By Luke Mathews
Aberfeldie and Strathmore will kick off a huge four weeks of Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division finals footy when they square off at Sewell Reserve.
The two sides have played off in many memorable finals clashes over the years, most notably the 2022 decider which went into extra time and Strathmore came out on top in.
Aberfeldie will have a slighter edge on their opponents having finished second on the ladder and 14 points clear of their rivals.
In their two meetings in 2025, Aberfeldie came out on top both times winning by 22 points in Round 9, and 28 points last weekend in Round 18.
In their first clash it was Aberfeldie’s efficiency inside 50 that got them over the line.
The two sides were evenly matched across many of the key statistics, however Aberfeldie made the most of their inside 50s kicking 13.9 from their 52 entries.
The Mores had 52 entries, however they could only manage 9.11 and were made to pay.
Strathmore led at every change, however a big last quarter from Jack Middleton was enough to will Abers over the line, with the ruck collecting 12 touches and six clearances in the final term.
Callum Moore also had a very strong last quarter kicking two goals, while Stefan Rasinac was good all day finishing with 35 disposals.
Just like he has been for the whole year, Liam Cavanagh was very good in defence collecting 30 disposals and seven marks, while Lachlan Plant had a very solid game.
It was a similar story last weekend with Abers' efficiency inside 50 also very impressive, however they stepped up their work around contest and clearance.
The Rillas had only 44 inside 50s but managed to score from almost 60 per cent of their entries kicking 19.5.
Abers outmuscled Strathmore at contest and clearance, recording an extra 27 contested possessions and 13 clearances from the match, which led to an extra four goals for the visitors.
Stefan Rasinac was dominant once again collecting another 37 possessions, while Sam Paea did the damage on the scoreboard with six goals.
For Abers to win, they’ll be hoping to continue their dominance around stoppages and clearances.
The Rillas are ranked third in contested possessions behind only Keilor and Pascoe Vale, and are ranked second behind the Panthers for clearances.
For Strathmore, they’ll be looking for a defensive style of game to try and nullify Abers' fire power in the forward line.
The Mores are the second-best defensive team in the competition, conceding just 66 points per game.
Strathmore will be hoping for a low scoring encounter and look to punish the Rillas off turnovers which they have been particularly strong at throughout 2025.
The attention will then turn to Sunday when Deer Park take on Airport West in a do-or-die elimination final at Highgate Recreation Reserve.
Deer Park have sat in fourth spot for the majority of the year and will compete in their first ever EDFL Premier Division finals campaign this weekend.
Airport West won their way through to the finals last weekend with a 168-point victory over Deer Park, and are in good form with three consecutive wins.
When the two sides met back in Round 9, Deer Park recorded a comfortable a comfortable 67-point victory.
It was Jamie Madigan’s side's efficiency inside 50 that was the difference in the end, with the Lions entering 47 times for 17 goals and 28 scoring shots.
Despite being well beaten, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Eagles who led at quarter time and won the clearance battle by eight.
Mark Galea led the way for Deer Park with 26 disposals and 10 tackles, while Spiros Amarantidis was excellent with 27 touches and nine inside 50s.
Hamish Morrison and Matt Hanson led the way for the Eagles combining for 53 touches and 21 clearances.
Expect Sunday’s contest to be a high kick-mark style of game with both teams ranked inside the top four for uncontested marks.
For Deer Park to win, they’ll be hoping to expose the Eagles off turnover.
The Lions are one of most efficient sides at scoring off turnovers, averaging 59 points per game which makes up 61 per cent of their scores.
If Deer Park can turn the ball over with ease this weekend, it should be able to catch out the Airport West backline and provide plenty of opportunities for Lachlan Smart, Trent McKenzie, Kwame McHarg and co.
For Airport West to win, they’ll be hoping for a heavy contest style of game.
Deer Park are one of the worst sides in the competition at clearance, ranking ninth, while the Eagles are a modest fifth.
Airport West are also one of the best tackling sides, ranking equal second with 63 tackles per game.
A high pressure and clearance game should favour the Eagles' star studded midfield of Tyson Young, Ned Gentile, and Hanson.
By Ben Parker
Minor premiers Oak Park are set for their first final of 2025 when they take on Hillside in what shapes to be a fascinating duel at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve.
It’s a simple equation for both sides this week, with the winner to punch a ticket straight to the grand final in two weeks’ time.
After finishing the season on top of the ladder, Oak Park enjoyed a week off as they looked to prepare for their finals assault.
Easily the best team of 2025, their record speaks for itself with 15 wins and just the three losses this season.
Two of their wins came over their opponents this weekend in Hillside.
While the season score sits at two-nil in favour of the Kangaroos, the Sharks certainly would have lost no admirers from those bouts.
The first time they clashed was back in Round 1, where the Roos kickstarted their season perfectly with a hard-fought 10-point win on the road.
Come the second time around, it was a similar result with the Roos proving too classy in a 20-point home win.
With both sides going on to log impressive seasons, this one is set to be a thrilling contest.
Fresh off their qualifying final win over West Coburg, Hillside will be brimming with confidence heading into Saturday.
Oak Park were beaten by West Coburg in the second last round of the season, and with the Sharks getting the better of the Burgers last week, the form lines are suggesting a close finish.
The Roos are the number one ranked team in the competition for disposals per game, but will need to use the footy carefully and not hand it straight back to the Sharks.
With the Sharks ranked number one in the competition for intercept possessions and goal involvements, they like to get it and take off when the opposition turn the footy over.
The Roos will need to be mindful of the Sharks' link up game and scoreboard pressure off turnover here, so look for them to take extra care with ball in hand this week.
Lachy Stredwick and Josh Hotchkin are the two Roos’ to keep an eye on this week. The two off season Premier Division recruits have had exceptional seasons so far and will look to make their presence felt.
Meanwhile for the Sharks, star forward Josh Covelli is the obvious one to watch this week.
Covelli requires only seven more goals to crack the magical 100-goal mark for a second consecutive season, and will no doubt be in hot demand for the Sharks when entering forward 50.
With a place in the Strathmore Community Bank Division One grand final up for grabs, this one is set to be on from the start.
West Coburg and Craigieburn will face off in a win-or-go-home semi final bout at Joe Brown Oval this week.
In what’s an intriguing matchup on paper, the two sides are almost impossible to split as they head into what’s arguably the biggest game of their respective seasons.
The last time these sides met, the Burgers narrowly escaped DS Aitken Reserve with a remarkable come-from-behind performance, which saw them overrun the Eagles by three points.
If circumstances play out in similar fashion, onlookers can expect a thrilling finals performance.
West Coburg will be looking to make amends for their loss against Hillside last week, where they fought hard but were ultimately no match for a game Sharks outfit.
An opening week finals loss may cast doubt over the Burgers chances this year, but one only needs to track back to last season to remember the almost identical position they found themselves in.
After claiming the minor premiership in 2024, the Burgers subsequently earnt a break in week one of the finals, only to then be convincingly beaten by Maribyrnong Park in a semi final.
They bounced back to obliterate St Albans in an emphatic preliminary final victory, before going on to lose on the last day of the season for the third year in a row.
The Burgers find themselves in an awfully similar situation here where they need to find their best after an initial loss.
Stars Tom Baravi and Dinny Cleary will be eager to make amends for last week’s result.
These two have been among West Coburg’s best players in 2025, and will no doubt be the ones looking to drive the Burgers into a preliminary final.
On the other side of the ledger, Craigieburn is poised to send the Burgers out in straight sets after they comfortably took care of Avondale Heights in their elimination final last week.
The Eagles are in a sparkling vein of form and will certainly be up for the fight again here.
They’re proving to be an extremely dangerous side with wins over Oak Park, Avondale Heights, and Hillside throughout the season, and have elevated their game in the past two months to become genuine threats.
Nathan Stewart was exceptional for the Eagles last week with 21 disposals, 14 tackles, and five clearances, while Jamie Gorgievski was dynamic in front of goal with four majors to his name.
These two will need to be at their best again here if the Eagles are to send the Burgers packing.
In what’s a fascinating contest, a date in a preliminary final is what’s at stake.
By Evan Tudor
Grand final tickets are on the line as a do-or-die preliminary final Sunday sees both intriguing blockbusters ignite simultaneously at Section Road.
After an exciting year from both sides, Glenroy and Rupertswood will meet for the second time this month.
It’s been much of a dream season for the Roys, with the men in red and white recording a 14-4 record.
The streak was perfect up until Round 8, when Rupertswood stormed the Roys' home deck and ended their perfect reign by nine points.
Glenroy went on to win its next five matches after that and secured the minor premiership.
But just two weekends ago, Rupertswood again broke the hearts of Glenroy in a comeback 22-point win.
It hasn’t been an easy year for Rupo either.
The Sharks opened their season with an in-form 5-2 record, (plus an abandoned match), but slumped slightly to just 5-4 in the back half of the season.
But they shouldn’t be too concerned.
Competing against a formidable Coburg Districts outfit last weekend and winning in style should boost their confidence ahead of the challenge that is Glenroy.
Fraser Phelan-Smith kicked six majors then and will certainly throw it all at the Roys.
But will Glenroy make it third time lucky when it matters most?
The Roys enter this one having the week off to re-group and re-focus on the task that is at hand, a grand final opportunity, and they certainly have the talent to win on Sunday.
Daniel Ferraro has been a standout this year with his averages of 31 disposals, six inside 50s, and seven clearances some of the best in his club.
Aaron Kite and Mark Sabatino both average three goals a match and prove difficult matchups for opposition defenders.
With both clubs placed in the top two for disposals (out of finals teams), contested possessions, and clearances, what we could see on Sunday is a very even contest.
Up next are two of 2025’s best, with Westmeadows and Keilor Park set to lock horns.
One is up to redeem themselves after last year’s grand final loss and the other is in the midst of a new chapter following relegation.
These two clubs have been very exciting to watch for their own reasons.
Westmeadows started the year slowly but have been one of the teams to beat for a good portion of the year.
Its highlight certainly has been the perfect period of 10 straight wins from Rounds 6 to 15 that contributed to its 13-5 record.
That’s three more than it won in last year’s regular season of 10. So, if Westy can make the grand final with 10 wins, what can they produce with 13?
Aaron Evans has been a Tigers’ standout with 51 goals.
Ryan Capron has also had a major impact with his 30 disposals and 10 clearances averages.
They’ll be two to watch in this one.
Keilor Park is already over the moon with its performance in 2025.
Last season, the Devils were the subject of relegation after just a single win.
Now they’re on fire having turned things around with a 12-6 record.
While they’ve had a modest impact on the stats sheet, they’ve had a major impact on the scoreboard.
Part of the reason has been due to the efforts of Jarod Pontin and Daylan Kempster.
The two have both scored 32 goals this year, and lead the goal kicking ladder at the Devils.
Together they join ruck Sam Pontin as some of the players to watch, with the young tall having a standout season.
Both Westmeadows and Keilor Park will be eager to win this one in order to add a grand final to their already impressive 2025 CVs.
Who gets there and how it’s done will be the most important factors.
All we can do now is sit and watch it play out.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
ABERFELDIE v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
DEER PARK v AIRPORT WEST
Sunday 2:15pm at Highgate Recreation Reserve
OAK PARK v HILLSIDE
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Saturday 2:15pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
WEST COBURG v CRAIGIEBURN
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📻 98.9 North West FM
Sunday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
GLENROY v RUPERTSWOOD
Sunday 2:10pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve #1
WESTMEADOWS v KEILOR PARK
Sunday 2:20pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve #2
