By Luke Mathews
Aberfeldie will be hoping to move back inside the top five when it takes on Hillside at Clifton Park.
The Rillas fell out of the top five for the first time this year and are now a serious chance of missing finals for the second time in four seasons.
Hillside sat out last week, however it did go down to Douttas two weeks ago.
These two sides last met back in Round 6 when Hillside came away with a pulsating one-point victory.
One man that will be hoping to find form this week is Lucas Failli.
The midfielder was electric in his first encounter against Abers, collecting 16 disposals and booting four goals.
The number four struggled last time out against Douttas, finishing with only 13 disposals and booting just the one goal.
If Failli can find the footy inside 50 this weekend and hit the scoreboard again, it’ll go a long way in helping Hillside upset Aberfeldie once again.
Keilor will be looking to keep the pressure on Strathmore when it meets with Greenvale at Joe Brown Oval.
The Blues haven’t put a foot wrong over the past 10 weeks, going through undefeated and now sit only a game behind the Mores on the ladder.
Things haven’t improved at all for Greenvale, with the Jets only notching up the two victories for the season, however they are still clinging to ninth place.
A win for Keilor could see it jump Strathmore on the ladder, while another big defeat for Greenvale could see its percentage drop below Airport West’s.
When these two sides last met, Keilor won a high-scoring affair by 25 points with Riley Leedham booting seven goals in a losing side.
One to watch this Saturday will be Chris Kosmas.
The superstar moved to the top of the leading goalkickers tally over the weekend after booting a bag of eight against Airport West.
Back in Round 6, the sharpshooter kicked six goals against the Jets and another big bag this weekend would go a long way in cementing his mantle as the competition’s most dangerous forward.
Essendon Doutta Stars will be looking to move one step closer to a finals berth when it takes on Deer Park at John McLeod Reserve.
Despite not playing, it was still a good weekend for Douttas last week after it kept a hold of fourth spot due to Aberfeldie going down to Marby.
Deer Park kept its very faint finals hopes alive last weekend when it defeated Greenvale by 54 points, however it remains in seventh spot and two games outside the top five.
Last time out, Douttas came away with a 51-point victory with Liam Mercieca, Bailey Ryan, and Declan Tully combining for nine goals between them.
One to look out for at John McLeoud Reserve is Angus Murray.
The midfielder has been a shining light this season and broke through against Hillside last weekend, finishing with 33 disposals and five clearances.
The Deer Park midfield was at its very best last time out and will need to produce more of the same this week if it wants to stop one of the competition most improved players.
Strathmore will be hoping to keep a hold of top spot when it takes on Airport West at Lebanon Reserve.
The Mores remain just the one victory above Keilor however they managed to remain on top of the ladder after a win over Pascoe Vale two weeks ago.
Meanwhile the new coach bounce didn’t work for Airport West last weekend after the side went down to a rampant Keilor outfit by 93 points.
When these two teams last met, Strathmore won by 69 points with Athan Tsialtas booting four goals.
One for Airport West to try and stop this weekend is Brock Egglestone.
The midfielder has put together another strong season, averaging 26 disposals and six clearances a game.
The captain was at his brilliant best last weekend collecting 31 disposals and eight clearances in the win over Pascoe Vale.
Airport West’s midfield has been its strong suit however it’ll face its toughest test this weekend.
Maribyrnong Park will be looking to claim another scalp when it takes on Pascoe Vale at Raeburn Reserve.
Brodie Holland’s men answered their critics last weekend when it defeated Aberfeldie by 10 points.
The win moved the Lions back inside the top five and in the hunt for finals footy.
Two weeks ago, Pascoe Vale let slip a chance to go closer to locking in the double chance when it went down to Strathmore by 28 points.
When these two sides last met, Pascoe Vale defeated Marby by 56 points with Paul Ahern booting four goals.
One to watch this Saturday is Charlie Bolmat.
In just his third full season of senior footy, the defender has solidified his spot as one of the most reliable players in the competition, averaging 25 disposals and eight intercepts.
Despite going down to Strathmore, the youngster was a shining light again, collecting 27 disposals and eight tackles.
Marby’s forward line has been firing across the last three weeks, however they’ll need to negate the Panther’s rising star if it wants to come away with the four points.
By Noah Wallwork
St Albans will take on Tullamarine at Kings Park Reserve where St Albans will be looking for revenge.
Tullamarine currently sits fifth on 36 points, 12 points off fourth placed Craigieburn.
St Albans sits much lower in eighth on 16 points.
The eighth placed side lost to Tullamarine in Round 7 by 128 points in a complete demolition.
On that day it was Lucas Scerri who dominated with 31 disposals and 11 clearances and was joined by ruckman Nicholas Owens who provided pressure around the ball with nine tackles.
Scerri has averaged seven clearances a game alongside 23 disposals for the year.
St Albans didn’t have a single player who registered inside the top 10 ranked players of the day.
However, after just defeating Rupertswood by two points in a nailbiter, the Saints will hope to provide an upset.
Joshua Klaromenous will hope to continue his fine form after a 38-disposal performance with seven clearances.
The Demons are already on a three-game winning streak and a win here will officially secure a finals berth.
Taylors Lakes will face Rupertswood at Lionheart Reserve in a bottom four clash.
The Lions are currently on an eight-game losing streak, with Rupertswood’s last win in Round 13 against Avondale Heights by three points.
The last time these teams faced off was in Round 7, when the Lions recorded a 27 point victory.
In that game the Lions gained control of the ball being +35 in possessions and dominated pressure with +8 tackles.
Lachlan Rayner starred in their last hitout, having 34 disposals and 16 clearances to gain control in the midfield.
He was well supported by Brandon Coletta who had 13 intercept possessions and nine one per centers.
For Rupertswood, Jackson Cardillo battled hard in the midfield with eight clearances and 27 disposals.
He was well supported by Ned Crotty and Fraser Phelan-Smith who had 24 and 22 disposals, yet it is the players underneath this group that need to lift.
Which side will get back on the winners list?
Oak Park will travel over to Ormond Park to take on Moonee Valley in a top three clash
Ladder leader Oak Park is on a nine-game win streak and last lost in Round 7 to Moonee Valley.
The Kangaroos have also just defeated second placed West Coburg by 13 points to jump four points clear on top.
For the Valley, they have won their last seven games out of eight with their last defeat to Craigieburn in Round 12.
The last time these two teams clashed, Moonee Valley proved too strong with a 33-point victory.
Haidyn Shade and Callum Clinnick led the way for the victor, having 37 and 30 disposals respectively and both having over eight tackles.
Lachlan Stredwick tried hard for the Kangaroos with 30 disposals and 15 intercept possessions, however the Valley dominated possession and intensity for the day being +55 in disposals and +22 in pressure acts.
The Kangaroos will rely on Rory MacGregor to continue his fine form for the season, currently averaging 29 disposals and five rebound 50s a game.
Ruck Joshua Hotchkin will again be a big focus for the Valley to stop, as he currently averages 46 hit outs and four clearances a game.
For the Valley, Luke Denny comes into the game with hot form, while midfield mainstay Nathan Williams is averaging seven score involvements a game alongside his 24 disposals every week.
Will the Valley prove victorious again or will the Kangaroos make a statement?
Last placed East Keilor will take on fourth placed Craigieburn at Overland Reserve, with all expectation on the Eagles to gain a massive percentage boost.
The Eagles currently sit level with West Coburg and Moonee Valley with 48 points on the ladder, yet have the lowest percentage at just 132 per cent.
A big win will prove significant in their run into finals. After just coming off a 151 point victory over Taylors Lakes, they will be hoping to repeat their dominant form.
For the Cougars, they still sit winless on the ladder with just a meagre percentage of 36.
They last met in Round 7, where the Eagles smashed the Cougars by 125 points at DS Aitken Reserve.
In that game the Eagles controlled possession with +159 disposals and +16 in clearances.
Nathan Stewart wreaked havoc in the midfield with 26 disposals and 10 clearances.
Hayden Polley also starred in the forward half, kicking 12 goals with his own 27 disposals.
Jackson Griffiths had 29 disposals and 10 clearances, yet will need a lot more support from his teammates if the Cougars have any chance of a close contest.
Griffiths is averaging 21 disposals and five clearances a game, but is often a lone hand.
For the Eagles, Jai Robinson continues his outstanding form of the season, averaging 27 disposals and seven rebound 50s a game. He will be critical for any chance of finals success.
To close off the round, it is West Coburg taking on Avondale Heights at Shore Reserve.
After losing their last two games against Oak Park and Moonee Valley, the Burgers will be determined to get back on the winning side.
In similar fashion, Avondale Heights has lost its last three matches and last won against St Albans in Round 12.
The last time these two sides met was in Round 7, where West Coburg demolished Avondale by 63 points.
Omar Saad and Tom Baravi formed a formidable duo with 32 and 28 disposals, respectively Baravi adding seven clearances.
Throughout the season, Baravi has averaged 26 disposals with 77 per cent disposal efficiency.
For the opposition, Bailey Williamson starred with 29 disposals and 10 intercept marks. Jackson Robb also played well with 30 disposals and seven clearances.
If West Coburg defeat Avondale, it has the chance to push for first place on the ladder.
By Jake Reeves & Eric Forman
Hadfield is set to host local rivals Northern Saints at Martin Reserve.
The Hawks sit nicely entrenched in the top four and enter this contest after a strong fortnight of football.
The same cannot be said for the struggling Saints, who currently sit last and have found it difficult to put a four-quarter performance together across 2026.
These sides last met in Round 7 at Charles Mutton Reserve which saw Hadfield comfortably beat the Saints by 38 points.
Mohammed Moustafa and Joshua Trembearth led the way up forward for the Hawks last weekend, kicking five and three goals respectively.
Meanwhile, Northern Saints midfielder Ezzat Haddara racked up 45 disposals in their defeat to Westmeadows last weekend and is one to watch.
Coburg Districts will be hoping to remain undefeated against a Sunbury Kangaroos outfit needing a scalp for its finals hopes.
The Lions were at their high scoring best in last week's 39-point win over East Sunbury, while the Kangaroos lost a heartbreaker to Glenroy.
It was a 77-point Coburg Districts win when these sides met in Round 7, with Curtis Rawlings, Pasquale Curcio, and Darcy Reid scoring four goals each.
The Kangaroos have looked a different side in recent weeks with an accurate day in front of goal almost upsetting Glenroy, but they'll need to be at their best if they're a chance.
A loss could see the Kangaroos' finals hopes diminish depending on other results, so an upset is crucial to keeping their destiny in their own hands.
Glenroy and Roxburgh Park will meet at Sewell Reserve in what is set to be an interesting contest.
The Roys have looked promising all season but are still second horse to ladder leaders Coburg Districts.
Glenroy snuck away with a win last week against the Sunbury Kangaroos, while the Magpies have been up and down throughout this season and will hope to hit their strides inside the final month of the home and away season.
It was a scrappy and hard fought battle when these sides last played off, in a game where Glenroy found a way to get it done in a low scoring affair by nine points at Lakeside Reserve.
The Roys had 134 more disposals in last weekend's win and will want to continue their high possession game style into Saturday’s clash.
A dominant performance from Roxy last week came through their mauling inside 50 numbers, boasting 23 more than Keilor Park.
Keilor Park and Burnside Heights will have a chance to get back on the winners list when they play at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.
Both sides lost comfortably last week but their last meeting in Round 7 was anything but comfortable.
The Bears won by 12 points with Lachlan Evans (26 disposals, 28 hit outs, 11 clearances) pivotal.
Young guns Ethan Dalla Rosa and Cade Anset kicked nine goals between the two of them, contributing more than half their score.
A feature of Burnside Heights was its ability to punish off turnover, 13 goals coming from that source.
The Devils owned the contest and scored well from stoppage, but they'd like to control the footy better this time around.
East Sunbury is set to play Westmeadows at John McMahon Recreation Reserve.
It has been an inconsistent season for the Thunder whose best has stood up, but a finals berth is all but out of the picture.
While for the Tigers, it has been a solid campaign outside of some hiccups as they sit in third spot.
These sides last met in round 7 at Willowbrook Reserve where the Tigers cruised to a 35-point victory at home.
The usual suspects for the Thunder in Robbie Gray and James Strauss had big afternoons last weekend, racking up 33 and 43 touches each and both kicking multiple goals on the afternoon.
Both players will be crucial if an upset is on the cards on Saturday.
The Tigers had 58 more marks than Northern Saints last weekend and were just too dominant in the air for the bottom placed team, but a more formidable Thunder side are talented enough to get the job done at home.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
ABERFELDIE v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
KEILOR v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
DEER PARK v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at John McLeod Reserve
STRATHMORE v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
PASCOE VALE v MARIBYRNONG PARK
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Saturday 2:15pm at Raeburn Reserve
ST ALBANS v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Kings Park Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v RUPERTSWOOD
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v OAK PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
EAST KEILOR v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
WEST COBURG v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
EAST SUNBURY v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Recreation Reserve
KEILOR PARK v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
GLENROY v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
HADFIELD v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
