Avondale Heights find themselves with their next best opportunity to create some separation in the relegation battle when they host Essendon Doutta Stars.
The Heights are currently one game clear of the bottom but they’ll have their work cut out for them with a young Douttas side that controlled this matchup earlier in the season.
Douttas won by 44 points with Declan Tully the star of the day with four goals, and have since been competitive in a number of games.
For Avondale Heights, their next five opponents following this week saw them lose by a combined 494 points the last time they met, so this is their best chance to get a vital victory should Marby record another win.
Maribyrnong Park this week will face Aberfeldie who will need to be near perfect from here if they’re to play finals footy.
The Two Blues haven’t missed September action since 2011 and will have a good opportunity to start the run home strong against a Marby outfit that parted ways with head coach Brad Swain and are in danger of relegation.
The last time the two sides met however, Marby were competitive for much of the game, losing by just 17 points.
It’s a Good Friday replay as Strathmore and Keilor square off.
The Mores are currently one game clear in the top four while Keilor remain undefeated, but it wasn’t without a scare for the Blues who trailed at the final change before storming home.
Strathmore has a pretty tough run home, facing the other two sides in the top four and Aberfeldie in their next five games after this match.
The Good Friday game between these two resulted in a landslide victory for Keilor who kicked 10 goals to one in the second half to win by 73 points.
Keighton Matofai-Forbes and Kyle O’Connor kicked four goals that day, with Nick O’Kearney producing a best-on-ground performance.
The Mores were undermanned with some key outs, so it’ll be an interesting watch as to how those ins make an impact.
Down at Overland Reserve we’ll have East Keilor playing Airport West, with the Cougars back under the coaching reins of Pat Christofi who’ll be joined by Ali Hamad.
East Keilor are currently third on the ladder with a record of 9-3 and have some tough games in the run home.
They’re currently two games clear in the finals and will take some confidence in the fact that they won by 99 points the last time they played.
Dion Hill (five goals), George Nabbout (five goals), and Frank Campisi (four goals) enjoyed a day out in front of goals which was highlighted by a 10-goal first quarter.
The final game of the round is probably the most intriguing one with Pascoe Vale set to take on Greenvale.
The Panthers will go in as favourites but will face a Jets outfit hungry for finals football.
Greenvale is one game out and an upset victory would shake up the finals landscape in the top flight.
The last time they met, Pascoe Vale won by 47 points to make Greenvale 0-3, but since then the Jets have kicked into gear to be 7-2 since the matchup.
While finals footy may be unlikely for Craigieburn and Keilor Park, this matchup will no doubt be an interesting one with both sides pretty evenly poised.
Both sides are coming off losses and are on the same amount of points, with Craigieburn boasting a scoring edge, and Keilor Park marginally better on the defensive end of the ground.
It was a 10-point win for the Devils the last time they met in Round 1 with Oscar Sasalu and Jordan Filakis each kicking two goals, while Jake Carlisle kicked two goals up the other end.
An important game looms for Tullamarine and Westmeadows in the context of the relegation battle.
Tulla are a game clear of Westy who are second last and a win will give them a more comfortable buffer.
Westy will need the win and percentage to get clear of the relegation zone, but still have a game with Glenroy to come.
The last time these sides met was on ANZAC Day where Tullamarine ran away with the game, but not without a scare from a young Tigers outfit.
The second meeting between St Albans and Deer Park will again be interesting, but for a different reason.
St Albans have a chance to draw even with Deer Park on points who they share the same amount of wins with but are 35 per cent behind.
Deer Park on the other hand will gain a two-game buffer on maintaining the second chance in finals.
With Rupertswood lurking, there is the chance of either side slipping out of that range.
Rupertswood will host fellow Sharks in Hillside as they look to keep in touch of a second chance opportunity on Nena and Pasadena EDFL Match of the Day.
Hillside were able to respond last week after two disappointing losses while Rupo have been in some fine form, dropping just one of their last five in a loss against West Coburg.
The last time they met was in Round 1 when Hillside won by 15 points. Josh Covelli kicked five that day but hasn’t been in the seniors since returning from injury.
Roxburgh Park continue to be in the finals conversation sitting just a game out of the five, and will travel to Ormond Park to play Moonee Valley.
Roxy suffered a heavy defeat to Rupo last week, while Moonee Valley are coming off a 17-point win over Keilor Park.
The last time these sides met, Roxy won by 31 points with 11 individual goal scorers on the day.
In the final game, West Coburg will host Glenroy at the Shoretress. West Coburg won this matchup by 121 points in Round 2.
East Sunbury finished fast last week and will be wanting to carry that momentum into their clash with Burnside Heights.
They scored 35 points in the final term after a slow start and are still searching for their first win of the season.
The Bears on the other hand are two games out of finals, so it’ll be a tough road into the four, but the battle remains open.
Over at Cole Reserve, Coburg Districts will play Northern Saints as they look to hold down their spot in the four, with an eye to move up pending other results.
They’re two games behind the Saints who will be fighting for a double chance following two losses.
The last time these two met, the Lions handed the Saints their first loss of the year with a 19-point margin in the end.
Sunbury Kangaroos are just one game out of the four and will host the second-placed Taylors Lakes.
The Lions got the job done last time these sides met by 23 points, with Jaxon Holliday and Aaron Vendramini both putting up solid performances.
That contest was just a one-point game at the final change with Taylors Lakes storming home with six goals to two.
In the final game, Hadfield will host Oak Park hot off two consecutive wins.
The Hawks have knocked off Northern Saints and East Sunbury in the last two weeks, but will face a tough task against the ladder leaders if they’re to make it three in a row.
The last time these two sides met, Oak Park won by 68 points with Jedd Taylor kicking four goals, and Mitch Leathers kicking three in a best-on-ground effort.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
ABERFELDIE v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
STRATHMORE v KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
PASCOE VALE v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Raeburn Reserve
EAST KEILOR v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
TULLAMARINE v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Jacana Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
ST ALBANS v DEER PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Kings Park Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
RUPERTSWOOD v HILLSIDE
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Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
WEST COBURG v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v EAST SUNBURY
Saturday 2:15pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
COBURG DISTRICTS v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Cole Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
HADFIELD v OAK PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
