By Luke Mathews
Aberfeldie will be hoping to make it four wins in a row when it takes on Airport West at Clifton Park.
The Rillas' recent form suggests they are the second-best side in the competition and a win on Saturday could see them move two games clear of rivals Strathmore in second spot.
After losing four consecutive games between Rounds 6 and 9, Airport West’s form has improved in recent weeks after thumping East Keilor and pushing Keilor for two and a half quarters.
Aberfeldie came away with a comprehensive victory after defeating the Eagles by 64 points on ANZAC Day with Karl Brown and Callum Moore combining for eight goals.
One for Airport West to try and nullify is Stefan Rasinac.
The midfielder has had an impressive season to date averaging 29 disposals and 15 contested possessions.
When the two sides met earlier in the year, the number 12 was one of Aberfeldie's best picking up 30 disposals and a goal.
The Eagles' strength is their star-studded midfield and they’ll need to find a way of stopping Rasinac if they have any chance of winning.
East Keilor will be back at Overland Reserve to take on Essendon Doutta Stars.
Douttas were once again brave last weekend, however they still went down by 30 points to Aberfeldie, while East Keilor were smashed by Maribyrnong Park.
The Stars' faint finals hopes are still alive with Barry Prendergast’s men two games outside the top five but do have a healthy percentage.
When the two sides met back in Round 3, Douttas picked up their first win of the year, defeating the Cougars by 225 points.
One to keep an eye on this Saturday is Bailey Ryan.
The vice-captain was dominant back in that contest kicking 10 goals from 32 disposals and finished with 226 ranking points.
Deer Park will host Maribyrnong Park at John McLeod Reserve in the match of the round and a game that will likely shape the top five.
The two teams have arguably been the most impressive sides across the competition and are firming for a breakthrough finals appearance.
Victory for either side on Saturday will put them in the box seat to feature in finals footy with the winner two games clear of sixth with just six games remaining.
Earlier in the year, Marby proved to be too good for Jamie Madigan’s side with the Lions coming away with a 29-point victory with a seven goal third term setting up the win.
Brodie Romensky is one that could be the point of difference again on Saturday.
The explosive midfielder was best on ground back in Round 3, collecting 24 disposals.
The 2024 best and fairest winner has picked up 63 touches in his last two outings and will need to continue his hot form for Marby to come away with the four points.
Pascoe Vale will be out for revenge when they take on Greenvale at Section Road.
Back in Round three, Greenvale came away with the unlikeliest of victories defeating Pascoe Vale by just five points.
The Panthers dominated for most of the contest, however only managed to kick 7.18 with Ryan Townsend stepping up for Greenvale late to kick the winning goal.
The Panthers are slowly rediscovering their 2024 form after they knocked off Strathmore by 14 points last weekend and now sit in sixth spot with a 4-7 record.
The Jets also recorded their best win for 2025 last weekend, upsetting Deer Park by 23 points.
One to look out for on Saturday is Reuben Rode.
The youngster has quietly been putting together a very impressive season, averaging 102 ranking points and 23 disposals.
Since returning in Round 9, the midfielder has been one of the Jets best and starred in last week’s win, finishing with 26 disposals and a goal.
Another strong performance on Saturday will go a long way in helping Darren Bewick’s men come away with their first back-to-back wins for 2025.
Keilor will be looking to extend its unbeaten run to 13 matches when it hosts Strathmore at Joe Brown Oval.
Mick McGuane’s men have hardly been challenged once again in 2025 and sit comfortably on top of the ladder and firming for another premiership tilt.
Strathmore went down to Pascoe Vale and still sit in third spot a game behind Aberfeldie.
When the two sides last met, Keilor came away with another comfortable victory, defeating Strathmore by 55 points at Lebanon Reserve on Good Friday.
One man that will be hoping for a big performance is Chris Kosmas.
The sharpshooter was prolific on Good Friday booting seven goals for the second year running.
The number 22 was dominant to start the season, kicking 20 goals from his first three games, however has only managed one major in his last three matches.
With the competition now past the halfway point, Kosmas will be hoping to recapture the form that saw him become the league’s most dangerous forward.
By Ben Parker
Hillside will travel to Kings Park Reserve in what’s a blockbuster twilight clash against St Albans.
A pivotal game for both sides and their respective seasons, expect this one to be a thriller.
They are at an almost even split in the ladder positionings, with the Saints trying to get back into the top five in sixth position, and the Sharks treading very dangerously above the bottom five in fifth position.
When they met last on Good Friday, it was the Saints who stole victory away from Shark Park to run away as emphatic 46-point winners.
Both sides have recorded six wins and five losses for their seasons so far, with the Sharks holding a buffer over the Saints purely on percentage.
For St Albans, an opportunity presents itself here to prove how good they can really be.
They’ve been the definition of inconsistent in 2025.
After going 4-0 to start their season, their form took a horrid turn as they went on to lose their next five.
Nevertheless, they seem to have steadied over the past two weeks and will be hoping to secure their third win a row here.
They will need to tidy up their stoppage work though, as they were smashed in clearances, hard ball gets, and tackles by Tullamarine last week.
The one to watch is captain Jake Galea who single-handedly dragged his side over the line last week with a bag of five goals from 16 disposals and seven marks.
On the other end of the ledger lies Hillside.
After easily putting away West Coburg to the tune of 52 points last week, they come here as favourites.
With their young guns clicking and the likes of seasoned campaigners in Josh Covelli and Lachie Pettigrove all recapturing some of the best, the Sharks are dangerous here.
The key takeaway from last week was how efficiently they were able to use the football.
They recorded an impressive overall disposal efficiency of 78 per cent, and this tore apart a helpless West Coburg outfit.
If they can successfully distribute the footy to this magnitude again, expect them to be very hard to beat.
Only one game behind Avondale Heights in second position, the Sharks will look to send a statement here.
Avondale Heights will host Taylors Lakes in what’s perhaps the most exciting and intriguing matchup of the weekend.
The last time these two matched up, Avondale travelled to the Lion’s Den that is Lionheart Reserve, and obliterated Taylors Lakes.
With both sides in robust veins of form since then, their respective ladder percentages are the only facet that separates them.
With a solid record of seven wins and four losses for both sides, this bout is sure to be an entertaining one.
Avondale come into this contest after a loss to the ladder-leaders Oak Park.
In a game that they perhaps should have won, they had more scoring shots than the Kangaroos and either dominated or broke even in many of the critical team stats which included tackles, clearances, and inside 50s.
They had won four in a row prior to this and are perfectly positioned to bounce back here.
Their stars will need be clicking this week if they want to rebut a roaring Lions side.
Jackson Robb has been a key pillar for the Heights in 2025 and produced his usual best again in last week’s loss. He collected 35 disposals, 10 marks, and a goal in another sublime individual effort.
Meanwhile for Taylors Lakes, they are proving to be the surprise package of the year.
Many expected them to be competitive and perhaps in contention for the highly sought-after fifth ladder position.
Yet they are a genuine premiership chance in one of the more competitive years of Strathmore Community Bank Division One football in recent memory.
They, along with the Heights, are deadlocked in a three-way duel for the second ladder spot and are certainly capable of stealing a major scalp on the road here.
Lachlan Rayner continues to go from strength-to-strength in an individual season that just gets better and better.
He was a bull for the Lions last week, and recorded 27 disposals and 29 hit outs to go along with his 14 clearances and 10 score involvements.
In a monumental showcasing for both clubs, this battle could go either way.
Premiership favourite and ladder-leader Oak Park will host Tullamarine at JP Fawkner Reserve.
The Kangaroos look hard to beat in what could be an easy watch for Roos fans.
In saying that, if the Roos are off and Tullamarine can recapture the form which saw them beat the second placed Avondale Heights, perhaps a more intriguing contest can be expected.
The last time these two sides met, it was the Roos who took home a six-goal win from Leo Dineen Reserve.
Oak Park has already had lapses this season.
They’ve been beaten by Craigieburn and Moonee Valley, both of whom are not expected to be featuring in finals footy.
Despite this, Oak Park is undefeated at home, and their best footy is a force of nature that is almost unstoppable at the best of times.
With nine wins and just the two losses to show for the season, they’ve produced an exquisite brand of football that is expected to stand up in September.
With the gap between themselves and the rest of the competition increasing in regard to ladder positionings, their best should be too good here.
Expect Jedd Taylor to feature prominently again. The vice-captain kicked five goals last week in their win over Avondale Heights, and is averaging 24 disposals and two goals a game in 2025.
Tullamarine will have it all do to as they look to achieve what most of the competition has not been able to, and that’s beat Oak Park at home.
They’ve produced some stellar performances in 2025, mainly their Round 6 win over Avondale Heights, but haven’t been able to put it all together week in and week out.
While they are underdogs here, expect them to bring some early heat and make it an uncomfortable first half.
The query is whether they can match it with Oak Park for a full four quarters.
Shaun McKernan will be the one to watch again. He’s putting together a monstrous individual season averaging 23 disposals, three goals, and eight clearances a game. If he gets off the chain early, look out.
West Coburg will be looking to bounce back from last week’s collapse when it hosts Roxburgh Park at Shore Reserve.
After leading the Sharks at quarter time, the Burgers were attacked by a desperate Sharks outfit who piled on 14 goals to their five for the remainder of the game.
Is it simply a case of too bad to be true?
They’ll be keen to make an emphatic statement this week when they face a struggling Roxburgh Park outfit come Saturday.
The last time these two sides met, it was a West Coburg showcasing as the Burgers massacred Roxburgh Park by 111 points.
If they can find their best and bite back, a similar result may be on the cards.
In spite of the loss, Damian Galofaro starred last week with six goals and is the one to watch again as he comes up against a depleted Roxy backline.
It’s been a disappointing season for Roxburgh Park.
After what had been an improved month of football, last week’s horror loss to Craigieburn has overshadowed this.
In a game where they were expected to strongly challenge for the four points, they were obliterated by 88 points.
In what would no doubt have been a gloomy and draining week for players when reflecting on the game, they get a chance to front up again and get back on track.
While they aren’t expected to win, a far better performance should be anticipated as Roxy travel over to Shore Reserve.
The one who can spark some life into this week is Jack Elliott. Elliott continued on with his magnificent season with another 31 disposals, 60 hit outs, and 12 clearances last week.
Moonee Valley will be looking to get back into the winner’s circle when it hosts Craigieburn this weekend.
When they met last back in Round 3, it was the Eagles who protected home and secured an eight-point win.
After a stellar four weeks of football which brought three wins from four games, the Valley were overrun by the in-form Taylors Lakes last week.
They took a two-point lead into half-time before the Lions ultimately showed their class and kicked away.
A pivotal game this is for the Fog, they need to win and win big if they want to keep a potential finals berth within their grasps.
They currently sit one game and percentage outside of fifth position, and will need to start putting opposition teams away with ease if they are to make up the percentage deficit on the ladder.
Bevan Newell was sensational for the Valley last week in a losing result and will be the one to watch again this week. His inside craft was on full display as he collected 29 disposals, 25 of which were contested, six clearances, and a goal.
Meanwhile for Craigieburn, they bounced back in emphatic form last week with their 88-point demolition job of Roxburgh Park.
In what was their highest score of the season so far, the Eagles were for too good for a flat Roxy outfit.
They’ve fallen to eighth position on the ladder and trail the top five by two games and percentage.
If they’re going to save their season, it must start this week.
In a vital game, stars Jai Robinson and Harry Albon will be the two to watch.
They have been Craigieburn’s two best players all season and will need to be at their best again here.
By Evan Tudor
Westmeadows and Coburg Districts will open Round 12 at Willowbrook Reserve.
Westy enter this one following a buzzer beater win over Rupertswood in one of the greatest EDFL contests of all time.
The sixth straight win for the Tigers this season positions them second on the table with seven weeks of competition left.
Coburg Districts however are too on a run of their own.
The side recorded its fourth-straight victory with a 37-point outing over Hadfield.
After starting the season with a low 2-5 record, Districts' resurgence towards finals is well and truly alive.
In their latest meeting with Westmeadows, Coburg Districts were able to sing the song with a 37-point victory in Round 1.
With goal kicking talent in Districts' Jack McNamara league-leading 44, and second-best 36 in Aaron Evans for Westy, we should be set for a high scoring affair.
And the ability of both sides to take it to the dying stages of the game means it surely will be an entertaining one.
Will Districts go five straight, or will Westy crush their hopes with seven in a row?
Let’s find out on Saturday.
Burnside Heights and Glenroy will meet at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve.
With both teams entering this one following contrasting results, a feisty battle is on the cards.
The Bears felt the sting of the Devils, going down by 67 at home.
Glenroy are back to the side we know after a 178-point knock over the Thunder.
The Roys were on full display with 16 different goal scorers, seven of whom had multiple.
A big focal point this week will be Glenroy’s contest in hit outs.
The Roys were smashed in the count last week at 28-80, but still comfortably got the win in the end.
With Lachlan Evans back for the Bears, that is an area they'll look to exploit.
These sides last met in Round 1 when it was a 68-point victory to the Roys at home in the season opener.
While Glenroy should be able to hold its two game lead on the competition, it’ll be interesting to see just how far the Bears bounce back.
Northern Saints and Hadfield will face off at Charles Mutton Reserve.
The Saints enter this one following a draw with Sunbury Kangaroos at home, while the Hawks went down by 37 to Coburg Districts.
With both outfits wanting to end the season on a high and with finals contention mathematically possible, a win would be ideal here.
Nathan Johnson was a highlight for the Hawks last week, kicking a season-high bag of four, while Sainter Khoder Taleb returned with three.
The Hawks were too good for the Saints last time they met; a 40-point win was the outcome.
Strong in the clearance count last week, the Saints will bring fast paced footy to this one.
It’s been a subdued but mighty season for both clubs, but when they’ve won, they’ve won in stunning fashion regardless of the margin.
It’s seventh taking on eighth and it should be fun.
Closing off the round is Keilor Park’s clash with Rupertswood at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.
Rupertswood were able to hold-on in the clubs’ Round 1 clash, winning by five points.
But with the rematch set 11 weeks later, both sides will bring a new brand of footy to the table.
Rupo will be feeling the heartache after its win was snatched on the siren at the hands of the Tigers. Its second consecutive loss with a margin less than a goal.
Valiant in defeat is the theme heading into this week, the outfit controlling the ball more than Westy by 30 disposals, highlighting their presence is still certainly felt.
Clayton Bonello again starred with his third bag of five, one of his side’s greatest assets.
Last week it was a walk in the park for the Devils with a 67-point victory over the Bears.
The third-place Devils led from start to finish, with 10 individuals scoring through the big sticks, half of whom kicked multiple.
And if consistent major ball winners Sam Pontin, Josh Bistisi-Nguyen, Tyler Killick and Nick Nesci strike again, we could be looking at another win.
But with Rupertswood looking for redemption after two narrow losses, expect some spice in this one.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
GREENVALE v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
EAST KEILOR v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
ABERFELDIE v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
DEER PARK v MARIBYRNONG PARK
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Saturday 2:15pm at John McLeod Reserve
KEILOR v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
MOONEE VALLEY v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
OAK PARK v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Reserve
ST ALBANS v HILLSIDE
Saturday 4:05pm at Kings Park Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
NORTHERN SAINTS v HADFIELD
Saturday 2:15pm at Charles Mutton Reserve
KEILOR PARK v RUPERTSWOOD
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
