One of the top upcoming contests this weekend will be featured at Raeburn Reserve when Pascoe Vale take on Strathmore.
The Panthers currently sit second on the ladder and rank third for scoring and defence – the team above them? Strathmore, who sit second in those measures and fourth on the ladder.
Pascoe Vale has stood out as the next best side in the top flight due to how well they battled with Keilor, but you can’t count out this Mores side.
About a month ago, you would’ve been forgiving for not looking twice at this match between Keilor and Greenvale.
Suddenly, it’s become one of the more intriguing contests to see if Greenvale are just in a temporary purple patch, or a genuine threat in the top flight.
They’ve won three on the trot with the most noticeable one coming against Aberfeldie.
With some VFL talent staying on the park and new recruits firing, it’s a good chance to see where their best stacks up against the clear best in Keilor.
Another contest that could’ve flown under the radar would have been this contest between Airport West and Aberfeldie.
Although the last three weeks have only yielded one win for the Eagles, they’ve been able to push Strathmore and Pascoe Vale with competitive outings.
They’ve turned a corner in recent times and could be well primed to take the scalp of Aberfeldie.
Abers have an even record with a loss to Pascoe Vale, a big defeat to Keilor, and an upset loss to Greenvale.
While Airport West have a good opportunity to kick on, Abers have just as good an opportunity to get their season back on track with a statement.
Possibly foreshadowing a relegation battle to keep an eye on later in the season, Marby are searching for their first win against Douttas who are wanting to continue pushing themselves out of the conversation.
Both sides have been competitive most of the season, with Douttas able to get the job done against Avondale Heights and Airport West.
Marby are suffering from a lack of experienced personnel sitting on the sidelines so it will be a contest between youth for the majority on Saturday afternoon.
In the final game, East Keilor have a chance to bounce back against Avondale Heights, who are staring down the barrel of potentially another heavy defeat.
The Heights have been known in the past to be competitive on a good week, and they’ll need to bring it.
Craigieburn have a chance to bounce back when they face a Westmeadows side buoyed off their first win of the season.
With no Rexhepi and Carlisle last week, those two back in the side could prove pivotal with a younger, quicker Westy side.
If the Tigers can run the Eagles off their feet, they can go a long way into quelling the impact of Craigieburn’s key forward.
West Coburg are playing some ominous footy at the moment, and you’d expect that to continue this week against Keilor Park.
With that in mind, the game will be played at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve, a far cry from the size of Shore Reserve.
This will probably be the best chance anyone will have when facing West Coburg – get them away from a ground that they play so well.
Tulla are away from Jacana Reserve and will need to show some competitiveness to get their season back on track against Roxburgh Park.
The Magpies are in some fine form winning four of their last five, while the Demons have had an average losing margin of almost 80 points in their last three games.
Form will say Roxy can’t be counted out, but Tullamarine are a side that still has some experience that blends well with their youth when they can bring it all together.
Moonee Valley secured their first win of the season when they defeated Tullamarine last week and will be searching for two on the trot against Glenroy.
Glenroy are on the bottom of the ladder, and Moonee Valley has shown a lot more fight in their losses so it begs an opportunity for the Fog to secure two in a row.
In the final two games, Deer Park and Rupertswood will face Hillside and St Albans, respectively.
The Lions and Rupo played off in an absolute thriller last week with Rupo taking the chocolates, while both will be hoping to leave on Saturday with a win.
Nena and Pasadena EDFL Match of the Day will be heading to the Sunbury Megabowl to watch East Sunbury and Sunbury Kangaroos play off for their first win of the season.
The Sunbury Kangaroos lost their first three matches by a combined margin of 14 points, and have lost the last two by exactly 23 points each.
East Sunbury on the other hand, have ensured their stars like Shylo Smith, Mitch Church, and Aaron Kite are firing, but there’s just been a drop off after the top performers which has resulted in some big losses.
After going undefeated through the first month, Northern Saints could be poised to drop two in a row when they come up against the Division Two favourites in Oak Park.
They were valiant in their loss to Coburg Districts, but Northern Saints currently sit -75 for points compared to Oak Park, and +130 in points conceded.
A potential finals preview the way both teams have been playing. Coburg Districts we expected but Taylors Lakes have been the steep risers in 2023.
They are sitting 4-1 with a loss to Oak Park, and just one of their wins has been against a 2022 finalist (Burnside Heights).
For Coburg Districts, they just need to maintain the rage and continue their solid form.
Burnside Heights got an important win last week to get their season back on track.
Another side that needs to is their opponent in Hadfield who beat Coburg Districts Round 1, but haven’t been at their best outside of a win against East Sunbury.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
ABERFELDIE v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
KEILOR v GREENVALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Joe Brown Oval
MARIBYRNONG PARK v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
PASCOE VALE v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Raeburn Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
KEILOR PARK v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
MOONEE VALLEY v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
HILLSIDE v DEER PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Reserve
RUPERTSWOOD v ST ALBANS
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
HADFIELD v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
OAK PARK v NORTHERN SAINTS
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
EAST SUNBURY v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
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Saturday 2:15pm at John McMahon Reserve
