By Evan Tudor
Round 3 of Airport Toyota Premier Division sees all four contests played on Anzac Day, with Oak Park and Strathmore getting things underway at JP Fawkner Reserve.
Both outfits enter this contest following narrow defeats last weekend by eight and seven points respectively after commanding Round 1 victories.
It’ll be a game between two sides looking to redeem themselves following maiden losses, with many exciting positives coming from both contests.
Oak Park recruited well across the off-season and the benefits of its work have already shown across its opening two games.
The club debuts of Holly McGregor from Burnside Heights and Ellie Huggard from Aberfeldie were spectacular, with the pair featuring in best-on lists twice in new colours to start the year.
One of the Kangas’ main focuses in this contest will be keeping their momentum rolling once they take off.
The Roos were fast starters in the opening term last weekend, scoring 4.1 (25) by the first change, but only went on to score a further 1.3 (9) by final siren.
If momentum like this can be maintained throughout the contest, it’ll put Oak Park in a really good position.
Strathmore enters Anzac Day’s game following its first loss in 637 days, with the Mores going down in Caroline Springs’ debut game.
Captain Eloise Egglestone was again one of the Mores’ standouts, earning back-to-back best-on appearances.
It’s been a ripper start to the season for Egglestone who’ll look for the hat-trick on Anzac Day.
Milla Murphy picked up her second season-goal, opening her year with a consecutive appearance on the goal sheet.
With both sides displaying strong ability to break away fast, which team will be able to make the most of that specialty in Saturday's encounter?
Moonee Valley will look to go 2-0 when it welcomes Aberfeldie to Ormond Park.
Having last weekend off for their bye, the Fog will return to the football field ready to take on the challenge that awaits, with the Two Blues winning last weekend’s encounter against Oak Park after trailing at three-quarter-time.
In that match against the Roos, Aberfeldie opened strongly, scoring four straight goals in the opening term, but would then fail to strike gold until the last quarter when they slotted two.
Former AFLW player Jess Duffin had a debut for Abers to remember, placed top on the best-on list after a stunning display that brought a taste of AFLW to the EDFL.
Moana Hope and Emily Smith slotted two majors each and will require extra attention from the black and white’s defensive line.
While the Two Blues would’ve liked to pressure the scoreboard more, something which they’ll look to do more on Saturday, it was a good win to start off their campaign following a Round 1 defeat.
Moonee Valley hasn’t featured on the football field since Round 1, but it was a six-point win over Essendon Doutta Stars that got its season underway.
Led by playing-coach Rhiannon Busch, the Fog features some serious NTFL talent that impressed in its win two weeks back.
Busch, one of the stars from the top end, has been a key part of the Moonee Valley build for some years now, and brings even more years of experience of footy from the Northern Territory down to Melbourne.
She was named in the best-on list in the Fog’s win against Douttas alongside Charlotte D'Ambrosio, who also has top-end experience.
A goalkicking spearhead, D’Ambrosio slotted two majors when the black and white last took to the field and looks set for another big year of goals.
She slotted 21 majors for Moonee Valley last season, adding to her 26 from the 2024-25 NTFL season.
Moonee Valley will want to focus on maintaining its stamp of authority on the game after being outplayed in the last term of the Douttas clash, conceding 2.3 (15) to nil.
Both sides have their own standout players and abilities, so it should make for a good contest on Saturday.
Aberfeldie took the four-points last time these sides clashed in a dominant 80-point win.
Maribyrnong Park will spend its Anzac Day at Walsh Oval taking on Essendon Doutta Stars, with both sides looking for a second-straight win.
After Round 1 saw losses for both the Lions and Stars, we got to see these two opponents sing the song last weekend, with the Lions doing so for the first time since July 27, 2024.
It was a joyous day at Walsh Oval last weekend, with the Lions tasting victory after a 25-point win over Hillside, coming from 14 points down at quarter time.
Using piercing handball to topple the reigning premier, Maribyrnong Park will once again show no mercy and will bring along a team loaded with talent.
The Lions were unfazed against their tough opposition, and with that mindset and ability, it sets them up well for the Anzac Day game.
Tegan Matthews stunned onlookers with her five-goal outing, proving her to be one of the Lions’ biggest recruits of the offseason.
Charli Calleia was also impressive across the ground, able to win the footy and control it well.
Alexandra McBride-Loane contributed three majors for the Lions and was one of the players to break the game apart early.
There’s a lot on the plate for Douttas to tackle, but their win last weekend against Keilor showed some promising signs that sets Saturday's match up as a cracker.
In the Stars’ 42-point win over the Blues, the navy blue and gold were the ones who showed best use of their talent pool, with six goalscorers paving the way for the big win.
Isabelle Porter kicked two goals and has now struck the big sticks twice this season, joining the likes of Mia Tully, who kicked one in the contest and three in Round 1.
Maribyrnong Park’s backline will need to keep an eye on these players who are eager to be a handful for the new-look side.
Only one of these sides can secure back-to-back wins to flip their record to a 2-1 start to the season.
Both sides can absolutely win this one but only one will, but regardless of that, all signs are pointing to a great day of football.
Anzac Day football concludes for another year when Caroline Springs hosts Keilor.
We got our first taste of Caroline Springs in Premier Division last weekend in the Lakers’ seven-point win over Strathmore.
It wasn’t necessarily the margin that the Lakers may have hoped to win by, with the Lakers known for outright dominance when they played in the WFNL.
Nevertheless, a win is a win, and that is what the Lakers walked away with last weekend.
Taya Meiers slotted three in the victory and will be of great concern to the winless Keilor.
Nyomi Stowers was the Doutta Galla Hotel player of the match for the Lakers and has what it takes to produce a similar result against Keilor on Saturday.
Last weekend, Keilor was on the wrong side of the scoreboard in a 42-point loss to Essendon Doutta Stars.
While they won the third quarter, it wasn’t enough of a boost to send the Blues on the winning trajectory, in that match at least, with players Laura Wright, Amelia Grech, and Melda Temurci all stepping up impressively despite the result.
Keilor will look to build upon the positives that it has shown across its opening two games and throw them down before Caroline Springs.
The Lakers will want to return to what they do best – taking control of the game fast.
By Jake Reeves & Michelle Dunstan
Round 3 kicks off on Saturday morning with Tullamarine hosting the undefeated Westmeadows at Leo Dineen Reserve.
The Demons are yet to get on the board in 2026 and are hopeful that Saturday can be their morning to get the monkey off the back and get a win for the first time this season.
The Tigers, meanwhile, are on fire to start their campaign. Westmeadows has held its opposition to a combined three goals in the opening two weeks and is in ripping touch heading into this clash.
Tricia Devine and Charlotte Jackson have both started their seasons in elite form and have received best players in the opening fortnight of the season for Tullamarine.
Georgia Betros and the Best’s in Mackenzie and Jameson have been the main women for the Tigers to start the season and look to continue it into the Demons clash.
A perfect record is on the line when Keilor Park plays host to Craigieburn on Saturday morning.
The Devils have enjoyed two commanding wins to affirm their status as one of the premiership favourites.
The Eagles entered the season as a bit of an unknown, witht he re-established women's program taking down Tullamarine and Taylors Lakes to start the year.
Craigieburn's side is full of stars from the Under 18.5 premiership win last season, Sienna Scuderi and Sienna Gioupas two that have starred so far.
Keilor Park will be its biggest challenge yet with the Devils kicking 21 goals across their two games.
Georgia O'Donovan, Sophie Shaw, and Caitlyn Crameri all sit in the top 10 for goal kicking in the competition and have proven to be hard to contain.
If the Eagles can force goals to come from elsewhere, it'll go a long way to putting them right in the contest.
Will it be the young guns of Craigieburn, or the sleek Keilor Park outfit that get up?
Roxburgh Park is set to head to Gardiner Reserve on Saturday afternoon and will come up against Gisborne.
Gisborne’s winning ways came to an end last weekend after the Sunbury Kangaroos crushed the winning streak that spanned across almost 20 matches.
The Bulldogs will be out for redemption and will be looking to get back on the winner's list on Saturday.
Amy O’Kelly, Stephanie Brancatisano, Ricki-Lee Turton, and Maisy Crowther, who kicked three goals last Saturday, have all been praised as among the best for Gisborne to start the season.
While Awatea Poutini has been the best for Roxy receiving best player honours in both games to kick off the season, among teammates Haylea Cooke, Sophie Pettman, Malake Hamdan, and Nour Moubarak who were all acknowledged in a close loss against Burnside Heights last weekend.
These sides last met in 2025 where Gisborne put on a mammoth 17 goals to one in a 101-point victory.
Burnside Heights and Coburg Districts will battle it out at Tenterfield Drive.
Both teams enter the contest fresh off a win with the Bears downing Roxburgh Park by 13 points, and the Lions breaking through with a 51-point win over Tullamarine.
Burnside Heights found plenty of shots on goal early, but struggled to capitalise kicking 3.7 to the final change.
While the defence leaked three goals on the final quarter, it held up very well for the other three and will be hoping to put both strong offence and defence together for a strong outing.
Co-captains Kiara Asani-Davis and Jorgia Redmond were strong in the win, with Aarzu Mavi another contributor Districts will need to be mindful of.
Coburg Districts powered away in quarters two and three and held Tulla scoreless, as complete a performance the Lions could hope for in Round 2.
Bridgette Aparo, Zoe Manning, and Sarah Docherty have been the three best for the Lions and will be who the Bears look out for on Saturday.
Taylors Lakes is looking to turn around a tough start to its 2026 campaign when it comes up against the Sunbury Lions on Saturday afternoon at Lionheart Reserve.
The Lions have had a slow start to the season, but there were some positives to take out of last weekend's loss to Craigieburn.
The Sunbury Lions, meanwhile, had a really challenging afternoon and were unable to score in last week’s 87-point defeat to ladder leaders Keilor Park.
The Lions find themselves on the bottom of the ladder, so both sides are desperate for a victory to get their season underway.
Courtney McCormack has been highly influential in the midfield to start the season for Taylors Lakes, along with teammates Sarah Jamieson, Stella Hoye, and Emma Villani.
Jorja McKenna, Karla Tentonello, and Kayla Theodore have led the Sunbury Lions side throughout the first two rounds, and have all respectively been given best player honours.
It is a must-win for both teams, as no teams in this competition want to go 0-3 to start their campaign.
These sides last met in June, 2024, and it saw Taylors Lakes get hold of the Sunbury Lions by 44 points at Clarke Oval.
Twilight footy at Eric Boardman Reserve will wrap up Round 3 with Sunbury Kangaroos taking on East Sunbury.
The Kangaroos enter this game with two wins, while East Sunbury went down last week following its Round 1 triumph.
The Gisborne hoodoo ended for the Kangaroos in their 10-point win last week, with Bailee Said's return enhancing their status as a finals contender.
They've enjoyed a spread of goal kickers in the two wins, with recruit Nicole Knudsen a standout around the ground.
The Thunder, meanwhile, were competitive against one of the premiership favourites in Westmeadows and will be confident that they can put forward their best outing in the local derby.
Ruby Taranto will be one to look out for if you're a Kangaroos defender, with five goals to her name for the season.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
OAK PARK v STRATHMORE
Saturday 1:50pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 1:50pm at Ormond Park
MARIBYRNONG PARK v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
🎥 Streamer
Saturday 1:50pm at Walsh Oval
CAROLINE SPRINGS v KEILOR
Saturday 2:20pm at Town Centre Recreation Reserve
TULLAMARINE v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 10:00am at Leo Dineen Reserve
KEILOR PARK v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 10:00am at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
GISBORNE v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 11:50am at Gardiner Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 11:50am at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v SUNBURY LIONS
Saturday 11:50am at Lionheart Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v EAST SUNBURY
Saturday 4:50pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
