PARK 1 v MOONEE VALLEY 1
Saturday 11:50am at Walsh Oval
ABERFELDIE v KEILOR
Saturday 4:50pm at Clifton Park
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v STRATHMORE
Saturday 11:15am at Buckley Park
SUNBURY LIONS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS 1
Saturday 11:15am at Eric Boardman Reserve Oval 2
PASCOE VALE v MOONEE VALLEY 2
Saturday 11:15am at Raeburn Reserve
GREENVALE v GISBORNE
Saturday 11:15am at Greenvale Recreation Reserve - Oval 2
SUNBURY KANGAROOS 2 v OAK PARK 2
Saturday 11:15am at Eric Boardman Reserve Oval 1
TULLAMARINE v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 4:50pm at Leo Dineen Reserve
WESTMEADOWS 2 v MARIBYRNONG PARK 2
Saturday 4:50pm at Willowbrook Reserve
Coburg Districts has the BYE.
