By Liv Douglas
Oak Park will be looking for their second win against Craigieburn this season when they face each other at JP Fawkner Reserve.
The last time these teams came head to head it was Oak Park who managed to take a 29-point win back in Round 7 with four goals from Kane O'Halloran doing the damage.
O'Halloran (34 goals) has enjoyed a strong season with Oak Park sitting equal third in the goal kicking leader board and is a key cog in their forward half with Lachie Ronaldson the next best on 12 goals.
The Eagles may be a little more focused on their own game having lost their last five games and slipping out of the top five, with that loss to Oak Park the beginning of this streak.
The Kangaroos are coming off a 26-point win over Moonee Valley, while Craigieburn lost to Maribyrnong Park by 77 points.
Keilor Park continue the search for their first win when they host a Roxburgh Park outfit wanting to stay in finals contention.
The Devils enjoyed their closest contest the last time these sides met falling five points short of the Magpies in Round 1.
Roxy enjoyed a range of goal kickers that day with Ryan Micallef and Jack Elliott proving to be a handful in the ruck battle.
While the sides have been on different trajectories since then, the Devils will be keen to replicate some of that day's performance this weekend.
St Albans and Hillside will meet for the first time since last year's elimination final when they play at Kings Park Reserve on Nena and Pasadena EDFL Match of the Day.
Josh Covelli kicked six goals in that game which is what he's averaging in 2024 and will no doubt be a key focal point for the St Albans defence with heavy reliance placed on him to score.
The Sharks forward line also boasts veterans Nat Caruso and Robbie Castello to provide a different edge, but will need to see more offensive production across the board to create more headaches for opposition defences.
St Albans have enjoyed the presence of Brandon Coletta in their defensive half this season, so his role will be an interesting watch whether he takes a direct matchup or floats across in front of Covelli.
A win for St Albans will move them back into the top three with Marby having the bye, while a win for Hillside gives them a two-game buffer inside double-chance territory.
By Liv Douglas
Sunbury Kangaroos are set to host Westmeadows at Eric Boardman Reserve in a crucial contest.
Wins are vital as the Division Two competition gets tighter leaving little margin for error.
The Kangaroos slipped out of the top four on percentage with Coburg Districts and Northern Saints occupying fourth and fifth spots respectively above them.
Westy handed Burnside Heights their first loss before losing to Northern Saints but still hold a firm position in the finals race.
Shawn Bowden and Nathan Thomas continue to be some of the Kangaroos best and if the pair can repeat themselves, it could put the Kangaroos in a good spot for the win.
However, Westmeadows standout Jarrod Petersen could be an obstacle for the Kangaroos consistently dominating the game out of the Westy back half.
Westmeadows defeated the Kangaroos by 27 points the last time these sides met.
Over at Lionheart Reserve it will be the top team in Taylors Lakes looking to down the bottom team in East Sunbury.
East Sunbury, unable to convert this season, are still on the hunt for their first win and will need to play every trick in the book to challenge the Lions, while Taylors Lakes will try to defend their position on top of the ladder.
Taylors Lakes obliterated East Sunbury by 101 points when the sides last met in Round 3, but will be without Ben Weightman and potentially Raaf Rachrache (missed last week) who combined for 11 goals in that game.
Glenroy and Hadfield will face off for seventh position in a competitive game at Sewell Reserve.
Glenroy are coming off a bye and will be well rested, while Hadfield lost to Coburg Districts by 31 points.
Last time the two played each other it was Hadfield who took out the win by 14 points in a tight battle with Jack Wallace and Aaron Kite kicking four goals each up either end of the ground.
Tanner Nilsson is one Hadfield will need to watch out for being in the best players in eight out of nine games this season, as well as Glenroy’s strong forwards Kite and Mark Sabatino combining for 47 goals this season.
Sam Godden and Josh Trembearth, meanwhile, form an impressive partnership in the Hadfield engine room and will keep the Glenroy midfielders busy.
Burnside Heights will face off against Coburg Districts in a twilight game at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve.
The Bears are coming off a four-point loss against top team Taylors Lakes and a 16-point loss the previous week to Westmeadows, so they will hope to turn their streak around.
Districts have enjoyed a good run of form few weeks and will be looking to rectify their narrow 13-point loss to the Bears on ANZAC Day.
Burnside's own Daniel Hovey and Nick Gregson are both in the top four in the leading goal kickers and will be tough matchups for Coburg Districts.
The Lions will be without their star Jack McNamara through suspension.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
OAK PARK v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
ST ALBANS v HILLSIDE
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Saturday 2:15pm at Kings Park Reserve
KEILOR PARK v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v EAST SUNBURY
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
GLENROY v HADFIELD
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 5:00pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
