Shades of 2019 are peeking through with Keilor finishing the home and away season undefeated following a strong win against Essendon Doutta Stars.
One of the key differences between the seasons has been their utter dominance, lifting their average score by four goals and reducing their average conceded score by just under 10 points.
During 2019, they had four single-digit wins (including the Grand Final) while this year they’ve had just one.
Mick McGuane’s outfit have dealt with all challengers rather comprehensively at various stages and are well poised to continue on to Windy Hill.
The Cougars are playing finals footy following their win against Aberfeldie on the weekend in their second year back in the top flight.
Attaining the victory would have been enough for them to feature in September with Greenvale staying in the hunt, but they were able to run away 31-point victors with a five-goal final term.
Chris Stewart continued his impressive form in front of goals over the last month kicking four majors, while Ben Silvagni booted three goals in his second feature for the Cougars, donning the famous Silvagni long sleeve and number one.
While they hadn’t been super convincing in the second half of the year, they managed to stay well within touch and are poised for a do-or-die clash with Strathmore following the pre-finals bye.
East Keilor will be hoping to utilise the extra week for the return of a number of players after testing their depth with some Reserves forfeits.
The Mores will be a tough task as they’ve started to get their best side on the park when East Keilor have struggled to do so, with both teams picking up a win against each other throughout the season.
The Sharks have tasted their first bit of finals success since their 2013 flag which saw them promoted to Division One following their win against St Albans.
It was an even start to the contest at Coburg City Oval before St Albans carried the momentum at the main break.
Hillside did well to keep the margin at just two goals with coach Charlie Denaro saying on the NXP Post Game Show that he was happy the siren went when it did.
His side started hot out of the break and although they missed some good opportunities early in the third quarter, they held the Saints goalless and kicked four of their own to take a 13-point lead into the final change.
St Albans were walking wounded with a reduced bench and Hillside seized the opportunity to run the game out.
Josh Covelli returned with a bag of six while Rusi Komaitai had an impressive day in the ruck, kicking two goals of his own.
Bol Kolang kicked five majors up the other end as their primary target, but was hurt by the lack of service from the Saints’ midfield injuries.
It’ll be Shark Week as they face Rupertswood in an eliminator on Sunday at Joe Brown Oval.
Deer Park showed the quality so many expected coming into 2023 with a 64-point win over Rupertswood on Saturday afternoon.
They controlled the game from start to finish and have set up what looks to be another salivating contest with West Coburg.
The Lions were looking for someone else to step up in the forward half with Todd Elton and Lachie Smart shouldering most of the load in their two losses to Rupo during the regular season, and Luke Goater did just that with a bag of seven goals.
Smart kicked four majors as well with multiples to Nicolas Aleksovski and skipper Spiros Amarantidis.
The undefeated Burgers await who have succeeded in two nail-biting clashes with the Lions.
Oak Park are into a second consecutive Grand Final after their 41-point victory over Taylors Lakes on Saturday afternoon.
The Kangaroos capitalised on their opportunities when Taylors Lakes didn’t (0.7) in the first quarter and were able to control their five-goal lead at the first change for the remainder of the game.
Blair Cronin kicked four goals in tandem with Lachlan Ronaldson’s three in a forward line that produced 33 shots on goal.
They’ve proven themselves as the top side in this competition and have thoroughly earnt their spot in the big dance.
Taylors Lakes will be ruing their missed chances, but will have another opportunity in the prelim this week.
After a slow start to the season, the Sunbury Kangaroos will meet Taylors Lakes in a Preliminary Final after defeating Northern Saints.
Their season has been full of fightbacks and Sunday afternoon was no different after trailing by five goals at the first change with just one behind to their name, they slowly clawed their way back.
After trailing by 15 points at half time, they kicked five goals to two in the third quarter and pushed on to a 14-point victory at the final siren.
Matthew Leonard played a strong hand up forward with six goals and was complemented by Mitch Streiff who kicked three goals in a best-on-ground performance.
League leading goal kicker Khoder Taleb kicked five goals for Northern Saints but was only joined by single goal kickers.
The Kangaroos will now prepare for Taylors Lakes in their prelim on Saturday afternoon.
