By Luke Mathews
Greenvale will be hoping to save its season when it takes on Aberfeldie at Section Road.
Last week’s loss to Airport West had huge consequences for the Jets with the side slipping down to last spot.
It now means Greenvale are a game behind the Eagles and will need to win at least one of its final two matches to stay in Premier Division.
Saturday’s game is just as important for Aberfeldie with a win set to lock them into another finals campaign.
When these two teams last met, Abers cruised to another comfortable victory, defeating the Jets by 50 points with Will Brkic booting five goals.
One to watch this weekend is Matt Weber.
The midfielder has become one of the best onballers across the competition, averaging 25 disposals and six clearances a game.
If the Jets midfield is unable to stop Abers number one ball winner, their hopes of earning survival will vanish quickly.
Airport West will be hoping to maintain its momentum when it takes on Deer Park at Hansen Reserve.
The Eagles looked to have resurrected their season last weekend after they defeated Greenvale in a heart stopping clash by three points.
The win lifts the Eagles off the bottom of the ladder and is their first victory since Round 7, however their safety isn’t guaranteed just yet.
Deer Park has little to play for with the side stuck in seventh spot, however it will be looking for further revenge after the Eagles beat them in the elimination final last year.
Last time out, Deer Park recorded a comprehensive 69-point victory over Airport West with Jackson Barling kicking five goals.
One to look out for at Hansen Reserve is Corey Barbaro.
The youngster was back to his best last week against Greenvale collecting 19 disposals, five marks, and took home man of the match in the thrilling victory.
Deer Park’s forward line has plenty of weapons, especially Barling with the full forward sitting in fifth on the leading goal kickers tally with 37 majors for the season.
Another rock-solid performance from Airport West’s centre half back will go a long way in securing its safety.
Keilor will be looking to extend its 12-game winning streak when it takes on Hillside at Joe Brown Oval.
The Blues haven’t lost since Round 4 and will need a win this weekend if they are any chance of taking out the minor premiership.
Hillside has very little to play for with the Sharks currently in eighth spot, however will be looking to see how far they have come against the competition’s best sides.
Earlier in the year Keilor made light work of the Sharks, winning by 111 points with Josh Honey kicking five goals.
One to watch on Saturday is Andrew Vavra.
The prized off-season recruit put in his best game for the year last weekend, finishing with 22 disposals and 43 hit outs in the win over Marby.
Hillside has been strong in the ruck in 2026 with Adeola Akintola leading the way, however it’ll need to stop Vavra if it is any chance of pushing the Blues.
Maribyrnong Park will be looking to keep its final hopes alive when it meets with Strathmore at Lebanon Reserve.
The Lions were brave last weekend against Keilor, however they ultimately weren’t good enough for long enough and couldn’t get over the line.
It means Marby are still in sixth and equal on points with Douttas, however they are running out of time if they want to feature in finals action.
Strathmore can sew up the minor premiership with a win this weekend, however a loss could leave them in danger of being overtaken by Keilor.
Back in Round 8, Marby pushed Strathmore all the way, however wasn’t good enough when it mattered and went down by 13 points.
If Marby are any chance of causing an upset, it’ll need Scott Clarke’s strong form to continue.
The veteran did everything he could last weekend, finishing with 17 disposals and three goals in the loss to Keilor.
While Strathmore has plenty of experience of its own, Marby will be leaning on Clarke to help get them over the line this Saturday.
Essendon Doutta Stars will be looking to punch its ticket to the finals when it hosts Pascoe Vale.
The Stars haven’t yet secured finals footy, however they remain in fifth spot with just two rounds to play and a win this weekend could be enough.
Pascoe Vale has little to play for with the side locked into third spot unable to be moved, however it’ll be hoping to be fit and firing for its return to finals.
When these two sides last met, Pascoe Vale claimed a 22-point victory with Todd Goldstein booting three goals.
One to look out for this weekend is Matthew Dennis.
The ruck was back to his best last week, collecting 34 disposals and seven clearances in the win over Deer Park.
Douttas has been strong in the ruck in 2026 with Liam Mercieca leading the way, averaging 20 disposals and 32 hit outs.
Whichever ruck can win the battle this Saturday will go a long way in helping his side claim the four points.
By Noah Wallwork
Craigieburn take on West Coburg at DS Aitken Reserve in a massive finals-shaping clash.
West Coburg sit top of the ladder, with Craigieburn on fourth. However, all top four teams including Moonee Valley and Oak Park are level with 56 points.
The last time these two teams played was in Round 8, where West Coburg won by 59 points.
Tom Baravi and Dinny Cleary led the way for the victors, having 39 and 35 disposals each.
Cleary in particular had nine clearances and nine inside 50s, generating territory control from the middle.
The Eagles struggled to overcome the midfield brilliance of West Coburg which had +35 inside 50s.
Eagle Dayne Middleton had 35 disposals and nine rebound 50s in defence, but played a lone hand.
Nathan Stewart also battled hard in the midfield with seven clearances.
The Burgers win and they have the week off, while an Eagles win will push them into the top three.
Oak Park faces off against St Albans at JP Fawkner Reserve as the Kangaroos eye off top spot.
The Kangaroos currently sit in second position on the ladder, with a percentage of 180.
St Albans is in ninth position with its last win in Round 15, a two-point thriller against Rupertswood.
These two teams last played in Round 8, with the Kangaroos demolishing St Albans by 136 points.
Lachlan Stredwick for the Kangaroos had 59 hit outs for the match filling in the ruck slot along with five clearances.
In the midfield, Errol McConnell had a day out with 35 disposals and nine clearances.
For the opposition, Jake Galea had 11 clearances alongside his 23 disposals but struggled to get enough support from his teammates.
The double chance locked in, a Kangaroos win and West Coburg loss could see Oak Park finish on top.
Taylors Lakes plays against Avondale Heights at Lionheart Reserve.
The Lions and Heights sit seventh and sixth on the ladder, with both teams struggling to beat the sides above them.
They last played against each other in Round 8, where Avondale Heights won by 21 points.
It was an even contest until the last quarter, when Avondale kicked six goals unanswered.
Players that stood out for the Lions included Lachlan Rayner who had 12 clearances, three goals, and 31 hit outs.
He was well supported by Jake Hobbs with 35 disposals and nine clearances.
For Avondale Heights, Blake Cochrane starred in the midfield with 43 disposals, six inside 50s, and seven rebound 50s.
He provided support in defence and attack. Daniel Taberner was also dangerous in the forward 50, finishing with four goals.
The Lions will be looking to send Steve Burns off in style, can they pick up one last win?
Moonee Valley take on Tullamarine in a significant clash at Ormond Park.
Moonee Valley sit in third position, with the Demons in fifth.
Both teams will play finals, but Moonee Valley have the opportunity to clinch the double chance.
The last time these two teams played against each other was in Round 8 with the Valley winning by 10 points in a close affair at Leo Dineen Reserve.
Haidyn Shade led the way in the midfield for the Valley with 27 disposals and nine clearances and was well supported by Callum Clinnick who had 33 disposals and eight tackles.
The Demons fought hard in the midfield with Zak Wunhym collecting 34 disposals and 10 clearances.
Nicholas Owens was also dominant in the ruck with 60 hit outs, but struggled to turn those hit outs into clearances.
Will Moonee Valley lock away the double chance.
To close off the round, it is Rupertswood facing off against the winless East Keilor at Salesian College.
Both teams sit in the bottom three, with Rupertswood sitting eighth and the Cougars in last position.
The margins of Rupertswood’s last three games have all been within four goals, after just coming off a 20-point victory over Tullamarine.
Rupertswood collected a 12-point victory the last time these two sides met in Round 8 at Overland Reserve.
Jackson Cardillo again proved dominant for Rupertswood with 30 disposals, 14 tackles, and eight clearances.
Logan Johnson also proved damaging with 28 disposals and seven clearances.
For the luckless Cougars, Jackson Griffiths starred in the midfield and forward 50 with 26 disposals, 12 clearances, and four goals.
Reilly Webster also stood out with six clearances, yet Rupertswood won the clearances by 12.
Rupertswood also won the inside 50s by 15 and the one-percenters, a clear sign of their superior intensity around the contest.
Can the Cougars finally secure an upset and their debut win for the season?
By Jake Reeves & Eric Forman
Northern Saints is looking to finish its season with back-to-back wins when it plays host to East Sunbury at Charles Mutton Reserve.
The Saints have struggled throughout most of 2026 and have predominantly been at the bottom of ladder, but a win last week can build confidence and give them every chance against East Sunbury.
The Thunder were outclassed by Roxburgh Park last weekend by 29 points and will be looking to get a late season win to build into next season.
These sides last met in Round 9 in a low-scoring thriller at John McMahon Recreation Reserve, which saw a wayward Northern Saints outfit fall short by five points.
Hisham Kerbatieh had a fantastic afternoon last weekend and conjured up 41 disposals and nine clearances and led the way for the Saints in only their third win of their 2026 campaign.
After a few quiet weeks, Aaron Flavel got back into some strong form and nailed three goals despite the tough loss.
Roxburgh Park will take on Coburg Districts at Lakeside Reserve.
The Magpies currently occupy fourth spot with a win here securing a return to finals action.
They'll need to hands the Lions their first loss this season in the process and overturn a 102-point loss from their Round 9 meeting.
It's been a strong resurgence from the Magpies, however, after a lean stretch mid-season which should provide a closer contest.
It was Ali Saad and Damien Cavka that did the damage in that game combining for 10 goals.
A Roxy loss isn't season over, with a Sunbury Kangaroos win over Westmeadows enough to remain in fourth.
A monster clash at Willowbrook Reserve will see Westmeadows host the Sunbury Kangaroos in a huge game for top four ramifications.
The Tigers put up a good fight against the undefeated Coburg Districts, but fell short and need to win this week to give themselves a chance.
It is a similar story for the Kangaroos, but finals is now out of the question.
Westmeadows had a huge win in Round 9 when they last met the Kangaroos and got the job done by 71 points at Eric Boardman Reserve.
Nathan Sparks had an awesome afternoon for the Tigers last weekend and powered his way to 19 contested possessions to go along with his 35 disposals.
Mitchell Streiff’s four goals were valuable for the Kangaroos in their very tight loss and will be one of the ones to stop if the Tigers are to get the job done.
A Tigers win keeps them in the hunt with their hopes riding on Coburg Districts defeating Roxburgh Park.
Keilor Park will finish its season at Martin Reserve against Hadfield.
The Hawks have locked in a finals spot, while the Devils are pushing to get off the bottom of the ladder.
It was a 23-point Hadfield win when these sides last met in Round 9, an inaccurate Devils side made to rue missed opportunities.
Mohammed Moustafa was at his unstoppable best with five goals and will take some stopping this week.
Can the Devils disrupt the Hawks?
Burnside Heights will play its final match of 2025 when they face the second placed Glenroy at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve.
The Bears and Roys last played off in Round 9 at Sewell Reserve which saw a Roys win by 38 points, but also have 34 scoring shots and owning field position.
Dylan Payne looked good up forward for the Bears and took 14 marks along with 10 contested possessions proving to be a tough player in the air and on the ground.
Daniel Micevski was best on ground last Saturday afternoon against Keilor Park with 164 ranking points, 33 possessions, and two goals to lead the way for the Roys in their 107-point victory.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
GREENVALE v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
AIRPORT WEST v DEER PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Hansen Reserve
KEILOR v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
STRATHMORE v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Nipper Jordan Oval
CRAIGIEBURN v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
OAK PARK v ST ALBANS
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
RUPERTSWOOD v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Reserve
HADFIELD v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
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Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
NORTHERN SAINTS v EAST SUNBURY
Saturday 2:15pm at Charles Mutton Reserve
