The top four is set as we head into the final round of the Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division season for 2022, as East Keilor fell to defeat in Round 17 opening an eight-point gap between fourth and five on the ladder.
The bookends of the ladder are set, as Aberfeldie continued their winning ways, peering down on the competition from top place and another loss confirming that Round 18 will be Glenroy’s final match in the Premier Division as they return to Rookie Me Division One for 2023.
Finals doesn’t officially kick off for a week, but the fixturing couldn’t have worked out any better, as we are treated to first versus third and second versus fourth clashes that both can change the complexion of the top four.
Strathmore have everything to play for this weekend, as they come up against ladder leaders Aberfeldie, their first meeting since the nail-biter on the Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
Fans will be keeping a close eye across the live scores on Saturday, as Keilor and Pascoe Vale do battle at Joe Brown Oval.
The results of these two matches directly affecting the makeup of the first week of finals action. If Strathmore can go one better, and upset the almost bullet proof Aberfeldie, they will be praying for Pascoe Vale to do the same and knock Keilor off their perch.
If results were to head in that direction, we would see Strathmore thrust themselves above Keilor into second place and book their date into a second chance grand final play off with Aberfeldie.
Canning Reserve hosts Avondale Heights for one last time this year as they face a visiting Greenvale to close out their 2022 seasons. After a three-goal victory to Greenvale in the previous meeting in Round 9, Patrick Byrne’s side will be looking to square the ledger and end the season on a high.
Maribyrnong Park close out what many would say to be a disappointing season for the Lions, with a Monk Oval matchup against the Essendon Doutta Stars.
While the Stars have also failed to make much of an impact on the 2022 season, their one previous meeting with the Lions was a tight 11-point loss, they will be hoping to produce one final push for the season and end on a high note.
Glenroy’s final game in Premier Division sees them host the surprise packet of the 2022 season, East Keilor at Sewell Reserve. After flying out the blocks, a disappointing back half of the year has seen East Keilor drop out of an unlikely finals spot.
They will however take great confidence from their performances this year, knowing they can cut it with the best of the Premier Division competition.
We are down to four, and a super Sunday awaits as Highgate Reserve and Windy Hill play host to a pair of herculean clashes in the Rookie Me Division One season.
Windy Hill’s home change rooms belong to Airport West this weekend, after finishing a game and a half clear on top of the ladder, while only suffering one defeat, they come up against second placed Tullamarine looking to book themselves a week off and a guaranteed grand final appearance.
The Eagles head into the match having won the previous two meetings this season by an average margin of 53 points, thus has been the attacking power they have possessed this season
A league best in both attack and defence sees Tullamarine with a huge task on their hands to contain the scoring power possessed by Airport West.
Locking down players like Ned Gentile will be front of mind at match committee this week, finishing second in the league goalkicking award, his 64 goals have continually put the Eagles in winning positions week in week out.
Both clubs’ pride themselves on defensive efforts, as Tullamarine just fall slightly behind Airport West on average points conceded per game with 61 compared to 59 for the Eagles.
Tullamarine head into the clash on the back of three consecutive wins, easily accounting for fellow finalist Westmeadows in the final round of the season.
They will be looking to the popular Shaun McKernan to lead their attack come Sunday, and after a goalless final round off the back of 10 against Roxy, he will be primed to explode on the big stage.
Finals football turns up the heat, as the final siren sounds late Sunday afternoon will it be the Eagles calm under pressure to book their place in the grand final? Or can Tullamarine weather the storm and cause a boil over to cement their spot?
The loser getting a second chance to regroup and go again, facing the victor of the other semi-final.
It’s a sudden death showdown at Highgate Reserve as West Coburg look to keep their 2022 season alive against Westmeadows side looking to cause a stir this weekend.
After the Burgers secured their place after a tight victory against Rupertswood last weekend, the Tigers finished the regular season in fourth and a game behind West Coburg but with a sizeable percentage lead.
Their attacking strength has been on show all throughout the year, both Omar Saad and George Nabbout combining for 103 majors. Shutting down the pair will prove to be on top of Dale May’s match committee agenda before Sunday’s game.
The two previous meetings of the sides have both gone the way of West Coburg, their Round 11 clash being a tight seven-point victory.
After a six-week absence due to injury, West Coburg also welcomed back forward ace Lynden Dunn into the side last week, providing a much-needed forward option for the Burgers.
In the six games he missed, average scoring by West Coburg dropped by nine points compared to games he had played in, highlighting his importance to the forward setup.
Both sides have everything to play for as the loser sees the curtain close on their 2022 campaign.
The Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day call team will be in attendance for what is shaping up to be a cracker, tune in from 2pm on 98.9 North West FM or via Cluch TV thanks to Sportscast.
Having known the makeup of the final four before the last round of the season, fans of Strathmore Community Bank Division Two have been eagerly waiting for the finals series to commence.
Heading down the highway, sees a battle of the parks, as Keilor Park and Oak Park vie for a week’s rest and automatic passage into the Grand Final.
The standout sides of Division Two this season, many had thought Oak Park would hold top spot of the ladder from start to finish. Their main challenger however rose, with Keilor Park taking the chocolates in both their previous meetings by an ominous average of 64 points.
The pair can barely be separated in attack and defence, swapping the number one mantle from each other through the regular season.
With both sides heavy on scoring and stingy on conceding, getting the jump on your opponents and defending well will be a major focus for both clubs ahead of the weekends clash.
It has been nothing short of a victory for Keilor Park this season since their surprising Round 1 loss to Hadfield, going on a 14-game streak since that slip up.
Could this lead to a vulnerability and complacency that Oak Park can exploit and use to their advantage?
After surging out the blocks and racing to the top of the ladder, Oak Park has faced a topsy turvy second half of the season. Consecutive losses in Round 12 and 13, seeing them relinquish top spot to their opponents this week.
Sewell Reserve provides the backdrop for the second semi-final of Division Two, as Coburg Districts come up against Burnside Heights.
Not entering the game on the greatest form, after losing two of past three matches, Burnside Heights can return to form and continue their season on in 2022.
Two tight previous meetings have seen shared results for both clubs, the first being a Round 3 Match of the Day special highlighted by poor kicking from Coburg Districts and standout performances from tall timbers Liam Mercieca and Jordan Hughes for the Bears.
The script flipping on the return fixture as a standout six goal haul from John Jr Hardaway powered the Districts to a 17-point victory.
It’s anyone’s guess which way this match will fall, both coaches not wanting to bow out in the first week of finals.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
KEILOR v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
GLENROY v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
ABERFELDIE v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
MARIBYRNONG PARK v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
WEST COBURG v WESTMEADOWS - SEMI FINAL 1
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Sunday 2:15pm at Highgate Reserve
AIRPORT WEST v TULLAMARINE - SEMI FINAL 2
Sunday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
COBURG DISTRICTS v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS - SEMI FINAL 1
Sunday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
KEILOR PARK v OAK PARK - SEMI FINAL 2
Sunday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
