By Luke Mathews
Pascoe Vale will be looking to continue their charge towards a finals berth when they take on Aberfeldie at Raeburn Reserve.
The Panthers were 1-6 after the opening seven rounds however a change of coach has helped power last year’s grand finalists up the ladder and are just one game outside the top five.
Aberfeldie are once again firming for another finals appearance with the Rillas currently 10-3 and a game clear in second, however they did go down to Keilor by 52 points last time out despite challenging strongly.
These two sides played out a classic earlier in the year with Abers coming away with a five-point win with a Sam Medland goal at the 32-minute marking sealing the victory.
Once again for Aberfeldie to win, they’ll have to nullify Matthew Dennis.
The superstar ruck has been at his brilliant best once again in 2025 highlighted by his 26 disposals and 54 hit outs last weekend in the come-from-behind win against Marby.
The 2023 Reynolds Medallist almost single handedly willed his side across the line against Abers in Round 4 finishing with another 28 touches and 46 hit outs, but it wasn’t to be.
Jack Middleton has stood tall in the ruck for Abers since returning in Round 7, however Saturday will by far be his toughest test yet.
Maribyrnong Park will be hoping to keep a hold of fifth spot when they square off with Airport West at Monk Oval.
After a brilliant start to the season, Brodie Holland’s men have lost three of their last four and are now at risk of missing the finals.
Despite some inconsistent results so far in 2025, Airport West sit only one game outside the top five, however are a considerable amount of percentage behind Marby and Douttas.
Back in Round 5, Airport West recorded a stirring victory kicking six final quarter goals to overrun Marby and win by 18 points.
For Marby to win, they’ll need to stop Ned Gentile.
The skipper has been in fine form in recent weeks collecting 29 disposals and 15 contested possessions against Abers and backed it up last week with another two goals against Greenvale.
In Round 5, the midfielder took the game away from Marby booting five goals to help his side snatch a memorable victory.
Marby’s midfield has been well led by Brodie Romensky and Sean Hetherington all year and will need them to step up once again if they want to come away with the four points.
Essendon Doutta Stars will be hoping to move into fifth spot when they take on Greenvale at Section Road.
The Stars have shown plenty of promising signs throughout 2025 without always getting the results and are currently in sixth spot with five wins for the year.
The Jets have had a difficult 2025 are a currently in ninth spot, however they still have been able to notch up four wins for the year.
Earlier in the year Douttas came away with a 48-point victory with Daniel Romero and Dylan Laurie both starring in the win.
One to look out for on Saturday will be Giacomo Thomas.
The sharpshooter has had no trouble hitting the scoreboard in recent weeks with eight goals in his last three matches.
The Jets had no answer earlier in the year with the number 11 kicking an equal game-high three goals
Another big performance from Thomas on Saturday will go a long way in helping the Stars secure a breakthrough finals appearance.
Keilor will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to 16 matches when they take on East Keilor at Overland Reserve.
It’s been another dominant season for the reigning premiers with Mick McGuane’s men sitting on top of the ladder with a perfect record after hardly being challenged throughout the year.
Last time out the Blues were undermanned and up against a high-quality Aberfeldie outfit, however they still proved to be too good and came away with a 52-point win.
Meanwhile East Keilor remain winless for 2025 and were once again well beaten by Strathmore last weekend.
When the two sides met earlier in the year the Cougars did show some promising signs, however Keilor still won by 233 points with Nick O’Kearney collecting 59 disposals.
If selected, one to keep an eye out for at Overland Reserve is Cody Brand.
The full forward is currently in third spot on the leading goalkickers tally despite not playing since Round 10.
When the two sides met earlier in the year the 23-year-old booted 10 goals despite missing several chances early in the game.
The Cougars have struggled to contain full forwards throughout 2025, and they’ll once again have their work cut out for them on Saturday.
Deer Park will be hoping to record another upset win at home when they host Strathmore at John McLeod Reserve.
The Lions' home form has been impressive in 2025 losing just once and have recorded stirring wins against Marby, Aberfeldie, and Douttas.
Jamie Madigan’s side are currently in fourth spot and another win on Saturday would all but ensure Deer Park will play finals.
Strathmore bounced back from back-to-back losses last weekend, when they took care of East Keilor by 246 points and are currently in third spot, one game behind Aberfeldie.
Back in Round 5, Strathmore made light work of Deer Park, defeating the Lions by 86 points with Trent Dumont starring with 34 touches and two goals.
For Deer Park to win, they’ll need to take down Liam Cavanagh.
The veteran was everywhere last weekend, collecting 45 disposals and 16 clearances in the thumping win.
Deer Park were unable to negate the defender earlier in the year with Cavanagh picking up 31 touches and 11 marks.
The Lions do have plenty of threats forward of the ball and they’ll need to find a way of taking down one of the Mores most important players.
By Ben Parker
St Albans host Moonee Valley in what’s an intriguing clash at Kings Park Reserve.
The last time these two sides met, Moonee Valley came from the clouds and overturned a six-goal deficit to beat the Saints by two points at Ormond Park.
With both sides sitting outside the top five and looking in, it’s a must win game as finals footy creeps upon us.
St Albans has been the head scratcher of 2025, and perhaps the definition of inconsistent.
After a superb 4-0 start to the season, they went on to lose their next five and have then gone to win three out of their past five performances.
They currently reside in sixth position on the ladder and trail the fifth placed Taylors Lakes only on percentage.
With Taylors Lakes facing off against the might of Oak Park this Saturday, this is the best chance St Albans will get at jumping back into the top five.
Jack Sims was instrumental last week for the Saints. He collected 33 disposals, 11 clearances, and two goals in a brilliant match-winning performance. He’s the obvious one to watch again if he can reproduce a performance like this.
On the other hand, Moonee Valley seemed to have dipped off the radar over the past four weeks.
After producing a mid-year purple patch that culminated in wins against the Saints and Oak Park, as well as other strong but losing performances, they’ve dropped the ball in recent weeks.
The Valley have dropped four games in a row but will be looking to recapture their best this weekend against a side who they know are beatable, because they’ve already done it this year.
James Kefalas is the one who can kick-start the Valley this week. He was exceptional last week with a scintillating 35 disposals, eight inside 50s, and six clearances.
Hillside will host the bottom-of-the-ladder Roxburgh Park in what appears to have the chance of being a one-sided affair on Saturday.
In saying that, Hillside only managed a two-goal victory over Roxy in their previous encounter, and it would be no surprise to see a few surprises in this bout.
Like previous years, Hillside has been one of the benchmark sides of 2025.
With a record of nine wins and five losses, they haven’t had the same form of season success as they did last year, but they certainly haven’t lost any fans. With their current ladder positioning at third, they are well placed to finish the season well.
In a favourable matchup here, expect the Sharks to come out circling here.
They are the number one ranked team in the competition for intercept possessions with 71 a game, and they come up against an opponent here who is ranked at the top of the competition for back-50 turnovers.
Meaning that if Roxy fail to take care of the footy in the backline, on more occasions than not, the footy is going to go straight back over the Roxy defenders’ heads.
It will be another great challenge for Roxburgh Park this week.
Despite an average losing margin of 57 points over the past month of football, they’ll come into this clash with a greater sense of belief, knowing how close they came last time at knocking off the Sharks.
From a Roxy perspective, Jack Elliott continues to front up week in and week out in the ruck battle. He was terrific again with 26 disposals, nine clearances, and 51 hit outs last week.
Meanwhile for the Sharks, young gun Khalil Kaakour had his best game of the year with an emphatic 36 disposals and two goals. He continues to build from strength to strength and will be the one to watch again here.
Avondale Heights will host Tullamarine in a fascinating contest at Canning Reserve.
The Heights were obliterated by Hillside last week in a whopping 77-point romp. In what was built as a must-watch top five spectacle, what eventuated failed to reach expectations.
Avondale’s form prior to last week had been excellent, and they look the clear top pick when you compare the seasons of the two sides here.
In saying that, Tullamarine upset the Heights the last time these sides met with a superb 15-point victory at Leo Dineen Reserve.
Avondale Heights is currently locked in a duel with Hillside for third position on the ladder, with the Heights only sitting in fourth based on percentage.
They’ll need a big percentage booster in the next few weeks if they are to jump back over the Sharks, who are in sizzling form and have a favourable run home.
The Heights are certainly capable of a big win here, should they bring their best, and stars Jackson Robb and Bailey Williamson will be the two leading the charge.
With Robb averaging 32 disposals a game, and Williamson 29, the two stars will need the footy in their hands to break this one open.
Avondale is ranked elite for effective tackles, and if they bring this pressure and intensity on Saturday, the attention will then turn to Tullamarine who only go at 56 per cent for kicking efficiency and are also below average in contested possessions.
The Dees always find a way to stay in games though.
If they aren’t winning, they’re never too far way, and 2025 has been a season where Tullamarine haven’t been able to capitalise on some excellent games of footy.
After falling to the powerhouse that is Hillside by just 11 points two weeks ago, many were left scratching their heads when the Dees could only muster an eight-point win over the bottom-of-the-ladder Roxburgh Park last week.
This has been a consistent pattern within their 2025 campaign.
So, the question is, which Tullamarine will turn up?
If it’s the competitive Dees outfit, then they can certainly pinch this one. If not, then it may be another Avondale Heights showcasing on Saturday.
Craigieburn hosts West Coburg in what’s shaping to be a thrilling clash at DS Aitken Reserve.
In their previous clash of 2025, the Burgers won comfortably with a six-goal win at Shore Reserve.
On paper, while many might be expecting West Coburg to collect the four points, Craigieburn has seen a late season resurgence in their form and are marking a genuine run for a finals spot.
The Eagles have won three out of their last four and were only put down by the premiership favourites in Oak Park by a slender 14 points last week.
What was impressive about the Eagles performance last week was their ability to mount a challenge against the Kangaroos, after the game seemed to be have shifted and favour Oak Park.
Craigieburn stuck around in the first quarter, but when Oak Park flexed their muscles in quarters two and three, the game seemed to be slipping away from them.
For them to come back again in the fourth quarter was an indication that this Eagles outfit has flipped a switch and has seen major improvement.
It gets no easier for them this week when they come up against West Coburg, a side that has been to the last three EDFL Division One Grand Finals, but they cannot be ruled out.
Stars Harry Albon and Jai Robinson must get back to their best if they Eagles are to be a winning chance.
On the other end of the scale, West Coburg has again proved themselves as a juggernaut of EDFL Division One football.
Many are thinking that 2025 could finally be the year where they elevate themselves and claim premiership success.
With a record of 10 wins and just four losses, they are well placed to bank another four points this week.
While the Eagles will certainly challenge, the best of West Coburg is scary good.
One needs to look no further than their 146-point demolition job of St Albans two weeks ago to attest to this.
Jesse Martini is the one to keep an eye on for the Burgers this week. The small forward is quietly putting together a career-best season, having kicked the 44 goals and proving his class over the span of several exceptional performances.
Ladder-leaders Oak Park host Taylors Lakes in a twilight showcase for what is an exciting matchup at JP Fawkner Reserve.
The last time these two sides met, it was Oak Park who pounced on the Lions to win by 58 points at Lionheart Reserve.
With a road win at the Lion’s Den already on the board, expect Oak Park to strongly fancy themselves here.
The hosts have put together an astonishing 2025 campaign so far.
With 12 wins and just the two losses to their name, it’s been a fruitful season for the Kangaroos who are the leading contenders to taste premiership success.
JP Fawkner Reserve has been a fortress for the Kangaroos, and their home record of five wins and just the one loss suggests that they’re perfectly poised to bank another win here.
Yet if there is a team that has the capabilities to knock off the premiership favourite, it’s Taylors Lakes.
Taylors Lakes has lost three consecutive games in a row, but at their best they are certainly good enough.
They have produced some big performances in 2025, with victory against Hillside and a narrow one-point loss to Avondale Heights at the top of the list.
Undoubtedly, the Lions have been far from their best in recent weeks, but if there’s a game to reignite their season and spark some life back into them, a win here over the ladder-leaders would certainly do the trick.
The ruck battle will be a key highlight to watch.
Josh Hotckin from Oak Park and Taylors Lakes big man Lockie Rayner have been two of the standout rucks for 2025 so far.
Both have produced some superb individual performances so far this season, and it is onlookers' first look at the matchup between them due to Rayner missing their clash back in Round 6.
Hotchkin was well held last week in an unusually quiet performance, but with a season he has had, expect him to bounce back here.
In similar fashion, Rayner has been dominant in 2025 and was brilliant again last week with 27 disposals, 15 clearances, and 38 hit outs. He’ll no doubt be looking to make a statement on Saturday.
By Michelle Dunstan
Hadfield and Burnside Heights will meet at Martin Reserve to kick off Round 15 of Strathmore Community Bank Division Two.
The Hawks enter this week fresh off two wins against Keilor Park and Sunbury Kangaroos, while the Bears have endured a tough six-game losing streak.
Hadfield finds itself three games out of the top five with four games left to play having only recently started showing the form many expected at the start of the year.
Zac and Jake Polizzi along with Josh Trembearth have really fired in the two recent wins, with the latter named in the best every week since returning from a four-game absence in Round 9.
Trembearth will be the one Bears coach Cole Harvey will look to contain, but Hawks coach Andrew Beever has shown he has other levers to pull with the Polizzi brothers and Sam Godden also having fine seasons, especially with their forward half damage.
Skipper Jordan Hughes has again been a constant in Burnside's best, featuring in there in 10 of 14 games and coming off 42 disposals and a goal in last week's 84-point loss.
The Bears won by 23 points when these sides last met, but recent form will see Hadfield go in as favourites.
Sewell Reserve will host a fascinating contest between Glenroy and Coburg Districts.
The Roys' five-game winning streak was snapped last week in a 16-point loss to Westmeadows, while Coburg Districts is coming off a 27-point win over Keilor Park.
The Lions moved six points clear in the top five with that win and have the chance to extend that depending on other results, as Glenroy remains in top spot by a game and a considerable amount of percentage.
It was a 19-point win for Glenroy when these sides met at Cole Reserve in Round 6, but Districts will be bolstered by Jack McNamara and Damien Cavka who both didn't feature in that contest.
McNamara is a focal point for the Lions who'll need all the scoring they can get against the best attacking team in the competition.
Coburg Districts defenders will need to contend with Mark Sabatino (38 goals), Jake Young (29 goals), Aaron Kite (25 goals), and George Abdallah (20 goals), along with small forward Jacob Albazi and midfielder Daniel Riley who each kicked multiples in their last meeting.
It was a memorable draw when these sides last played at Sewell Reserve and with plenty still to play for, expect a hot contest.
Keilor Park and Northern Saints both have a chance to bounce back after consecutive losses when they meet at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.
The Devils have dropped games to Hadfield and Coburg Districts, while Northern Saints have lost comfortably to Glenroy and East Sunbury.
The losses mean Keilor Park has slipped out of the top three, whereas Northern Saints are now 10 points out of the top five.
With a preliminary final still up for grabs, Colby Blyth will be keen to see a response from his side.
The Devils kicked four of their seven goals against Hadfield in one quarter (57 per cent), and kicked six of their 10 goals (60 per cent) against Coburg Districts in one quarter.
So, the Devils will be hoping for a more consistent output across four quarters because the Saints have the ability to generate and capitalise on momentum.
Alternatively, Tamer Abdallah's men gave up seven of 15 goals in the third quarter against East Sunbury and a leaky defence like that may open the door for Keilor Park more frequently.
Keilor Park won its last meeting with Northern Saints in Round 3 by 45 points, with Mark Jamar and Daylan Kempster each kicking three goals.
East Sunbury will be looking to carry the momentum from its first away win in over three years over to John McMahon Recreation Reserve to take on Rupertswood.
It was a momentous 29-point win against Northern Saints with Joel Bonnici and Brendan Fevola leading the way with three goals each, among 10 individual goal scorers.
The group has started to gel with improved performances throughout the year, but the Thunder will have their work cut out for them against a Rupertswood side fresh off two strong wins.
Rupo now finds themself inside the top three and will need to win games like this to ensure their safety.
Scoring has been abundant for the Sharks in their last two games and is a trend they'll hope to continue.
It will be the first time these sides will meet with their Anzac Day clash abandoned.
Sunbury Kangaroos and Westmeadows will close out the weekend at Eric Boardman Reserve.
The Kangaroos dropped a heartbreaker against Hadfield last week and are now six points out of the top five, while Westy continues to push for top spot after downing Glenroy.
It's a tough run home for the Kangaroos who will need to defeat at least two of Westmeadows, Coburg Districts, Glenroy, or Keilor Park to even be a chance of playing finals, so they'll need to throw everything at this next block of games.
The Tigers have won nine in a row with margins big and small, showing their ability to adapt in-game.
Aaron Evans is having one of his best seasons yet and will take some stopping kicking 41 goals from 14 games.
The Tigers have allowed the second most amount of points in out of the current top five and may open an opportunity for Mitch Streiff to bounce back into form in front of the big sticks.
He was held goalless last time these sides met and has kicked two goals from his last three games after kicking 21 majors from his previous five games.
The finals run has to start somewhere for the Kangaroos, while the Tigers need to keep on rolling.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
MARIBYRNONG PARK v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
GREENVALE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
PASCOE VALE v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at Raeburn Reserve
EAST KEILOR v KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
DEER PARK v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at John McLeod Reserve
HILLSIDE v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Recreation Reserve
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v TULLAMARINE
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Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
ST ALBANS v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 2:15pm at Kings Park Reserve
OAK PARK v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 4:05pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
HADFIELD v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
GLENROY v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
KEILOR PARK v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
EAST SUNBURY v RUPERTSWOOD
Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Recreation Reserve
