After an enthralling 18 rounds of footy, finals are upon us and while we see some familiar teams back in the final weeks of the season, the journey to this point was anything but ordinary.
If we can trust the ever-reliable Melbourne weather, Windy Hill will be in pristine condition for the two matches across both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
Some had thought the complexion of the top four was all set going into Round 18 last week, but two unexpected results see the very makeup of the top four altered.
It was simple for Strathmore, requiring victory against Aberfeldie and a Keilor loss to sneak into double chance territory, and that’s exactly what happened.
In a fixture quirk and by chance, the semi-final match ups we have eagerly awaited have played what could almost be described as curtain raisers in Round 18.
After finishing on top with a commanding 15-1-2 record, Aberfeldie will be looking to secure a week off and a spot in the September 10th grand final.
Looking to go two from two in as many weeks against the Gorillas are Strathmore, fresh off their four-goal victory, they will be looking to overturn their wayward kicking and book their spot straight into the decider.
For new Aberfeldie coach Adam Marcon, 2022 has breathed life into the club, after failing to win the premiership in 2019, he will be hoping to take Aberfeldie back to the decider, one they haven’t missed since 2012.
It’s a Sunday sudden death elimination as Keilor face Pascoe Vale also at the spiritual home of the EDFL, as the loser says goodbye to their premiership aspirations and closes the book on their 2022 season.
Early season observers may have had East Keilor finishing in an unlikely top four position, the consistency of both Keilor and Pascoe Vale throughout the season has seen the pair rewarded and finish safely inside the top four.
Not much separates the pair, as seen on Saturday as the Panthers ran out 22-point victors away from home, dealing Keilor the killer blow to their top two aspirations.
With the week to regroup, Keilor can assess and write the wrongs of their performance, a second half drop off in performance not something they can afford to run with this weekend.
As the head-to-head matchup sitting at one apiece for the clubs this season, the first final is building up to be an enthralling clash, in what could be a toss of the coin result a match there primed for the taking.
The winner having a date with Saturday’s loser, a second chance for Aberfeldie or Strathmore. But could we see one of Sunday’s teams do the unlikely? And push for a flag from outside the top two.
With so much riding on the match it simply can’t be missed, the Nena and Pasadena EDFL Match of the Day call team will be in the bleachers ready for a massive encounter.
Tune in on 98.9 North West FM or via Cluch TV thanks to Sportscast.
Week one is done, and we have our first grand finalist, after flag fancy Airport West comprehensively dismantled Tullamarine to book their place in the decider.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Tulla, as their hard work during the season sees the second chance come into play, a date with the victorious West Coburg outfit fresh off knocking Westmeadows out of finals contention.
The tall timbered Burgers outfit will once again be looking to jump their opponents, after a best on ground performance last weekend Dominic Dean Spagnolo will hope to get off the chain and dominate the centre bounce statistics.
It doesn’t stop there as Tullamarine have to contend against experienced ex-AFL stalwart Lynden Dunn.
This could prove to be the boilover of the season, Tullamarine desperate not to go out in straight sets after spending many weeks perched around the top of the ladder.
If they play to their attacking and defensive strengths the game will be ripe for the taking, and after being held goalless by Airport West, Shaun McKernan won’t be satisfied with another goalless outing.
His contribution up forward vital to the Tullamarine’s continuing finals campaign.
A pristine Highgate Reserve is the backdrop for this sudden death clash, the winner booking their spot in the Grand Final against Division One juggernauts this season, Airport West.
The big blue this weekend, as Oak Park’s second chance comes against a confident Coburg Districts side, fresh from knocking Burnside Heights out of finals for 2022.
Rueing what could have been, Oak Park will be using the week to pick themselves up after a disappointing final quarter saw them miss out on automatic passage into the Grand Final.
Their opponents Coburg Districts full of confidence heading into the bout, through the momentum building back half of the season, including wins against Oak Park away from home and Burnside Heights.
With the clubs sitting at one win apiece through previous meetings this season, Oak Park will be looking to their early season performances, particularly where they knocked the Districts off by 100 points as inspiration ahead of this weekend.
But the season is long, and many things can and have changed from the start until now, Districts coach Tom Gleeson finely tuning his side at just the right moment to push for what may have appeared as an unlikely flag tilt early in the season.
With the looming threat of a straight sets exit on the cards, Oak Park will be looking to arrest their poor drop off last week and put in a more consistent four quarter effort.
If you can’t get to Highgate Reserve on Saturday you needn’t not worry, as the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day call team have you covered.
Tune in to 98.9 North West FM from 2pm on Saturday or follow live on Cluch TV thanks to Sportscast.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
ABERFELDIE v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
KEILOR v PASCOE VALE
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Sunday 2:15pm at Windy Hill
TULLAMARINE v WEST COBURG - PRELIMINARY FINAL
Sunday 2:15pm at Highgate Reserve
OAK PARK v COBURG DISTRICTS - PRELIMINARY FINAL
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Saturday 2:15pm at Highgate Reserve
