By Luke Mathews
Keilor will take on Aberfeldie in a blockbuster top of the table clash at Joe Brown Oval.
The Blues are once again undefeated and are sitting pretty on top of the ladder, as Saturday’s match looms as their toughest test yet.
Abers have been one of the in-form teams in the competition with four consecutive wins despite missing some key personnel.
When the two sides met in Round 4, Keilor once again proved to be too good defeating Abers by 23 points with Matthew Bartlett and Cody Brand both booting three goals.
One for Keilor to stop on Saturday will be Anthony Horomidis.
The number 19 had a career best game last week booting seven goals which doubled his tally for the season, and helped Abers fill the void left by Callum Moore.
Keilor have the best defence in the competition with an average of just 55 points against per game, however will need to produce something similar on Saturday to ensure their thirteenth win for the year.
Airport West will be back at Hansen Reserve to take on Greenvale.
The Eagles were very good last week but couldn't quite get over the line against Aberfeldie, while Greenvale recorded its fourth win for the year against Pascoe Vale.
Both teams currently sit two games outside the top five with Saturday’s match a must-win game if they are any chance of qualifying for finals.
When the two teams met in Round 4, Airport West came away with a 38-point victory with Max Rider starring with six goals.
One for Greenvale to try and stop on Saturday is Ned Gentile.
The skipper was back to his best last week against Aberfeldie and almost single handedly willed his side over the line.
In Round 4, the 24-year-old was one of the Eagles' best kicking three goals in a dominant display.
Greenvale’s midfield will have to be at its absolute best to try and stop Gentile and come away with back-to-back wins.
By Ben Parker
Moonee Valley will take on Avondale Heights in what’s a must-win game for their season.
With the game being played at Ormond Park and the Fog desperately seeking a win, expect them to make a statement here.
The Valley has lost two consecutive games, with the latter being a disappointing 46-point loss to Craigieburn in a game where they should have been more competitive.
They currently sit in eighth position on the ladder, two games and percentage behind the top five.
With the four points being so critical this week, a much-improved performance is the expectation.
However, hosting the in-form Avondale Heights will be no easy task.
James Kefalas was the Valley’s best last week with 35 disposals, 10 clearances, and six tackles. He’ll need to teammates to follow his lead this week if they are to pose a threat to the Heights.
Avondale Heights are perfectly placed in second position on the ladder and are poised to finish off the last six weeks of the season well.
They escaped with a one-point win over Taylors Lakes last week and continued to prove that they’re almost unbeatable at home.
While far from their best, good teams find a way to win, and the Heights will certainly be contending for a deep finals run in September should they continue to win these games.
Vice-captain Jackson Robb was sensational again with 31 disposals and a haul of four goals in what was another match-defining individual performance.
Nath Foster also chipped in with another three goals, and is another one to watch on Saturday.
Taylors Lakes will host Craigieburn in what makes for an intriguing clash at Lionheart Reserve.
Their previous encounter this season was an epic, with the Lions stealing victory in Craigieburn by three points.
Taylors Lakes has been the surprise package of the season so far.
After an inconsistent start to the year, the Lions have found their stride in winning four out of their last five and proving that they’re genuine finals contenders.
They had their hearts broken in the dying stages of last week’s clash with Avondale Heights and will be looking to bounce back in an emphatic way.
Despite the loss, Chris Vulic was back to his best with another dominant midfield performance. He collected 31 disposals and had 16 clearances with eight tackles to tag along.
He can accumulate monstrous amounts of the footy, and if he gets off the chain early, look out.
In what’s a pivotal game for their season, expect the Lions to come roaring out of the blocks.
On the other end of the ledger, Craigieburn has won two in a row in a bid to keep its season alive.
The Eagles demolished Roxburgh Park in a dominant 88-point win last week, and were too good for the in-form Moonee Valley before that.
While they have perhaps failed to meet expectations so far, their best is certainly good enough to challenge the Lions here.
Harry Albon and Jai Robinson have been the Eagles' two best players this year, and they’ll be the ones to watch again this week.
Leo Dineen Reserve will see Tullamarine host Hillside in what’s another fascinating clash this weekend.
When they met last, it was the Sharks who sunk their teeth into the Dees to swim away with a brutal 86-point win.
Tullamarine was left searching for answers that day as they only kicked seven goals and had 21 less scoring shots than Hillside.
Since then, Tullamarine has failed to fire a shot.
With a record of three wins and nine losses, they’re stuck in ninth position on the ladder and are two games behind Moonee Valley.
Despite putting up a number of strong performances, they have consistently struggled and fallen short of collecting the four points.
With the losses starting to mount, the Dees need to get a move on if they are to save what’s left of their season.
They’ll need star forward Shaun McKernan to be at his best again. He’s kicked 13 goals over the past three games and another scintillating performance would go a long way here.
Meanwhile for Hillside, they’ve bounced back from their loss to Oak Park with consecutive powerful statements against West Coburg and St Albans.
The Sharks put St Albans to the sword in the fourth quarter of their twilight clash last week, drawing away from the Saints with a commanding seven unanswered last quarter goals.
Vice-captain Josh Covelli delivered a sack of eight goals last week and will be the one up forward again for the Sharks.
With the top five battle in Division One as close as it’s ever been, Hillside can’t afford to let this slip.
Bottom-of-the-ladder Roxburgh Park will host ladder-leaders Oak Park in what shapes as a daunting contest for the hosts.
The last time these two sides met it was Oak Park who cruised to a 58-point victory at JP Fawkner Reserve back in Round 5.
Vastly different form lines have been produced since then with the Kangaroos sitting pretty on top of the ladder, two games clear of Avondale Heights in second. Meanwhile, Roxy has found themselves stuck at the ladder’s bottom for the entirety of the season.
In a game that presents as a potential one-way showcase, form suggest that this one could be over early.
Since their drought-breaking win against St Albans in Round 9, Roxy have found themselves sinking into another losing streak, having since lost three in a row in convincing fashion.
Despite their record of just one win and 11 losses, Roxy have played some good football this year against the premier sides of the competition. A 30-point loss to West Coburg last week and a two-goal loss to Hillside in Round 6 come to mind.
However, they haven’t been able to put wins on the board and the four points has escaped them on all occasions bar one.
With the competition’s best in town this weekend, they’ll need to produce a significant season peak.
The one that will lead the way is ruck Jack Elliott, who is putting together a stellar season of footy.
Like many occasions already this year, he was their best again last week collecting 41 disposals, 51 hit outs, and 17 clearances.
Oak Park enter this contest as hot favourites to make it their fourth win in a row.
The Kangaroos were too good for a chippy Tullamarine outfit, putting the Dees away by the tune of 28 points.
They continue to play top-line Division One football and on paper look hard to hold out.
Big man Josh Hotchkin was brilliant again in the ruck, and all eyes will be on him around the ground as he goes toe-to-toe with Elliott.
West Coburg hosts St Albans in what’s a must-win game for the Saints.
Their previous encounter of 2025 saw West Coburg end the Saints' 4-0 winning streak to start the season. The Burgers claimed victory on the road by 10 points and kickstarted a horror run of form for the Saints.
With St Albans lamenting in sixth position on the ladder and on the cusp of the top five, a win here is critical.
They are one game and percentage outside of fifth position and can’t afford to lose too many more as they push to make the final five.
St Albans has struggled to play consistent footy this year.
Their early season form seems like a distant memory, with injuries to key players resulting in somewhat of a depleted list.
At their best, they can beat anyone.
With consecutive finals wins in 2024, if they can get some players back and start putting all the pieces back together, then who knows what they can achieve.
One to look out for this week is Mason Dipetta. The livewire forward kicked three goals the last time these two sides met and is dangerous around goals whenever his hands touch the footy.
Meanwhile, West Coburg bounced back from two disappointing losses with a strong win over Roxburgh Park last weekend.
While unconvincing and not the prettiest at times, they took home the four points in a critical game.
In a positive from last week, they had four players kicked two majors each, with Omar Saad and Ibby Taha creating excitement back with the Burgers.
Another strong team performance should have them poised to bank another win.
Expect captain Dane Lucas to put his best forward this week.
By Evan Tudor
Coburg Districts and Burnside Heights will take it to Cole Reserve as Round 13 gets underway.
After heavy defeats for both clubs last Saturday, a chance to redeem themselves is on the line.
Districts, placed sixth, will look to extend its 6-6 record with the side still in the running for September action.
It was a big day for Coburg Districts despite the outcome, with spearheads Jack McNamara and Riley Bentley’s respective four goals and 31 touches softening the sting inflicted on the side.
The Bears enter this one following a tough day at the office against Glenroy.
After holding the ladder leaders to just a goal at the first change, it all went downhill from there, with the Bears walking away with a 59-point defeat.
Last time these two met, it was Burnside Heights who walked away two-point victors in an Anzac Day classic.
And if Bears’ leading scorer Jacob Elia can rework his way onto the scoresheet, maybe another close one is upon us.
Martin Reserve gets its first game for the month as Hadfield hosts Keilor Park.
With the Hawks feeling the agony of an 11-point defeat and the Devils joyous with its 65-point win, Saturday has been set up in an interesting way.
The battle between eight and three will have stars all over the ball.
Equal division-leading best-on-ground getter, Sam Godden will again be on show with his talent that averages 32 touches a game for Hadfield.
Jarod Pontin and Daylan Kempster will look to strike big on the scoreboard, the pair scoring two and three goals on average a match.
With their last meeting going back to Round 6 when Keilor Park won by 45 and held the Hawks to only three goals, you might think a similar result will play out.
But with Haddy on the rise and Devils still strong, expect a good match to be played.
Glenroy and the Northern Saints will reunite at Sewell Reserve as Round 13 continues.
Their last meeting goes back to April where the Roys were too good and took the win by 22.
Last week, the Saints walked away singing the song with an 11-point win over Hadfield.
Nine men scored through the big sticks for Northern, highlighted by Khoder Taleb’s five.
The paring of Taleb and Nick Bruno will worry the Roys’ back line, the two sharing 37 for the season.
But a strong Glenroy outfit should be able to hold them off.
The men in red and white have returned to the form we all know after its 59-point outing over the Bears.
The 11-1 Roys show no signs of slowing down with a stacked talent list for the ages.
Tanner Nilsson had a season-high 44 disposals for his club, closely followed by Daniel Ferraro with 37.
And with its own goal kicking duo in Mark Sabatino and Aaron Kite, Glenroy has a range of resources to use against opposition sides.
While Glenroy should be able to continue its hunt towards the minor premiership, it’ll be intriguing to see what kind of impact the Saints can throw on them.
Players, staff, and on-lookers alike at Salesian College will be treated to a local derby as Rupertswood takes on the Sunbury Kangaroos.
A lot has changed since they last met in Round 2 when Rupo went up by 31.
Rupertswood is looking to solidify its place in the top five whereas Sunbury Kangaroos wants its upward trajectory to continue for a chance to be there too.
Rupo was on the wrong side of the scorecard last weekend, going down to Keilor Park by 65.
Jackson Cardillo has been one of those key names for the club in 2025, again striking big with his match-leading 32 disposals.
The Kangaroos return to the footy field for the first time in a fortnight following the cancellation of last week’s East Sunbury meeting.
Kanga John Corso has been named best-on-ground in 10 out of 11 matches as a reward for his efforts that bring an average of 30 touches each week.
It’ll be straight into the deep end for Sunbury Kangaroos in their return, but a 6-5 record for both squads indicates a well-matched contest.
East Sunbury is back and will return home to contest Westmeadows at John McMahon Recreation Reserve.
After its tough loss to Glenroy and week away last, East Sunbury will be looking to make the most of their final matches for 2025.
Some of the positives can be found in its courage against the Roys two weeks back.
With its four individual goal kickers, incredible handball efficiency, and strong display in the ruck giving them something to smile about, the Thunder will be hoping for a continued return to form.
Westy is on a run of seven straight wins and will look to make it eight in this one.
A convincing 30-point win over Coburg Districts last week perfectly sums up its positive 2025 season.
The side looks to clinch the finals double-chances and make amends for its 2024 finale heartbreak.
With already 38 goals to Tiger Aaron Evans’ name, lets see if he can pile on any more on Saturday.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
KEILOR v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
AIRPORT WEST v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Hansen Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
TAYLORS LAKES v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
TULLAMARINE v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at Leo Dineen Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v OAK PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Reserve
WEST COBURG v ST ALBANS
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Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
COBURG DISTRICTS v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Cole Reserve
HADFIELD v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
GLENROY v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
RUPERTSWOOD v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
EAST SUNBURY v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Recreation Reserve
