Round 14 action in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division will take place across two weekends as the EDFL's top grade enters a split round this Saturday.
The Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day van will be on site at Lebanon Reserve for one of the competition's biggest games this weekend when Strathmore play host to Pascoe Vale.
Both teams will enter the game in rich veins of form with each side only suffering defeat once since Round 7 of this season.
It is almost impossible to split the two teams over the past month with both the Panthers and Mores holding a four-game win streak as well.
Matt Horne's side currently posses the division's greatest percentage, proving the turn of fortune the Mores have had, particularly up forward, since regaining what looks like a pretty close rendition of their best 22.
Over the past four rounds, Strathmore have found close to 11 individual goal scorers per game with the likes of Will Jury, Floyd Bollinghaus, Daniel Mammoliti, Athan Tsialtas and Kyle Weightman all kicking at least one bag of four or more goals across that period.
It just goes to show the Mores have avenues all across the forward half and can find different focal points in any situation.
For the opposition, Lachlan Stredwick and Matt Stillman have been some of Digby Morell's best operators this year and will have their hands full trying to quell the forward influence of the versatile Strathmore forward line.
Brad Inglis has once again emerged as a good foil for the Panthers star forward, Matthew Watson, as he snagged eight goals in last week's victory against Greenvale.
The sporadic forward has created a habit of either just chipping in with a goal or two, or taking the game by the scruff of the neck and hauling in a major bag of goals. It goes without saying Digby Morell will be hoping for more of that later this weekend.
Tune in to the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day from 2pm on Saturday thanks to Cluch TV and 98.9 North West FM to catch all the action.
The other game in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division will take place at Section Road with Essendon Doutta Stars on the road to Greenvale.
A loss last week for Stars at the hands of Avondale Heights still sees Paul Barnard's side precariously positioned in the relegation battle of this division.
But despite losing their last five games, Douttas will still consider themselves a sniff in this match up.
Last time around Greenvale got up by just eight points, although some inaccurate kicking from the Jets made the contest look a little closer than what it actually was.
Addam Maric was one of Darren Bewick's best that day and you can expect more of the same this weekend from the Greenvale champion.
A complete slate of games in Rookie Me Division One sees arguably the best division in local footy at its full compliment.
Headlining the action this Saturday is the contest at Shore Reserve with West Coburg facing off against Airport West.
You can imagine the bittersweet frustration from Dale May and the home side as a team down on its usual star power continues to challenge the division's best sides with little reward to show for it.
The Burgers were able to stick around against Tullamarine last weekend but with the division's top two sides batting extremely deep with depth, they are an almighty task for any challenger.
The Eagles were at their destructive best against Moonee Valley last round in one of the most dominate displays we have seen this season.
The ability of the ladder leaders to turn defence into attack via the likes of Lachie Di Sebastiano and co to feed the hungry forwards of Ned Gentile and Tyson Young is something to marvel at and will be one of the biggest challenges the home side will face this week.
Rupertswood is the only side that has managed to defeat Airport West this season and the Sharks will be looking to cause another upset when Tullamarine travel to the Shark Tank.
Rupo suffered a speedhump last round after being knocked off by Hillside and will need to avenge that loss with a strong performance against one of the premiership fancies.
Last time around they managed to keep this result competitive, only going down by nine points, but with the star power the Demons possess, it is hard to keep all their avenues covered.
With a race for a spot inside the Rookie Me Division One top four heating up, it bodes to be a crucial game for the home side.
Speaking of the top four race, Roxburgh Park were dealt a blow last week and will be looking to bounce back on the road to Moonee Valley this Saturday.
The Magpies were outclassed by Westmeadows on the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day as the Tigers dismantled Roxy in the second half.
It was an equally rough showing for Moonee Valley with a staggering 142-point defeat at Airport West condemning the Fog back to tenth place on the ladder.
The home ground advantage of Ormond Park has seen Moonee Valley produce better football in the black shorts and they will see this as the first of a few opportunities to snag wins in the home run of the season.
With the likes of Bevan Newell and John O'Brien set to return for Ian Denny's side, it makes for an exciting contest among the big men with Jack Elliot and Ryan Micallef performing admirably for Michael Farrelly this year.
Hillside will be looking to make it four wins in five starts when it heads to DS Aitken Reserve to take on Craigieburn.
The scalps of Roxburgh Park and Rupertswood in that four-week period has Charlie Denaro's team with the slightest sniff of an unlikely finals finish.
But the Sharks will just be happy to see its young side continue to develop and continue to pick up few wins along the way.
And after Craigieburn's loss to the Sunbury Kangaroos, the Eagles will be looking over its shoulder with Moonee Valley and the aforementioned Roos right behind them.
A far healthier percentage and an extra win on the board should see Justin Sherman's side safe from the drop but a win on the weekend would ease the tension for the Burners.
Speaking of the Sunbury Kangaroos, they'll be bouncing after securing their maiden victory of the season last week.
However, with a top four spot on the line for Westmeadows, the Tigers will be desperate to get the win and continue to rise up the ladder.
The second half of Round 12 will take place this weekend in Strathmore Community Bank Division Two after a couple of upsets started proceedings last week.
Could Taylors Lakes do the unthinkable against Keilor Park to keep themselves well and truly in the hunt for a finals birth this season?
A solitary point was all that separated the two teams in the earlier proceeding at Keilor Park Drive with the Lions denied an opportunity to win the game after the siren by a matter of milliseconds.
The Devils' inaccuracy that day probably flattered the score line slightly but as we've seen in this division, it is imperative that clubs take their opportunities as they come.
The opportunity that presents Burnside Heights this weekend is one that would see the Bears leapfrog Coburg Districts back into third place after the Lions' upset win over Oak Park last Saturday.
The Bears task this fixture is Jacana, in a match-up that will see them go in favourites after the week off.
For the Jaguars it's been an extended break after having to forfeit their Round 11 fixture against Keilor Park due to lack of numbers.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
STRATHMORE v PASCOE VALE
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Saturday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
GREENVALE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
RUPERTSWOOD v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College - Oval 1
WEST COBURG v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
JACANA v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Jacana Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
