By Luke Mathews
Airport West will be hoping to break its four-game losing streak when it takes on East Keilor at Overland Reserve.
It’s been a challenging month for Brent Taylor’s men, with the Eagles last win coming back in Round 5 against Maribyrnong Park.
East Keilor, meanwhile, is still yet to pick up a win in 2025.
The two sides met back in Round 1 with Airport West getting their season off to the perfect start, defeating the Eagles by 190 points with Tyson Young booting 10 goals.
One to look out for at Hansen Reserve will by Jacob Bygate.
The number 33 has become an unlikely goal kicking find highlighted by his two goals against Pascoe Vale and three goals last week against Deer Park.
The sharpshooter will be hoping to carry his recent form into Saturday’s matchup and fill his boots against the Cougars.
Strathmore will be hoping to bounce back from its Round 9 loss when it hosts Greenvale at Lebanon Reserve.
The Mores lost their grip on second spot when they went down to Aberfeldie at Windy Hill in the marquee King’s Birthday clash.
It’s been a tough 2025 for Darren Bewick’s side with the Jets sitting in ninth spot and it continued last week when they were overrun by Marby.
Back in Round 1 it was the Strathmore that notched up their first win of the year, defeating the Jets by 26 points with Mitch Purcell starring with four goals.
For Greenvale to have any chance of winning, they’ll need to negate Liam Cavanagh’s influence.
The defender finished with 39 disposals and 18 contested possessions in a best on ground performance in Round 1.
The Jets will need to find a way to limit Cavanagh’s intercepting and rebounding.
Deer Park will be looking to test its finals credentials, when it hosts Keilor in a blockbuster clash at John McLeod Reserve.
The two sides are arguably the two most in-form teams across the competition at the moment with Keilor still unbeaten and Deer Park coming off a four-game winning streak.
Jamie Madigan’s side are yet to lose at home in 2025 and knocked off competition heavyweights Aberfeldie just weeks ago, however Saturday will mark their toughest test yet.
When the two sides met in Round 1, Keilor’s premiership defence got off to the perfect start, defeating Deer Park by 138 points after kicking a mammoth 29 goals for the game.
One for Deer Park to stop on Saturday will be Nick O’Kearney.
The superstar didn’t miss a beat after the week off picking up 43 disposals and seven clearances.
Back in Round 1, the Lions had no match for the midfielder, with O’Kearney once again dominating with 43 disposals and 12 inside fifties.
Despite winning last week, Deer Park still lost the clearance battle 50 to 42, however they weren’t made to pay on the scoreboard.
The Lions engine room will have to be at the top of their game if they are any chance of stopping Keilor’s star studded on-ball brigade.
Maribyrnong Park will be looking to take a major scalp when it travels to Clifton Park to square off with Aberfeldie.
The Lions have been one of the most consistent sides across the first half of the season and sit at 5-4 with three of their losses coming against the top three on the ladder.
Aberfeldie were back to their best last time out overcoming a three-point three quarter time deficit to knock off Strathmore by 22 points, and now sit in second spot on the ladder.
When the two sides last met, Aberfeldie got their season off to the perfect start, taking care of Marby by 51 points with a seven-goal second quarter helping power the Rillas to victory.
One to watch on Saturday will be Callum Moore.
The prized off-season recruit lived up the hype immediately collecting 20 disposals and kicking four goals against Marby in Round 1.
Marby’s backline has been solid to start 2025, but with Tom Barnett debuting with Coburg last week, they'll need more players to step up.
Essendon Doutta Stars will host Pascoe Vale at Nipper Jordan Oval in what looms as a season defining clash for both sides.
Both the Panthers and the Stars are 3-6 across the first nine games in 2025 and the loser could sit three games outside the top five by the end of the round.
The Panthers have found some form in recent weeks, while Douttas' last win came back in Round 6 against Airport West.
Back in Round 1, Pascoe Vale came away with the win, defeating the Stars by 31 points thanks to five goals from Ahmed Saad.
For Pascoe Vale to win, they’ll need to keep Bailey Ryan quiet.
The vice-captain has had a brilliant 2025 averaging 15 disposals and almost three goals a game.
After a quiet couple of weeks, the forward rediscovered some form last week kicking three goals and will be hoping for more of the same this Saturday.
By Ben Parker
West Coburg hosts Avondale Heights in the first of this weekend’s epic top five battles.
With just one game separating them in the ladder positionings, a hot contest can be expected here.
As we cross the halfway point of 2025, the Burgers have had almost the perfect start to the season.
With a record of seven wins and just the two losses, their current vein of form suggests that they’re on track for another deep finals campaign.
They were too strong for a gritty Tullamarine outfit last week and will look to bounce into another win here.
Usual suspects Dinny Cleary and Tom Baravi were at their best again last week.
Cleary was sensational in a performance that saw him log 31 disposals, 13 clearances, and six inside 50s, and Baravi also accumulated plenty of the footy with 32 disposals himself.
The Heights may need to put some time into these two if they get off the chain.
Avondale Heights have been one of the stories of the season so far. After being relegated from Premier Division, they have played some scintillating footy that sees them holding firm in the top three.
Just the one game behind West Coburg, they are a dangerous side that have lost just the one game at home.
It will be intriguing to see how they perform here, on the road, against one of the top teams in the competition.
If they are to get it done, Jackson Robb and Bailey Williamson are the two who will no doubt lead from the front.
Vice-captain Jackson Robb has been a pillar of excellence in 2025 and was again superb last week with 41 disposals and three goals.
Williamson has also produced a stellar season so far. Averaging 29 disposals per game, eight rebound 50s, and four goal involvements, he’s the Heights' most damaging player and they’ll want the footy in his hands.
An exciting and intriguing matchup this promises to be, expect a close one here.
Oak Park will host Hillside in another mouth-watering top five clash this weekend.
The Kangaroos will be looking to make amends and bounce back from their shock loss to Moonee Valley last week.
While the Roos were missing a few key players, the Fog were simply too good for them.
With the top three ranked players on the ground all being from Moonee Valley last week, expect some of Oak Park’s stars to come out firing here.
Nonetheless, despite last week’s hiccup, the Kangaroos still sit in equal first on top of the ladder with West Coburg.
At their best, they’re almost unstoppable, and they will be boosted this week when they regain a few of their troopers.
Josh Hotchkin is the one to watch early here. The former Aberfeldie ruck will no doubt look to make his presence felt early, and he was one of their best last week with 49 hit outs, 16 disposals, and six clearances.
On a similar note, Hillside is also coming into this clash off a disappointing result.
In the battle of nature's most notorious apex predators, it was Taylors Lakes who bounded away with the win as they outlasted the Sharks in a seven-point thriller.
With the Lions perhaps surprising a few last week, the Sharks will no doubt be hungry and will want blood early as they look to bounce back.
Their season has been a major talking point of 2025.
After going 0-3 to start the year, they have ignited their season by winning five out of the past six games.
They currently sit in third position, and are hot on the trail of their opponents Oak Park.
To win, their ball use needs to be far greater than it was last week. Their efficiency kicking the footy was at an underwhelming 48 per cent, with a mere 56 per cent total disposal efficiency figure to align with that.
If the Sharks can tidy up this area of their game, it will go a long way in winning this game of footy.
Footy will remain at King’s Park for consecutive weeks when St Albans host Craigieburn in a make or break clash for both clubs.
Both come into this bout with overwhelming losing streaks, for each side has lost their last five games respectively.
Despite this, each is presented with an opportunity this week to put a win on the board.
A win this week could save the season for one of these sides.
After their perfect 4-0 start which saw them sit on top as ladder leaders, St Albans have fallen out of the top five for the first time this year to sit in sixth spot.
In spite of their horrid run of form, their season is still very much alive, but a win this week is paramount.
After dominating most of the stat lines last week and not winning the game, conversion will be crucial for the Saints this week. Converting in front of the sticks is something that has eluded them of recent times.
Mason Dipetta is the one who can kickstart this. A dangerous forward who is averaging almost three goals a game, Dipetta’s speed and evasiveness will need to be on show this week.
Meanwhile, Craigieburn has perhaps been the surprise disappointment of the season so far.
After a preseason that promised so much, they’ve fallen to eighth on the ladder and boast just the three wins to date.
Ranked below average in critical stats such as clearances, goals, and inside 50s, the Eagles will need to find their absolute best if they want to save their season.
Jai Robinson has been the shining light so far this year, averaging 32 disposals and nine rebound 50’s.
If anyone is going to show some fight from the Eagles, it’s him. His silky left-foot has the ability to break lines and break games open. Craigieburn will need him at his best this week.
Roxburgh Park will look to make it consecutive wins when it hosts Taylors Lakes at Lakeside Reserve.
After going winless for the first eight rounds of 2025, Roxy ended the drought, recording arguably their most memorable win in recent memory with a 39-point victory over St Albans last week.
Roxy have been playing a far better brand of footy over the past month, and so they were incredibly deserving of a win.
They are faced with a fresh and tougher challenge this week in the form of Taylors Lakes.
Teronne Potter put on a clinic in last week’s win kicking six goals to go along with 34 disposals and 12 intercept possessions. He’s the one the Lions may need to put some time into.
However, it’s all about the battle of the big men this week, with Roxburgh Park’s Jack Elliott, and Taylors Lakes' Lachlan Rayner clashing in one of the more anticipated one-on-one matchups in some time.
Elliott has been a force in the ruck so far this season averaging 28 disposals per game, 12 clearances, and 42 hit outs – he has arguably been Roxy’s most important player.
He faces perhaps his most challenging task this week.
Rayner was sensational again as he produced another monster performance in the ruck last week for Taylors Lakes. He recorded 32 disposals, 41 hit outs, 24 clearances, and two goals in arguably the best performance of the season so far across the competition.
Taylors Lakes has found itself back in the top five after its heart-stopping win over Hillside last week.
In a back and forth, see-sawing game, the Lions fought and clawed their way to a gusty seven-point victory over the Sharks.
A win of this magnitude can transform a club’s season, and the Lions will be looking to build some momentum from this as we head into the second half of the year.
Moonee Valley hosts Tullamarine this week in an intriguing matchup at Ormond Park.
The last time these two sides met, the game was called off halfway during the third quarter.
Moonee Valley, who led by a singular point at the time play was stopped, were awarded the four points and their first win of the season.
The Fog have strung together a sensational last month of footy, winning three out of their last four and moving into sixth in the ladder standings.
They’ll look to make it three wins in a row here, a feat the club hasn’t accomplished for quite some time, as they push for a potential finals birth.
Luke Denny is the one the Dees need to account for. He was one of the Valley’s best last week with 25 disposals, nine clearances, and a goal.
Tullamarine will look to bounce back from last week’s loss to West Coburg who drew away late to make it a 42-point margin at the final siren.
Despite being competitive for most of the afternoon, and only trailing by 17 points at three-quarter time, the Dees could not match it with their opponents when the pressure, intensity, and level of play increased.
After his bag of seven goals, Ben Weightman will be the one to watch, especially if he gets off the chain.
An extremely damaging player, Weightman has the capabilities to individually drag his side over the line. Moonee Valley will need to be alert here.
By Evan Tudor
Round 10 opens with Nelson Alexander EDFL Match of the Day showcasing Sunbury Kangaroos' contest against Burnside Heights at Eric Boardman Reserve.
After leading Glenroy at all changes by more than 15 points, the Kangaroos' dream upset fell short.
Redemption is on the line for the seventh placed Roos who will draw on the positives of last week.
The Roos were beaten in many critical match stats, with inside 50s and disposal counts not going their way.
But the result nearly did, the two-point loss proving the Kangaroos are bringing the pressure week by week.
Mitch Streiff secured himself as the Kangaroos leading goal kicker, with four goals taking his total to 24.
Burnside Heights will also be eager for the win after a loss in a high scoring battle against the Saints.
Jordan Hughes led the match with 35 disposals, teammate Tyson Iglesias made a statement with five goals.
Hughes averages 29 per game and his serious form indicates another big performance is on the horizon this weekend.
Another interesting storyline will be the head-to-head contest between Kangaroo Jordan Corso and Bear Ferdinando Petrarca.
Both opponents have been named among the best on ground for all but one of their matches and know how to bring the energy to the field.
Lachlan Evans will be a key watch come selection time having transferred back to the Bears.
One of the top players in the competition last year, he'll provide a huge boost for Cole Harvey's side.
Seventh taking on eighth has never looked closer and only a win separates the two sides.
Keilor Park faces Glenroy at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve in a match between fourth and first.
The Devils will be looking to turn things around following final quarter heartbreak saw them take the seven-point deficit against Westmeadows.
Nick Nesci and ruck Sam Pontin again starred for their side, accumulating 31 and 28 disposals respectively.
The duo are disposal leaders for the Devils with Daylan Kempster leading the goal kicking, booting four on Saturday.
The men in green and orange know their role and know how to use it efficiently for peak performance, something they need when facing a side like Glenroy.
The Roys are back after facing a Kangaroo-sized scare, with the 8-1 record placing them first with a game and a half lead over the division.
The comeback at home was highlighted by five Roys leading the disposal count, with Daniel Ferraro attracting the most at 34.
If Glenroy wants to continue on the upward track, on-field dominance is much of a necessity, and this team has proven they have what it takes to do so.
The Roys took the four points when the two last met, walking away 47-point winners.
East Sunbury and Hadfield take to the field of John McMahon Recreation Reserve as Round 10 continues.
East Sunbury booted its second-highest score of the season so far of 73 as the positives of a hard-fought rebuild continue to shine through.
Brendan Fevola continued his trajectory towards 1,000 local football goals with three against Coburg Districts as his side went down by 49.
More positives come out of the contest with the Thunder winning the clearance count.
It is small improvements like these that show the Thunder’s hunger for a second win is still well and truly alive.
Standing in their way is Hadfield who are also in desperate need for a win as we enter the latter part of 2025.
Their last win was coincidently against East Sunbury a month ago, but a lot has changed since then.
The Hawks now rest above the Thunder on ninth position and have had a tough last few weeks as the season progressed.
The Hawks are still making the most of it though, Nathan Johnson booted three against Rupo last week while Sam Godden picked up 35 touches in another dominant display.
Godden will be one to watch yet again as he continues to lead the disposals for Hadfield.
Both sides have had their moments but both sides can see the light at the end of the tunnel, all we can hope for is a well-fought contest.
After two nail-biting wins, Westmeadows and Northern Saints will face off at Willowbrook Reserve.
For Westmeadows, it was a close seven-point victory over Keilor Park inspired by a final quarter comeback.
The Tigers trailed at all changes, but a six-goal-to-five final term saw them over the line to win by seven.
Tigers’ leading goalkicker Aaron Evans has struck in all matches so far, booting three in the win.
Alongside Evans, Mitch Church has also found the big sticks in all matches, forming a dynamic duo for the side.
Finding more footy than anyone else in a game, Westy carry everything a footy side dreams of: consistent goal kickers, ball control, and possession leaders we see in Jordan Kosteas.
The third placed side will give it everything they’ve got for the sixth placed Northern Saints, but the Saints won’t be going down wondering.
The Saints walk into Willowbrook Reserve after a nine-point victory over the Bears and with a stacked line up, the side will be entering with confidence.
Fueled by a nine-goal-to-one second quarter, Northern know how to lay down the pressure, something they’ll need to reciprocate against a Westmeadows outfit.
Mohamed Taleb is a dominant force who knows how to take charge with 26 disposals and four goals paving the way on Saturday.
The talent pools at either end will be a spectacle for this match as the finals slowly creep up on us.
Round 10 concludes at Cole Reserve as Coburg Districts and Rupertswood take centre stage.
Districts are strong off a 49-point win against East Sunbury and will be looking to go three straight.
After kicking 10 goals for the second week running, Districts spearhead Jack McNamara now leads the competition goal kicking ladder with 34.
Riley Bentley was on full display with 30 touches and two goals, a key asset to the club.
It took some time, but Districts have found their footing and now rest fifth with a 4-5 record.
Its 71 per cent disposal efficiency from last week will be a factor driving its momentum into this week, so it’ll be interesting to see how far they go.
Second place Rupertswood know how to play consistent footy, and there’ll be no exception for this match.
With disposal leaders in Jackson Cardillo at 30 and goal scorers like Clayton Bonello and Fraser Phelan-Smith who exceed two on average, Rupertswood is ready.
Their impressive win over Glenroy three weeks back proves that they are showing no mercy to this competition.
With a double chance up for grabs, Rupertswood will be playing to win, while Districts need every win possible if they want September action.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
STRATHMORE v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
DEER PARK v KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at John McLeod Reserve
ABERFELDIE v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Nipper Jordan Oval
EAST KEILOR v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
OAK PARK v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
ST ALBANS v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Kings Park Reserve
WEST COBURG v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
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Saturday 2:15pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
EAST SUNBURY v HADFIELD
Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Recreation Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
KEILOR PARK v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
COBURG DISTRICTS v RUPERTSWOOD
Saturday 2:15pm at Cole Reserve
