By Luke Mathews
Pascoe Vale will be hoping to solidify themselves inside the top two on the ladder and book themselves a home qualifying final when they travel to Canning Reserve to take on Avondale Heights.
It has been a promising last six weeks for Leigh Tudor’s men with the Panthers winning five of their last six with their only loss coming when they pushed ladder leaders Keilor.
On the other hand, Avondale Heights' stint in Premier Division is slowly coming to a close with the Heights sitting in last spot on the ladder having notched up only the one win for the year and are currently 14 points behind East Keilor.
When the two sides last met, it was the Panthers that came away with the four points in a high-scoring affair, winning by 45 points thanks to eight goals from Matthew Watson and four goals from Ahmed Saad.
If Avondale Heights want finish the season on a high, they’ll need to take care of Watson and Saad. The duo have combined for 66 goals in 2024 and it could be another tough day for the home side if they get on top again on Saturday.
Keilor will square off against Greenvale at Joe Brown Oval on a special day for the Keilor football club.
Saturday’s match will mark the 300th time legendary coach Mick McGuane has led the Blues into action and will be the first man to ever achieve the feat at senior level.
Last week, Keilor suffered their first defeat in 713 days when they went down to Airport West at Hansen Reserve, while Greenvale got back on the winner's list thumping East Keilor by 103 points.
When the two sides last met, it was Keilor who continued their winning ways, smashing the Jets to the tune of 96 points at Section road.
Captain Kane Barbuto will be an intriguing watch at Joe Brown Oval on Saturday who's had a few leaner games than we expect, especially on the scoreboard.
A big game from the superstar on Saturday will go a long way in helping the sharpshooter get back to the form needed to help his side to go back to back.
Airport West will continue their charge towards a finals berth when they face off with Deer Park at John McLeod Reserve.
The Eagles passed their biggest test of the season and proved to be the form team of the competition, upsetting Keilor by 13 points at Hansen Reserve in a monumental day for the club after starting the season 0-7.
Deer Park have battled hard all year and have successfully avoided relegation in the first season in Premier Division and will be hoping to finish the year strongly and build upon their five wins in 2024.
When the two sides last met, it was Jamie Madigan’s side who came out on top in a thriller defeating the Eagles by just two points after Airport West came home with a charge thanks to five final-quarter goals.
If Deer Park want to stop Airport West’s momentum, they will need to negate superstars Tyson Young and Matt Hanson’s impact.
The dynamic duo were everywhere on Saturday and combined for a whopping 107 touches and 30 clearances in one of the best midfield performances seen all season. If both men continue to find plenty of the footy on Saturday, the Eagles could find themselves inside the top five for the first time this year.
Strathmore will be hoping to book themselves a spot in the qualifying final when they take on Essendon Doutta Stars at Lebanon Reserve.
After back to back losses for the first time this year, the Mores bounced back nicely last week taking care of Deer Park by 25 points at John McLeod Reserve, while Essendon Doutta Stars went down to Pascoe Vale by 63 points in a disappointing performance.
When the two sides met back in Round 4 it was Strathmore who proved to be too good when it counted, winning by 16 points at Nipper Jordan Oval thanks to four goals from youngster Amin Naim.
Aberfeldie will be hoping to build upon last week’s win when they take on East Keilor at Overland Reserve.
Abers have cemented their spot inside the top five and will return to finals footy after missing out in 2023, however they have had to do it the hard way with several stars missing big chunks of the year.
It’s been a disappointing year for East Keilor and have slipped to ninth on the ladder just one year after playing finals footy, but luckily have avoided relegation.
The two sides last squared off back in Round 2 and it was Aberfeldie who came out on top winning by six goals with Josh Kemp, Ben Ronke, and Max Simpson all kicking three goals each.
If selected, Sam Paea is one to look out for at Overland Reserve on Saturday.
The Werribee-listed youngster had his best game of the year at any level and cashed in against a struggling Avondale Heights with six goals. Another bag from the full forward on Saturday will go a long way in helping fill the hole left by injured star Karl Brown.
By Joseph Ibic
Craigieburn will play Roxburgh Park at DS Aitken Reserve in a match the visitors will be looking to win so they can cement a spot in Division One next season.
Craigieburn currently sit in sixth spot after defeating Tullamarine last weekend.
The two sides last met back in Round 4 where Craigieburn were victorious by 41 points.
Jacob Aquilina and Anthony Righele were two of Craigieburn's best in that encounter and as a result, Roxburgh Park will have to watch them carefully this weekend.
Roxburgh Park will want to win to make avoiding relegation remain in their hands otherwise they will be relying on Rupertswood to lose their final game and not cover the percentage gap.
While it's unlikely they drop, a solid performance should keep them in Division One.
Hillside hosts Maribyrnong Park at Hillside Recreation Reserve in a match that both sides will be looking to win to claim top spot.
Hillside currently sit in third spot, however a win this weekend would propel them into the top two and potentially even first depending on West Coburg's result.
These two teams last faced each other in Round 8 in a match that was won by Maribyrnong Park by 36 points.
That game ended Hillside's unbeaten run and was one of many strong victories by the Lions.
Marby Park are currently sitting on top of the ladder after easily defeating West Coburg last weekend by 79 points.
Marby’s last loss occurred all the way back in Round 4 and as a result, they will go into this week's match and the finals series in great form.
St Albans takes on Oak Park at Kings Park Reserve in what will be a preview, with the two sides set face off in an elimination final in the first week of finals.
The teams last met in Round 5 when St Albans were victorious by 39 points.
Josh Carter was important in that match booting four goals for the Saints, as was Matthew Gundry who Oak Park couldn’t stop from getting the ball.
The Oakers have had a great second half of the year having won their last six matches, and while this week's match is just a precursor to next week's final against the same opponent, Oak Park would be looking to ready themselves as well as they can.
Rupertswood comes up against Tullamarine at Salesian College in what is a must-win match for the hosts if they are to avoid relegation.
Rupertswood are currently four points behind Roxburgh Park who are in ninth spot. They must win this weekend by a reasonably large margin and hope that Roxburgh Park lose badly if they are to overtake Roxburgh Park on the ladder and avoid relegation.
Tullamarine defeated Rupertswood by 48 points in the last encounter between the two sides back in Round 10.
Rupertswood managed just five goals in that encounter and will need a much better performance this weekend to avoid relegation.
Tullamarine mightn't have a finals spot to play for, but they'll be hoping to send Dave Connell off as best they can.
West Coburg will battle it out with Moonee Valley this weekend at Shore Reserve in a match that the hosts will need to win if they are to regain top spot.
West Coburg are coming off a disappointing thrashing at the hands of Marby Park.
The loss was only their second of the year but has come at a terrible time with just a week remaining before the finals.
The last time the two sides met it was West Coburg who won, defeating Moonee Valley by 126 points.
Omar Saad (eight goals) and (Ruairi Cleary) six goals had a day out and the Valley will need to keep them quiet this week if they are to have any chance.
Moonee Valley last week completed what had become their main objective, avoiding relegation.
By Joseph Ibic
Northern Saints hosts Glenroy at Charles Mutton Reserve in what is the Saints last match before finals.
Northern Saints are now locked into fourth spot after a big win over Sunbury Kangaroos last weekend.
The Saints will now be focusing on ending the regular season with a win and taking as much momentum as they can with them into finals.
The last time the sides met it was the Northern Saints who were victorious by seven points in a thriller that went down to the wire.
Nick Bruno (five goals) and Khoder Taleb were incredibly important as they have been all season.
East Sunbury will play Coburg Districts at John McMahon Reserve in what is the host's last chance at avoiding a winless season.
East Sunbury have endured an incredibly difficult season and are still winless going into the final round.
While unlikely, they will be putting all their effort into getting the win this week to avoid that unwanted record.
When these two sides last met, Coburg Districts were victorious by 119 points.
Jack McNamara was the stand out performer in that game booting nine majors for the Districts.
The Districts' finals chance were ended last week after a disappointing 40-point loss to Westmeadows.
Coburg Districts will now be looking to finish off the season on a high note before heading into the off season with hopes of playing finals in 2025.
Taylors Lakes comes up against Burnside Heights in a match that will decide the minor premiership.
Taylors Lakes are currently sitting in top spot but a loss this week to Burnside will see them drop down to second spot with Burnside taking the top spot.
The Lakers have lost just one match this year and will be hoping to keep that one loss record not only this week, but until the end of the finals series.
When these sides last met, Taylors Lakes were victorious by four points in what was a nail biting encounter.
Burnside haven’t lost since their Round 11 match against Taylors Lakes and look the most likely to be able to beat the Lakers come finals.
A preview of the qualifying final, it'll be interesting to see how this one plays out.
Westmeadows take on Hadfield at Willowbrook Reserve this weekend in a match that could see the visitors finish as high as fifth if they win.
Westmeadows go into this week's match with no pressure as they are confirmed to be finishing in third spot and will be mainly focused on gaining momentum and confidence before the finals.
When these sides last met, it was Westmeadows who came out on top by 23 points.
Rex Hickman and Nathan Sparks were crucial in the win and will be players Hadfield look to shut down this time around.
While a win for Hadfield would still see them fall short of finals, it would be a brilliant result for the club.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
KEILOR v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
STRATHMORE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
DEER PARK v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at John McLeod Reserve
EAST KEILOR v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
HILLSIDE v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Recreation Reserve
ST ALBANS v OAK PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Kings Park Reserve
RUPERTSWOOD v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
WEST COBURG v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
NORTHERN SAINTS v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Charles Mutton Reserve
EAST SUNBURY v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Recreation Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v HADFIELD
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
