Aberfeldie will meet Strathmore for the second time this season, but it will be the first time that neither side will have the chance to meet in September since 2016.
The Mores are vying for a top two spot while Aberfeldie are on the outer, so there’s still plenty on the line in this one.
The last time they met was over the King’s Birthday weekend when Strathmore took care of business by 33 points after a strong second half.
Strathmore have started to get close to their best 22 in recent weeks and have won their last three games.
While Aberfeldie aren’t in finals contention, they have an opportunity to shape the top four with East Keilor to come next week.
Greenvale will need to be perfect from here to give themselves a chance at finishing in the four, and their first challenge is Essendon Doutta Stars.
The Jets enjoyed a 55-point win the last time they met with Judd Brewster having a day out, and they’ll be hoping for more of the same.
A buoyed Douttas outfit secured their spot in the top flight for 2024 last week and will be wanting to carry that momentum into this week and finish the season strong.
Pascoe Vale find themselves in another crucial matchup against East Keilor after dropping some games that saw them fall out of the top two spot they’ve controlled for much of the season.
It was a tense contest when they last met with the Cougars clawing their way back into the game, before the Panthers held on to secure the narrow victory.
Both teams come into this on equal wins with Pascoe Vale holding a 10 per cent lead on East Keilor.
In the final two games, Maribyrnong Park will face Airport West, and Keilor will host Avondale Heights.
One of a few interesting matchups in the final round of Rookie Me Division One is the relegation battle between Keilor Park and Westmeadows.
It was rather sudden that this game would have more on the line than initially thought with Westy winning their last two, and the Devils being competitive enough to stay out of the conversation.
A lack of wins however, has presented this situation.
Keilor Park can secure their fate with a win, but percentage will still very much be a factor if they’re to lose.
If the Devils reach their average score of around 60, a score of 105 for Westy will put them 0.09% above the Devils.
Westmeadows won by 11 points the last time they met.
There will be two finals previews with Hillside set to host St Albans, and Rupertswood hosting Deer Park.
The clash between the Sharks and Saints needs no introduction, but you can expect it to be a hot footy.
The winner in this one will be awarded all but the home rooms and shorts the following week in the do or die clash.
Out at Salesian College, Rupertswood will be hoping to bag their second win against the Lions to give them a huge amount of confidence heading into the Qualifying Final next week.
One point was all that separated these sides in Round 6 with Rupo boasting nine goal scorers, as the selection headaches begin now for Heath Scotland.
Tullamarine have cleared themselves from the relegation conversation for now unless they suffer a big enough loss and Westy win by enough to put them there.
The renewed side under David Connell will face Moonee Valley who have one more win over the Demons despite the 0-5 start to the season, their first win coming against Tulla.
In the final two games, Rupertswood will face Glenroy in their last game in Division One until at least 2025, and Craigieburn will host the minor premiers West Coburg.
Finals spots are still up for grabs in the final game of Strathmore Community Bank Division Two with Coburg Districts looking to work their way back in with a win over Burnside Heights.
The Lions will need a win and hope Sunbury Kangaroos lose to Oak Park to rejoin the top four.
The last time they played the Bears, they won by eight points with a strong start and finish to the match, but it wasn’t always convincing.
The Bears are walking wounded at the moment which will certainly play in Coburg Districts’ favour, but you can bet Cole Harvey’s men will be looking to finish the season strong.
Sunbury Kangaroos have well and truly earnt their way into the top four after starting the season 0-5 amid a myriad of close games, but will have their work cut out for them against Oak Park if they’re to hold their spot.
In the two meetings between these sides, Oak Park won by two points, and then a whopping 124 points in a 27-goal onslaught at Eric Boardman Reserve.
East Sunbury are yet to record a win in 2023, but they’ve fought valiantly and built a deep list after rejoining the competition which should be commended.
They’ll play Taylors Lakes in the final game who are coming off an insane performance in front of goals, kicking 33 majors on their way to a score of 212.
The Lions have enjoyed comfortable victories against the Thunder in 2023.
Northern Saints will be looking for redemption against their local rivals Hadfield after the upset loss at the hands of the Hawks in Round 10.
That loss started a five-game losing streak which has seen them slip out of the top two.
Their finals spot is all but guaranteed unless results skew drastically, but a win will see them playing finals footy for the first time since their minor premiership in 2018.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
GREENVALE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
ABERFELDIE v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
KEILOR v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
MARIBYRNONG PARK v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
PASCOE VALE v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Raeburn Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
HILLSIDE v ST ALBANS
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Reserve
RUPERTSWOOD v DEER PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
ROXBURGH PARK v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
MOONEE VALLEY v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
KEILOR PARK v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
OAK PARK v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
EAST SUNBURY v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Reserve
HADFIELD v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
