By Luke Mathews
The top teams of the top flight will face off for the second time this year on Saturday when Keilor takes on Pascoe Vale at Joe Brown Oval.
When the two sides faced off in Round 6, the highly anticipated clash didn’t live up to expectations when Mick McGuane’s men took care of Pascoe Vale to the tune of 133 points, with the Panthers only kicking one goal.
Since then, the Blues are yet to drop a game for the year while Pascoe Vale have won every other game since except slipping up against Aberfeldie in Round 10.
One to keep an eye on is Billy Johnson who was sent forward last week with good effect kicking four goals to help his side get over the line against Aberfeldie.
The Panthers will have to be watchful to see where the defender-turned-forward lines up.
Avondale Heights return home for the first time since Round 10 to take on East Keilor.
Both sides have had very difficult campaigns with things going from bad to worse for the Heights last week after they lost to a red-hot Strathmore side by 168 points at Lebanon Reserve.
East Keilor on the other hand haven’t been able to back up last season’s successful campaign that culminated in a finals berth and currently sit in eighth spot on the ladder with only three wins and a draw for the year.
The two sides last faced off in Round 4 and it was the Cougars who came out on top beating the Heights by 27 points at Overland Reserve thanks to three goals from Lachlan Smart and Bruno Laguda.
Reigning Reynolds Medallist Matthew Dennis is one to look out for on Saturday at Canning Reserve.
The ruck has once again been one of his side’s best players and another best on ground performance against the Heights will go a long way in helping him claim the league’s top honour for the second year running.
Strathmore travel to Section Road for the first time this year to take on the in-form Jets in one of the games of the round.
The two sides played out a classic earlier in the year when Strathmore gave up an early lead and had to hang on to defeat Greenvale at Sewell Reserve by three points.
Greenvale have been in fine form recently winning their last three and now sit in equal fourth and right in the hunt for a finals berth, but Saturday’s game will be their toughest test in recent weeks.
If selected, Kyle Weightman will be one to keep an eye on at Section Road on Saturday.
The small forward has only played two games of EDFL footy this year after predominantly playing for Coburg in the VFL.
The sharpshooter played in the Round 7 game between the two sides and kicked four goals and is in good form after kicking another four against Avondale Heights last week.
Aberfeldie will be hoping to snap their losing streak on Saturday when they take on Deer Park at John McLeod Reserve.
After upsetting Pascoe Vale at Raeburn Reserve in Round 10, consecutive losses have dropped Aberfeldie a couple of games out of the top three.
Deer Park on the other hand were brave last week against Pascoe Vale but still haven’t won a game since Round 8, as they currently sit in ninth spot on the ladder with only three wins for the year.
When the two sides came up against each other in Round 6 it was Aberfeldie who cruised to a 122-point victory with Karl Brown and Josh Kemp doing the damage with seven goals each.
Airport West will be hoping to make up for last weekend’s draw when they travel down to Nipper Jordan Oval to take on Essendon Doutta Stars.
The Eagles had been one of the most in-form sides of the competition after winning three out of four games including upsetting Aberfeldie, but slipped up last week and had to settle for a draw against East Keilor.
Douttas also struggled last week and were no match for an in-form Greenvale going down to the Jets by 27 points at Section Road.
When the two sides squared off in Round 3 it was the Eagles who succumbed to their third loss in a row after going down to the Stars by 31 points at Hansen Reserve.
Captain Ned Gentile is one to look out for at Nipper Jordan Oval.
The midfielder has been one of the most dominant players across the competition in 2024 and slotted back into the side seamlessly last week kicking another three goals and almost dragging his team over the line.
The local product will be hoping for another dominant display against the Stars which should ensure his side comes away with the four points this time.
By Luke Mathews
Hillside will be hoping to get back on the winner's list when they face off with Craigieburn at DS Aitken Reserve.
The Sharks have loosened their grip on top spot of the ladder after losing their second game of the year against West Coburg, while Craigieburn have slipped down to seventh spot on the ladder after losing their last six games.
The two teams last played each other in Round 1 when Hillside recorded a comfortable 21-point victory that started a seven-game unbeaten run.
In order for Craigieburn to cause an upset, they will need another big game from Jamie Gorgievski.
The midfielder has had a strong last month which included 34 disposals, 11 marks, and seven tackles against Oak Park last time out.
It'll require a major turnaround for the Eagles who have dropped off dramatically.
St Albans will be hoping to keep in touch of the top three when they travel to Keilor Park to take on the Devils.
The Saints were lucky to escape with the four points last week after a fast-finishing Tullamarine missed two golden opportunities late that would’ve won them the game, while Keilor Park went down to Rupertswood by 62 points.
The two teams are yet to play each other in 2024 and with only four games left to play this year, a win for the Saints on Saturday would almost guarantee them of finals football for the second year running.
The in-form Maribyrnong Park will be hoping to climb up the ladder when they host Tullamarine for the first time this season.
Despite sitting in third spot on the ladder, Brodie Holland’s side is the form team of the competition having won their last seven games and potentially looking like they could return to the top flight.
It’s a big game for the Demons as well with a win on Saturday seeing them jump into the top five and help them return to finals footy.
Brodie Romensky will be hoping to back up last week’s dominant display on Saturday.
The midfielder had 32 disposals and kicked eight goals against Moonee Valley and another big performance will make the home side difficult to stop on Saturday.
Rupertswood will travel to Moonee Valley for the first time this year to take on the Fog in one of the most intriguing clashes across the competition this weekend.
The game looms as an eight point clash with the teams going into the game in ninth and tenth spot respectively.
A Rupertswood win would mean they go two games clear of the Valley all but ensure the Fog return to Division Two, while if the Valley get up at home they will leapfrog Rupertswood into ninth spot on the ladder.
Bevan Newell will be the one Rupertswood need to stop if they want to come away with the four points.
The captain has led from the front in the ruck and has clearly been his side’s best player in 2024.
If he gets his hands on it first for most of the day it will go a long way in helping his side avoid relegation.
West Coburg will be hoping to keep a hold of top spot when they play Roxburgh Park at Shore Reserve on Saturday.
The Saints are in fine form having only lost the one game this year back in Round 2 against Hillside and are a big chance of finishing on top of the ladder for the second year running – but will be hoping to go one better in September.
Roxburgh Park on the other hand have been struggling with the Magpies' last win coming back in Round 10 against Moonee Valley, with a loss to Keilor Park since then.
For Roxburgh Park to win they will need to stop West Coburg’s dynamic forward line.
Muhammad Saad, Omar Saad, and Ibby Taha have all been superb in 2024 and have combined for 99 goals.
If the big three get on top they will definitely take some stopping.
By Eric Forman
A finals-shaping clash will take place at Cole Reserve when Coburg Districts play Sunbury Kangaroos.
Both sides are out of the top four at the moment with a draw for Districts last week displacing them, while the Kangaroos have lost six of their last eight games.
It'll come down to wins for both sides who need to chalk up these wins.
The Kangaroos took the four points when these sides met in Round 4 with an 11-point victory.
The experience of Mitch Streiff and Mitch Kook stood up in that contest as Andrew Siekai kicked three goals.
Up the other end, Jack McNamara was goalless and with the power forward kicking 24 goals in his last four games, the Kangaroos will need to repeat that to give themselves a strong chance.
Taylors Lakes will host Hadfield fresh off the bye and looking for their third win on the trot.
They won comfortably the last time they met the Hawks who've been competitive and challenged sides for majority of the season.
It was a second-half fadeout that lost it for them conceding 13 goals and kicking just the two.
Ange Lamanna's men are a mathematical chance of playing finals, but while it's unlikely, they'll have a very good chance to shape the top four.
Westmeadows and Glenroy will square off again when they meet at Willowbrook Reserve.
The two have had vastly different seasons since joining Division Two with Westy a chance for a top-two finish, while a number of closes losses have the Roys in second last.
A win for Westmeadows will keep pressure on Burnside Heights and Taylors Lakes to keep winning or risk losing the double chance, while Glenroy are similarly positioned to Hadfield in that they can shape the four without placing.
Westy won by 72 points when these sides met on ANZAC Day with Glenroy held goalless to half time.
They managed some consolation goals late but couldn't stop the run of the Tigers who boasted 10 individual goal scorers, eight of which kicked two or more.
Dean Young will be hoping for a better defensive effort this time out with a potentially wet surface aiding their effort.
Twilight footy will return to the Bear Cave with Burnside Heights hosting Northern Saints in a tantalising clash.
The Saints claimed fourth spot after last weekend and will be looking to hold onto it as one of the form teams of this competition with five wins in a row.
The Bears have kicked back into gear after dropping two in a row and will know they'll need to keep winning to earn their double chance.
The last time they met, a four-goal third quarter for Burnside proved the difference in a relatively even contest that saw them prevail by 19 points.
Daniel Hovey and Dion Lawson kicked four goals each with Nick Gregson (two goals) and Lachlan Evans (one goal) also getting dangerous, so Cole Harvey will be keen to exploit their key defenders yet again.
Eddie Withington kicked four goals up the other end but hasn't featured since Round 5, so Tamer Abdallah will be hoping the inclusion Nick Bruno can continue his stellar season and replicate or best his efforts.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
GREENVALE v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
KEILOR v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
DEER PARK v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at John McLeod Reserve
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Nipper Jordan Oval
CRAIGIEBURN v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
KEILOR PARK v ST ALBANS
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
MARIBYRNONG PARK v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
MOONEE VALLEY v RUPERTSWOOD
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Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
WEST COBURG v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Shore Reserve
COBURG DISTRICTS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 2:15pm at Cole Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v HADFIELD
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 4:05pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
