TULLAMARINE v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Leo Dineen Reserve
WITH both sides sitting inside the top four, this shapes up as a good contest and it’ll give us another look at where they sit this season.
The Demons enter Round 7 having played the three bottom sides in their last three games.
While they’ve managed to pick up wins in all three, they haven’t always been as comprehensive as you would expect.
Against a winless Oak Park side last week, the Demons had the match sealed up at half time.
But they weren't able to go on with it, with the Kangaroos winning the second half by a goal.
Bradley Allen starred up forward for the Demons, kicking five goals in a best-on-ground performance.
The Cougars are coming off their first loss of the season, losing to an impressive Westmeadows outfit.
This match is the Cougars’ second of three against the other top four sides.
It’s a tricky a part of East Keilor’s fixture that will give us a greater indication of where they sit in the Division 1 flag race.
Against the Tigers, an eight-goal-to-four second half did the damage.
Dion Hill kicked three goals up forward, while Jordan Madden was named East Keilor’s best.
A win here is crucial as the Cougars don’t want to drop two in a row heading into a huge Round 8 clash at home to Craigieburn.
TAYLORS LAKES v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
While this game may not be the first picked to watch this round, it could very well be the most important in the context of the season.
Both sides have just one win to their name, putting them well and truly in the relegation battle.
The winner of this could see either Taylors Lakes or West Coburg go two games clear of bottom-placed Oak Park.
The big talking point heading into the game is the inclusion of former West Coast star, Daniel Kerr, for Taylors Lakes.
While it will bring some positive vibes for the Lions, will it be enough to get them over the line this weekend?
The Lions come into the game on the back of a missed opportunity against Roxburgh Park.
James McGrath kicked three goals for the Lions in last week’s loss, while defender Jackson Wright was named their best.
For the Burgers, they’re looking to end a four-game losing streak.
The biggest of those losses was against Craigieburn last week.
Liam Bowkett kicked two goals, while Abdikhane Fitaax was named their best.
Both of these sides will be looking for a win in order to move slightly away from the relegation mix.
HILLSIDE v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Reserve
These are two of the sides who had big question marks hanging over them during the pre-season, but both have done well to prove they will be in the finals mix come the end of the home-and-away season.
For the Sharks, who sit one game outside the top four, they need a scalp if they are to make sure they stay in that mix.
Of the top four sides, they’ve only played East Keilor in a match they could have won.
The question is, how will they go in the next three weeks when they face the other top four sides?
Hillside will enter this match fresh having come off the bye, while the Tigers are coming in on the back of their biggest win of the season, beating the previously undefeated East Keilor.
Westmeadows’ solid third quarter proved to be the difference with five goals to one, opening up a match-winning lead.
The dangerous forward duo of Omar Saad and Mitch Church kicked nine goals between them, while the Tigers also welcomed back Dean Clare from Pascoe Vale.
Youngster Aaron Evans also continued his solid form.
A win for the Tigers would put them two games clear of Hillside, with their first bye still to come.
OAK PARK v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
On paper this is the most straight forward of the four matches, with the Eagles looming as a clear favourite.
But Oak Park has shown some good signs in recent weeks and will be looking for the upset, and with it potentially move up from the bottom of the ladder.
The Kangaroos come into the match on the back of a strong second half against Tullamarine.
While the Demons easily won the match, the Kangaroos won the second half by a goal, showing they can match it with the top sides.
Aden Harris kicked three goals in the loss, while Liam Molloy was named their best.
The challenge here for the Kangaroos will be a big one, with the Eagles coming off successive 100-point wins.
The most recent of those wins came against West Coburg last week, where they blew the Burgers away in the second half.
Brock Chircop produced his best return for the season in front of goal with five majors and was named among the Eagles’ best players.
Steven Boyall was best-on-ground.
The Eagles have been impressive in the face of a few injuries and they’re only going to get stronger in coming weeks, which is daunting prospect for all of Division 1.
