CRAIGIEBURN v STRATHMORE
Friday 7:30pm at Highgate Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN and Strathmore both travelled to Sunbury in Round 6 and returned home without the four points.
Strathmore failed to register a score against the Sunbury Kangaroos on Saturday morning before being reduced to 14 players in the second quarter and calling the game off.
Remi McPherson was Craigieburn’s sole goal kicker against the Sunbury Lions as the Eagles’ challenging run continued, with the final result being 1.3-9 to 8.6-54.
Jemayne Albrecht and Natasha Campbell were named Craigieburn’s best.
When Craigieburn host their first EDFL Women’s match under lights at Highgate Reserve, both teams will be looking for a change of fortune.
Strathmore will be hopeful that Taylah Lambert can play up to her best again, while Craigieburn will be looking to Belinda Gicevski and Chloe Jonkers to provide a spark.
A second win of the season for either team is up for grabs here.
HILLSIDE v SUNBURY LIONS
Friday 7:30pm at Hillside Reserve
Hillside will be ruing their missed opportunity against Burnside Heights in Round 6 but will have the Friday night stage here to reinforce their growth and confidence as a team, when they return home to play the Sunbury Lions.
The Sharks took the game right up to the Bears, with the performances of Annalise Wilkie, Ebony Wilkie (two goals) and Demi Houston almost willing their team to victory in the last quarter, but the final goal was not forthcoming.
The Lions come off a strong win against Craigieburn, in a match in which they were never headed.
Jacinta Lee was a constant presence up forward, kicking three goals with Sera Catania influential around the ball.
Hillside will come out firing on their home deck as they look to stay in touch with the top four, but the Lions will be unwilling to let their winning form slip.
PASCOE VALE v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 11:50am at Raeburn Reserve
EDFL Women’s football returns to Raeburn Reserve on Saturday morning, after two weeks away for the Panthers.
On a sunny Saturday afternoon at Clifton Park last week, Pascoe Vale was resilient in defence, repelling a number of forward 50 entries by Aberfeldie.
However, with limited options to kick to up forward, the majority of the game was played out within the Panthers’ defensive half.
Westmeadows was on early against Keilor, leading at the first change by a point, but they were unable to maintain the heat, with the Blues kicking goals in each remaining quarter to run out winners by 41 points.
Andrea Gobbo, Valeria Guerreiro and Nicole Chiera featuring amongst the best for Westmeadows.
The Panthers will be hopeful of getting additional players out on the park for this game at home and will be looking to Amira Mekawy and Rita Iocco to lead the charge.
Westmeadows, on the other hand, will be planning to come out hard and kick a decisive score through Renae Schwarze and Natalie Linton.
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 3:10pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
Burnside Heights have won two thrillers in a row by a combined total of three points, after holding on against a fast-finishing Hillside.
The Bears led at all breaks, with Kayla Ravanello dynamic around goal (three majors) and Krissy Trang and Jodie-Lee Roach prominent in the contest, but the home team did not trouble the scoreboard in the last quarter.
Hillside appeared likely to claim a major come-from-behind win, but the Bears held tough, edging them out by two points.
The Sunbury Kangaroos enter Round 7 on the back of a 54-point win against an undermanned Strathmore, who were forced to pull out the game, succumbing to injury and limited player numbers in the second quarter.
Kate Edney (three goals) and Louise Martino (two) were on-song, helping the Kangaroos open up a substantial first half lead.
The Kangaroos should have the fresher legs coming into this match and will have confidence in their midfield to match it with Burnside Heights, however the Bears know how to win.
Brittany Mifsud and Tylah Bell shape as key players for the Kangaroos if they are to get over the line.
KEILOR v ABERFELDIE 1
Saturday 4:50pm at Keilor Reserve
Super Saturday at Joe Brown Oval will feature three top-of-the table showdowns between Keilor and Aberfeldie, culminating in this twilight EDFL Women’s match.
A boisterous crowd should be present to witness an exciting battle between two of the competition’s most talented, skilful teams and it is expected that neither will be willing to give an inch.
Aberfeldie got the better of Keilor in their Round 2 match to the tune of 48 points.
However, Keilor were without Lauren Caruso, Madi Douglas and Elizabeth Hosking, who have all come into the Keilor side in recent weeks and been among the best players.
The other notable absentee from the Round 2 match was Brooke Todero, who sits second on the goal kickers list for 2019 with 15 goals.
Her inclusion only increases Keilor’s potency up forward.
Aberfeldie accounted for Pascoe Vale easily last week despite kicking inaccurately (8.15), which they will want to improve.
Kurtis Shine was excellent in the win with two goals and Amber Wescombe and Sarah Larkings also chimed in with two each.
Keilor will need to stop Aberfeldie from breaking the game open with their run out of the middle to give themselves the best chance of reversing the result of Round 2.
This game has the potential to be reflective of finals action later in the year.
ROXBURGH PARK v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Friday 7:30pm at Lakeside Oval
Roxburgh Park comes into Round 7 against Essendon Doutta Stars sitting in fourth spot on a tightly-contested Division 1 ladder.
However, with Moonee Valley coming up next, the importance of a win here cannot be underestimated for the home team.
Danielle Verity and Chloe Dinuccio were instrumental in their one-point win against Tullamarine in Round 6.
Down by seven points at three-quarter time, the Magpies dug deep and were able to stop Tullamarine from adding to their score and kicked 1.2 in the last to take the four points.
Essendon Doutta Stars went up against an Aberfeldie 2 team featuring a host of experienced players and in a see-sawing game played between the two centre half forward lines, the Stars prevailed by two points.
Tahlia Noonan stepped up and kicked two goals while Megan Runting and Meagan Aherne played terrific games.
The Stars’ level of depth is impressive, as a number of players have hit the scoreboard and been mentioned among the best players across each round.
They may be a handful for Roxburgh Park to manage.
The Magpies have a few consistent contributors including Danielle Verity and Sarah Mazzucco of their own, though, and will set out to end the Stars’ winning run.
MARIBYRNONG PARK v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 10:00am at Monk Oval
Maribyrnong Park and Tullamarine are two teams who have had exciting moments in their first year of EDFL Women’s, having recorded three wins apiece.
But both are still looking to take the next step.
Maribyrnong Park has proven they can win against the teams below them, but they are still searching for their consistent four-quarter best against more fancied teams such as Keilor Park, although they should be encouraged by their performance in Round 6.
The Lions led at half time against the Devils and were still in the hunt at the last change but ran out of legs as Keilor Park added three goals to nothing in the final 20.
Ruby Bray put on her best performance for the senior side, having stepped up from the 2018 Under 18 program with Amelia Beardmore also a strong contributor, having come in for her first game for the Lions.
Tullamarine will be smarting after its one-point loss to Roxburgh Park.
Tricia Devine and Kiandra Tuvaine played inspired football in their return game against their former side and Samantha White continued her lively form but in a low-scoring game, the Demons fell short.
Maribyrnong Park will face Essendon Doutta Stars, Roxburgh Park and Moonee Valley in a challenging three weeks ahead and will want to start that stretch by securing a win against Tullamarine at home.
However, with Tullamarine looking to stay in contention for the top four, this will be no easy ask for the Lions.
KEILOR PARK v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 11:50am at Keilor Park Reserve
The best of EDFL Women’s - Division 1 will be on show when Keilor Park faces off against Moonee Valley.
Moonee Valley did not get out onto the field in Round 6, as Greenvale were unable to meet minimum numbers, so the Fog will be raring to go when it travels to Keilor Park Reserve on Saturday morning.
Keilor Park was tested by Maribyrnong Park but responded in resounding fashion in the fourth quarter, delivering a 30-point win last week.
Samantha German the only multiple goal scorer for the match with three and she was complemented by Caitlyn Simon, Ashleigh Armstead, Amber McCabe and Sara Imela with one each.
Keilor Park has the experience to match it with Moonee Valley and will want to shut down the Fog’s pathway to goal.
To do that, they will need to limit the influence of Georgia Marsland (20 goals).
Hannah Greasley (four goals) and Tara Newman (three goals) have been Moonee Valley’s next highest goal kickers for the season and will be looking to apply forward pressure.
The Devils will look to Meghan Patrick to turn defence into attack on Saturday.
