STRATHMORE v SUNBURY LIONS
Friday 7:30pm at Boeing Reserve
THERE are some telling matches fixtured in EDFL women’s - Premier to cap off an exciting 2019 season, but this looms as the pick of the battles between two lower ranked teams.
In a close first encounter when they met in Round 3, only three goals were scored between them, with the Lions recording their first win of the year by just six points.
However, this is a chance for both teams to celebrate their own successes of the season, with a few more goals each.
The Mores were not far away from spoiling Hillside’s party in Round 13, trailing by a single point at the last change, but the Sharks, with the finals on the line, got the better of the final term.
Georgia Sampson and Laura Cocomello gave Strathmore the best chance of winning.
Emily Brady’s goal was the highlight for the Lions against a powerful Keilor team in their 57-point loss.
The team most willing to stand up for each other and do the important one percenters will be a deserving winner under lights at Boeing Reserve.
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v WESTMEADOWS
Friday 7:30pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
The Kangaroos have the opportunity to bring Westmeadows’ season to a halt tonight.
Add to that the need for the current third placed team to make certain of a double chance with Burnside Heights ready to pounce and you are looking at some high stakes.
Westmeadows were no match for a high-scoring Aberfeldie in Round 13, unable to limit the flow of ball movement into the forward half, with eight players getting onto the scoresheet.
Andrea Gobbo (one goal), Jacqueline Radnell and Stephanie Andrews were best for the Tigers.
The Kangaroos, on the other hand, scored freely against Craigieburn, with a change of position for some key players proving a positive result.
Regina Said (four goals), Tylah Bell (four) and Bailee Said (three) proved too lively for the Eagles defenders.
The Kangaroos have also had the luxury of being able to bring in Simone Craigie in recent weeks after five games with Carlton VFLW, boosting Sunbury’s finals prospects even more.
The challenge for Westmeadows is difficult but be sure that they won’t go down wondering.
HILLSIDE v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Friday 7:30pm at Hillside Reserve
This game has the potential to be a blockbuster and could be a good indicator of the finals football to come.
Their last meeting had a little bit of everything, missed chances, comebacks and nail-biting finishes with two points the difference at the end of the day.
The Sharks will be set to stop Kayla Ravenello and Maria Afuhaamango, with Afuhaamango coming off a bag of four and having combined with Ravenello to kick their total score in Round 6.
Hillside will also would be hoping to have Emily Paterno line up again, but a four-goal best-on-ground performance against Strathmore may have her back in for Richmond at VFL level.
Nikita Wright and Caetlyn Twentyman were also influential in Round 13 and could provide important run and drive against the Bears.
The Sharks have their finals destiny in their own hands and with fourth to play fifth in the first round of the finals, should the Sharks secure fifth spot, a rematch is on the agenda for next week.
With much of football often played above the shoulders, advantage here could be crucial.
KEILOR v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 12:50pm at Keilor Reserve
In the first of two top v bottom last round fixtures, the Eagles will travel to Keilor Reserve for their first meeting of the year.
What Keilor’s team looks like heading into the final round will be interesting with the rotation of available players.
Nonetheless, Keilor look threatening and the Eagles will have their work cut out for them trying to contain the finals bound contender.
Eleven goals from the last four games has been the return for Lisa Kirby, spearheading Keilor’s attack alongside Renee Melton (three) against the Sunbury Lions.
Tracey Bradshaw, Brittnay Soutter and Jazmin Wightman were the best for the Eagles in their 101-point defeat to the Sunbury Kangaroos.
Keilor are the third highest scoring team behind Aberfeldie and the Sunbury Kangaroos in the competition this season, while Craigieburn are ranked last.
That’s an ominous statistic ahead of this game.
PASCOE VALE v ABERFELDIE 1
Sunday 2:20pm at Raeburn Reserve
Aberfeldie are looking at an unbeaten run through the home-and-away season if they get a win over Pascoe Vale.
It’s a feat the Panthers achieved 12 months ago before going on to win the flag.
Jacqueline Wade (five goals), Jess Atta (three), Siobhan Carlton (two) and Amy Starzer (two) led Aberfeldie to a commanding 109-7 win against Westmeadows last week.
Amy Smith has also had a great month of football and was also important in helping set up the win.
For Pascoe Vale, Stephanie Rogerson and Shannon Gore did all they could to keep their team in the game against Burnside Heights.
Aberfeldie will have the week’s break between Round 14 and the Semi Finals, so the pressure is off, however they can’t afford to get complacent.
ABERFELDIE 2 v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Friday 7:30pm at Aberfeldie Park West
This is a good pre-finals test for Maribyrnong Park under lights and away from home.
Aberfeldie 2 have been a regular Friday night fixture this season, but this will be Maribyrnong Park’s first attempt, having predominately played on Saturdays.
How much bearing this has on the result should be minimal, but it is an exciting prospect for a team that has really come together over the past five weeks.
Aberfeldie 2 come in off the back of two losses in a row and will want to finish the season on a high.
In Round 13, 14 points was the margin in a reasonably low-scoring game (seven shots to three) against Roxburgh Park.
Emily-Layne Kapetanovic and Courtnee Griffiths registered a goal apiece.
Maribyrnong Park reversed their fortune from Round 4, despite kicking 7.13 and holding Greenvale to just a point, with Gabrielle Mahoney (two goals) and Elana Lilla (two) finishing off good work up the ground.
Exactly how far the Lions can push into August could start with a momentum-building win here.
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v MOONEE VALLEY
Friday 7:30pm at Canning Reserve
A four-goal game by Molly King spurred a 73-point win for the second placed Moonee Valley over Coburg Districts in Round 13.
Three goals by Georgia Marsland and two goals to Hannah Greasley helped cap the win.
Moonee Valley can’t jump Essendon Doutta Stars into first place due to a large differential in percentage but could swap spots with Keilor Park if they were to go suffer a loss to the Heights.
The Heights, however, struggled for team numbers against Essendon Doutta Stars and are unlikely to have access to anymore of Keilor’s permitted players with finals just around the corner.
Isabella Iaccino added to her goal kicking tally with a goal, while Jacklynn Honey kicked her first as well against Douttas.
It is imperative for the Fog to get their structures right going into the first week of finals against Keilor Park.
KEILOR PARK v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 10:00am at Keilor Park Reserve
Keilor Park finalised their double chance in Round 13 with a hard fought four-point win against Tullamarine.
Down by eight points at three-quarter time, the game looked to be the Demons for the taking, but the Devils held them scoreless and put on two goals to take the four points.
Sam German (two goals) and Cheyene Macumber (one) were the catalysts in the win.
Jordan Gwynne, Chloe Seymour and Ashlee Atkins, in her fourth game for the club, were also among the best.
Roxburgh Park similarly faced a deficit against Aberfeldie 2 before being able to wrestle control and play the game on their own terms.
Shelby Best was a consistent target up forward, finishing with two goals, while the Magpies’ core group of Elisha Wain, Jessica Paten and Karina Carroll were influential in tight.
How much risk both teams take in putting their best teams head-to-head is likely to impact the result in this match-up.
GREENVALE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 12:50pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve - Oval 2
A six-goal first term by the Stars set the tone against Avondale Heights last week.
But a 4.9 second term limited the margin, as inaccurate kicking marred the Stars’ scoresheet.
Shelby Meyers (four goals), Sophie Fazzolari (four), Aleesha Hobbs (three) and Kate Bacak (two) finished off the good work of Megan Runting and Meagan Aherne.
Greenvale were without Bianca Torrijos and could only score a point against Maribyrnong Park.
The Jets would have given themselves a chance to get another win up on the Lions but were overrun.
Courtney Mclaughlin along with Fredda Puruntatameri and Arthurina Moreen did their part to keep the Jets in the game.
Greenvale will want to finish their season with something to cheer about but for the Stars, it will be business as usual headed into an exciting finals campaign.
COBURG DISTRICTS v TULLAMARINE
Sunday 2:20pm at Cole Reserve
Two teams searching for a positive end to their 2019 seasons will face off at Cole Reserve on Sunday.
Tullamarine have endured a trying month of football, not having won a match since beating Avondale Heights back in Round 9.
For a talented team touted as a finals contender from early in the year, it has been a deflating end.
The story of the year for the Demons has been close finishes, and the match against Keilor Park was an exact example of this.
Just five points came between the Demons and a possible finals berth, providing they scored a likely win here against Distrcits.
Lovey Morunga, Beth Dore and Cayla Belli led the charge, but ultimately just fell short against the Devils.
The expectation for Coburg Districts at the start of the season was quite distinct from Tullamarine’s, with a host of new faces and names on their list.
Hayley Carmichael, Bianca Hendricks and Abbie Storer were the mainstays featuring against Moonee Valley in their 73-point defeat.
Both teams can leave it all out on the park as they begin to look towards Season 2020.
