The second half of the split round continues in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division, with three games still to be played in Round 14.
Maribyrnong Park will be looking to extract some revenge on East Keilor when they face off at Monk Oval.
The Lions led by as much as five goals in the reverse fixture at Cougarland, before Chris Stewart sunk Marby after the siren with an emphatic goal to snatch the victory.
Adversely, the Cougars will be aiming to jump back in to the top four, or keep the pressure on the finals race with a big win in this matchup.
Two other games round out the week, with both contests seemingly becoming “Top versus Bottom” encounters. Keilor has an opportunity to pick up second spot on the ladder when they travel to Canning Reserve to take on Avondale Heights.
The Blues have been slightly rocky in recent weeks, taking just one win from four games, but have a certain opportunity to pile the pressure on Pascoe Vale and Strathmore once again.
Elsewhere, Adam Marcon’s men will enjoy a home run at Clifton Park this week when they face Glenroy.
Aberfeldie have absolutely cruised through season 2022 up until this point, with depth being becoming a massive factor to their success.
A massive win against Keilor in Round 13 should give Abers the confidence to hold steady. For the Roys, it’s another tough task at hand, but the boys from Sewell Reserve must try and conserve some percentage with other big matchups to follow in the coming weeks.
It promises to be a scrumptious afternoon of football in the best division in local footy. Top-of-the-table clashes, relegation battles and eight pointer games headline Round 15 in Rookie Me Division One.
The Nena and Pasadena Commentary van heads back up the Calder once again to Eric Boardman Reserve, where a massive relegation battle looms between the Sunbury Kangaroos and Moonee Valley on the NXP Match of the Day.
The Fog had finally picked up their much awaited second win of the year last week against Roxburgh Park at home, but travelling has been an issue for the boys from Ormond Park. Although Sunbury have struggled for the majority of the season, they have been fairly competitive on their home deck, which poses a threat for the visitors.
Moonee Valley currently sit a game ahead of the Kangaroos, but huge ramifications can potentially ensue if the Roos win, given that Sunbury’s percentage is only 2.5 percent behind.
The Fog picked up some important pieces last week, and will be hoping to get good purchase out of those players again this week. Massive matchup here.
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.
At the other end of the ladder, Airport West will be looking to go two games clear on top with they travel to Leo Dineen Reserve to face second placed Tullamarine in another top-of-the-table clash. It was the Eagles who took the spoils in the reverse fixture at home, defeating the Demons by 27 points.
A couple of hiccups and close calls for Tulla in the last four weeks makes this game even more important to win. Anthony Aloi, Ned Gentile and Ronald Hackney ran riot for the Eagles the last time these two teams met, and all eyes will be on which matchup Airport West uses on Shaun McKernan, who has been in unbelievable form.
Two huge “eight pointer” games also headline Round 15 this week, with Hillside hosting Westmeadows at Shark Park, and Roxburgh Park facing off against West Coburg at Lakeside Drive.
The Sharks have been in fairly fine form, having won three out of their last four which included a huge win in the “shark off” against Rupertswood. They also boast goal kicking leader Josh Covelli, who has been in scintillating form in the last month. He added six goals last week against Craigieburn to take sole ownership of top spot with 55 goals. Adversely, Westmeadows will be looking to continue their dominant run of form which saw them smack the Sunbury Kangaroos last week at Willowbrook Reserve.
George Nabbout and Omar Saad have been firing on all cylinders up forward as well lately, so expect to see a shootout at either end in this one.
The Magpies will be looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Moonee Valley last week. They come up against a depleted West Coburg outfit who were outclassed at the Shoretress by the ladder leaders in brilliant fashion. With Roxy’s percentage being the lowest of all finals contending sides, they’ll need to look for a steadying win here to keep them in the hunt for a top four berth.
Finally, the giant killers Rupertswood will enjoy another home run again this round when they host Craigieburn at Salesian College.
The Sharks were nothing short of unbelievable against Tullamarine last week, and will also be looking to put the pressure on Westmeadows who are just above them in that all important fourth spot. In contrast, the boys from D.S Aitken Reserve will be aiming to properly secure a spot in Rookie Me Division One for next season, with relegation still not out of the conversation for them either.
Another massive top of the table clash looms this week in Strathmore Community Bank Division Two, with Oak Park hosting Keilor Park at J.P Fawkner Reserve.
The Roos now sit a game behind the Devils after their hiccup to Coburg Districts, but percentage is still quite even. Keilor Park absolutely dominated this fixture last time, taking out a monstrous 86-point victory on their home deck.
The Roos will be looking to stop the Devil’s dominant run of form, and will hope to pick up some of their momentum that we saw earlier in the season.
Hadfield also have a chance to make a last ditch effort to challenge for a top four spot when they host Jacana at Martin Reserve. The Hawks have lost their last six games, including some extremely important “eight pointer” contests which have seen them drop two games behind Coburg Districts in fourth.
Mark Sabatino is no stranger to this matchup with the Jags, and enjoys massive tallies when facing them.
Burnside Heights will aim to solidify third spot on the ladder when they host Taylors Lakes at Brookside Reserve. Both sides couldn’t be separated in their previous encounter, and shared the points as the scores were locked away at 56. The Lions will hope to pick up the pace after a tough loss to Keilor Park last week, a matchup in which the first game between both sides was also decided by a point.
Theodore Sapountzis has made the Bears forward line his own this season, and currently sits second on the Division Two goal kicking leaderboard.
Finally, it’s been a dream second half of the season for the boys from Cole Reserve, and with heaps of momentum, Coburg Districts will be looking to close the door on Hadfield’s finals aspirations this week when they host the Northern Saints on their home deck.
Tom Gleeson’s men have taken their game to another level since round six, having won six out of their last seven games, their one loss being a heartbreaking 2-point defeat at the hands of the Devils. Regardless, the Districts are in scintillating form, and have made their presence felt with a massive statement win against Oak Park last week.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
ABERFELDIE v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
MARIBYRNONG PARK v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v MOONEE VALLEY
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Saturday 2:15pm at Eric Boardman Reserve - Oval 1
HILLSIDE v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
RUPERTSWOOD v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College - Oval 1
TULLAMARINE v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at Brookside Recreation Reserve
OAK PARK v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
COBURG DISTRICTS v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Cole Reserve
HADFIELD v JACANA
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
