By Evan Tudor
Fifth will take on first at Buckley Park as Essendon Doutta Stars and Strathmore meet in a crucial clash.
Sitting one spot outside finals qualification, Essendon Doutta Stars has won its past two matches and is hitting the right form at the perfect time of year.
Strathmore finds itself on top of the pack, eyeing off a seventh straight win.
When the Stars and Mores last met in Round 7, it was Strathmore which was victorious by 26 points in a Friday night showdown.
With just four rounds remaining in the season, Saturday’s contest is shaping up as a must-win for both sides, with Strathmore wanting to hold top spot, and the Stars wanting to stay in the finals hunt.
Eloise Egglestone continues to be the competition’s best, with the Mores’ key ball winner named best-on in all eleven of her appearances.
Talia Motta and Milla Murphy continue their scoresheet dominance for the Mores, while Ada Pizzinga returned to the scoreboard for the Stars last weekend after three lean rounds.
Isabelle Porter has also found some fine form of late, kicking a goal in her past two matches and has been named best-on in seven of her appearances.
Will the Mores remain on top, or will the Stars’ finals push continue?
Aberfeldie has a chance to return to the ladder’s pole position when it welcomes Hillside to Clifton Park.
A lot has changed since Hillside’s 11-point victory in Round 1 when these two sides last met.
Hillside has gone 1-8 since that contest and finds itself on eighth rung of the ladder.
Aberfeldie has spent a majority of the season on top of the table with an overall record of 8-3, but last weekend’s defeat to Oak Park now sees the Two Blues underneath their old home of first spot.
After having been away for two straight weeks due to byes, Hillside will be hoping it can redeem itself following its goalless defeat at the hands of Oak Park in Round 11.
Hannah Ibrahim and Annalise Wilkie were named as some of the Sharks’ best in that contest and have been standouts all year.
Emily Paterno and Caitlin Sargent both kicked two goals when they met Abers in Round 1 and have been strong scorers for Hillside.
Aberfeldie will be hoping to take revenge after Round 1’s defeat to the teal, white, and black.
With the league’s best two leading goalkickers up its sleeve, Aberfeldie will be hoping Moana Hope and Emily Smith continue their form.
Olivia Madden and Amelia Wright have both been named Abers’ best on seven occasions.
Will the Two Blues sing the song once again, or will Hillside take another scalping over Aberfeldie?
Oak Park will look to strengthen its case as a premiership contender when it takes on Caroline Springs at JP Fawkner Reserve.
After an impressive performance over Aberfeldie last weekend, the Kangaroos picked up their seventh consecutive win in style.
Winning all by an average of 40 points, Oak Park is proving to be no easy beat.
Hitting the scoreboard every week since Anzac Day, Tayah Kelly leads the Roos’ goalkicking, with Terira Fry’s stunning form continuing.
Defeating the Lakers is something Oak Park is no stranger to.
The Kangaroos became the first side to overcome Caroline Springs in the EDFL topflight back in Round 6’s eight-point nailbiter.
And in this weekend’s rematch, the third-place Roos will look to have the upper hand over the fourth-placed Lakers.
But will Caroline Springs’ fire reignite after a quiet past two weeks?
After such a great start to the season, the Lakers have been on a rocky path lately and are on the back of a second straight defeat.
We know how good the Lakers can be, with some strong goalkicking ability in Jacinta Kondis and Mira Diab.
Caitlyn Volpe, Jordin Williamson, and Taya Meiers continue to be some key possessors of the Sherrin.
The talent and skill are certainly there. It’s just a matter of putting it all together again.
Will the Roos’ sensational run continue, or will Caroline Springs strike back when it needs to most?
Round 13 concludes when Maribyrnong Park takes centre stage at Monk Oval to take on Keilor.
It shapes up to be a thrilling contest between two very exciting sides.
After a strong display against Moonee Valley last weekend, the Lions will be out to put another win on the board after back-to-back losses.
Keilor will look to continue its never-give-up attitude and maintain its goalkicking moments.
It was Maribyrnong Park that was victorious when it met with Keilor in Round 5, getting up by 71 points.
Tegan Matthews kicked four while Evie Fitzgerald and Ava Steel found two.
The trio continue to be some key standouts at Monk Oval to watch.
The Blues will hope for a strong performance on Saturday.
While it’s been a tough year for the Blues, Keilor continues to keep its head up high and never backs down when the going gets tough.
This was evident in last Saturday's match against Strathmore.
Keilor was scoreless heading into the final term, but that didn’t stop the side from coming together and helping Ruby Gibson get a goal.
Laura Wright’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed either, with the star Blue recently named a nominee for the EDFL’s Fernwood Fitness Women’s Player of the Month for June.
It’ll be a contest between two hungry sides, with an opportunity for both the Lions and Blues to give it their all.
By Noah Wallwork
Round 12 will kick off with Tullamarine hosting Roxburgh Park at Leo Dineen Reserve, both sides honouring former player Tamara Youkhanis.
Tullamarine enter this game sitting at 10th, after a 49-point win against Taylors Lakes.
Roxburgh Park is in eighth spot after a close seven-point win against Sunbury Kangaroos.
The Magpies will be hoping to make it three wins in a row, with a chance to jump to seventh spot.
This game represents an opportunity for Roxy to keep rising up the ladder as a wildcard chance for finals.
Captain Haylea Cooke will look to add to her 10-goal tally, with fellow captain Emily Prouse supporting her around the ground.
Tullamarine is just coming off a 49-point win and will hope to continue its winning streak.
Summa Blackburn dominated with four goals and captain Charlotte Jackson kicked two to help the winning side against Taylors Lakes.
This is the first time they are playing against each other this year, but both teams will be hoping to finish the year strongly.
It’ll then be last placed Taylors Lakes hosting first placed Westmeadows at Lionheart Reserve.
Westmeadows is still undefeated, currently on an 11-game win streak with a percentage of 964.
In dire contrast, Taylors Lakes remain winless with a meagre percentage of 18.
These sides played against each other in Round 8, with Taylors Lakes defeated by 187 points, failing to register a single point of their own.
Taylors Lakes could only field 16 players from the outset, already significantly disadvantaged.
Courteney Munn had a day out kicking nine goals, while Danielle Linton and skipper Courtney Bligh both kicked five.
Sarah Wright and Ruby Smith were among the best and will hope to replicate their dominant form.
How much can Taylors Lakes stem the bleeding?
The question for Westmeadows will be, how relentless can they be?
Both East Sunbury and Coburg Districts will be looking to push their chances for finals, as they face off at John McMahon Recreation Reserve.
They currently sit seventh and sixth on the ladder, with Coburg Districts having the chance to jump to fifth if they collect the four points.
They have not met yet this season, but both teams have young stars hoping to push for finals.
Coburg’s vice-captain Bridgette Aparo has been named in the best for her last 10 games out of 11 and will hope to continue her fine form.
For East Sunbury, Sophia Iosifidis will hope to keep leading the way, alongside Jacinta Lee.
A crucial clash awaits Gisborne and Keilor Park at Gardiner Reserve.
They currently sit fifth and fourth on the ladder, however Gisborne has lost its last two matches and will be hoping for a response.
Keilor Park has won four of its last five matches, and will be hoping to make a run towards second or third on the ladder.
The last time they met was Round 5, where Keilor Park comfortably prevailed by 42 points. It is worth noting that Gisborne kicked 2.7 and will hope its accuracy in front of goals has improved.
In that game, Caitlyn Crameri starred up front with six goals, with the opposition having no answer.
Around the ground, it was the work of Antonietta Parisi and Talisa Bartolo who took control of the game for Keilor Park.
Their run and spread across the game nullified any chance of a Gisborne comeback.
For Gisborne, responsibility will be placed upon the likes of Amy O’Kelly and Madison Lawer, who continue to provide leadership and onfield dominance.
The Devils will hope to impose their dominance and goal kicking prowess, as their percentage of 340 gives them a big chance to jump into third position, over Craigieburn.
Burnside Heights will be hoping to cement its top two chances in a clash against Sunbury Lions at Clarke Oval.
The Bears have won eight of their last nine games, with only a draw in Round 9 against East Sunbury breaking their winning streak.
This will be the first time these teams have played each other, but plenty will be at stake for Burnside.
They have Craigieburn and Keilor Park hot on their heels, and will be hoping to separate themselves from the pack.
For the Sunbury Lions, they will be hoping to get back on the winning side for the final three games of the season.
The likes of Ashley McGregor and Mia Bergamasco will be pushing for an upset, with both players regularly among the best for the Lions.
After just coming off a two point defeat to East Sunbury, they will be looking to make amends.
For Burnside, goal kicking machine Olivia Antonello will be hoping to continue her good form, after already kicking 15 goals for the season.
Underager Taylia Iglesias has displayed promising signs in her transition to senior football, kicking nine goals.
To close off the round, the Sunbury Kangaroos will be facing off against Craigieburn at Eric Boardman Reserve.
This contest will be vital for the Eagles' run towards finals, as they currently sit in third, just two points behind Burnside Heights.
However, the worry is their low percentage, only sitting on 162 per cent.
The last time these two teams played against each other was Round 4, where Craigieburn stormed away with a 30-point win.
Craigieburn will be hoping to improve its accuracy, after kicking 5.13.
In that game, it was Indyana Simpson with three goals and Kaylee Allen who had two goals. Simpson in particular has dominated the forward half, kicking eight goals.
For the Sunbury Kangaroos, they will be hoping to end their three-loss streak and make a statement.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v STRATHMORE
Saturday 1:50pm at Buckley Park
ABERFELDIE v HILLSIDE
Saturday 1:50pm at Clifton Park
MARIBYRNONG PARK v KEILOR
Saturday 1:50pm at Monk Oval
OAK PARK v CAROLINE SPRINGS
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
TULLAMARINE v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 10:00am at Leo Dineen Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 10:00am at Lionheart Reserve
GISBORNE v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 11:50am at Gardiner Reserve
EAST SUNBURY v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 11:50am at John McMahon Recreation Reserve
SUNBURY LIONS v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 4:30pm at Clarke Oval
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 4:50pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
