By Ashleigh Matosevic
Round 7 of Airport Toyota Premier Division is here and it comes with a mixed bag of blockbuster clashes and crucial rematches that could shape the ladder as we edge closer to the halfway mark.
Essendon Doutta Stars will head to Section Road to take on Greenvale to kick things off.
Throughout their last six games, Essendon Doutta Stars (4-2) has performed well against teams on the lower end of the ladder.
However, they have yet to consistently challenge the competition’s heavyweights above them to cement their spot in the top four.
With their defensive system proving capable of locking teams out when it clicks, and the emergence of consistent performers such as Adalita Pizzinga and Jayla Rutley, the Stars have an opportunity to put what they’ve built to the test and add another win to add to their campaign.
Meanwhile, Greenvale (2-4) has been up and down through its 2025 campaign.
Their victories against Keilor and more recently, Maribyrnong Park, see them sitting sixth on the ladder.
Last week, however, saw the Jets suffer their third consecutive loss to Aberfeldie, who were outpaced by the 86-point winners.
The last time these two sides met was at Buckley Park in Round 2 where Douttas claimed a commanding 124-point win.
If that result is any indication, the Stars will be confident in replicating a similarly dominant performance at Greenvale Recreation Reserve.
Round 7 continues as Keilor hosts Hillside at Green Gully Reserve.
Keilor (2-4) did as much as it could last week when it went up against an in-form Aberfeldie side, who ultimately handed them their fourth loss of the season.
Despite finding an early burst of form through a goal, they couldn’t match their opponent's relentless scoreboard pressure. They’ll be hoping for a better outcome as they head into the new week and the remainder of the season.
Keilor will be looking to the likes of Natalie Dunne and Chelsea McDermott to step up, with previous performances showing them to be crucial under tight conditions.
Hillside continues to go from strength to strength, proving to be the team to beat as they remain top of the ladder following six wins from six matches.
Emily Paterno and Caitlin Sargent have been standouts, their scoreboard impacts placing among the league’s most dangerous forwards. Both currently sit inside the top 10 for most goals kicked this season.
Although the odds appear stacked in Hillside’s favour, Keilor will no doubt be hungry to challenge the ladder leaders and put everything on the line.
Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong Park headline another rematch in Round 7, this time meeting at Ormond Park.
Moonee Valley hasn't been able to break its losing streak since beating Marby in Round 2, but has shown patches of promising play throughout its campaign.
Currently sitting seventh on the ladder, the Fog will be chasing a second win with Nadia Valenti and Kate Maxwell among those working hard to keep the side competitive.
The Lions sit just below them on the ladder and are still hunting for their first win of the year.
While the results haven’t gone their way, there have been plenty of signs of growth, with strong performances from Saskia Williams and Mali Sauvarin giving the side plenty to build on.
They’ll be aiming to channel that effort into a more complete performance this week.
The last time these two met, Moonee Valley claimed the win at Walsh Oval, securing their first victory of the year in a confidence boosting result.
Round 7 closes out with a matchup under the lights as Aberfeldie and Oak Park go head-to-head in a clash that could shape the top four.
Aberfeldie (5 - 1) continues to show why they’re considered among the premiership favourites, coming off a 93-point win over Keilor.
With a cohesive unit and the continued impact of Moana Hope, the side has stamped itself as one of the most consistent and dangerous in the competition.
Oak Park (4-2) have quietly built a consistent campaign of its own, coming off a 60-point win against Moonee Valley last week.
Tamsyn Kirk, Stephanie Normington-Dickens, and Maggie O’Connell have delivered recent performances that have also been standouts, helping to solidify Oak Park as a genuine contender for a three-peat.
The last time these two met it was at Aberfeldie Park West where Aberfeldie walked away with the win, delivering a 98-point statement.
With Oak Park keen to flip the script this time around, both teams will be jostling for the win that could prove vital.
By Eliza Duncan
Airport Toyota Division One will kick off with a top of the table clash at Keilor Park as the Devils take on the undefeated Strathmore.
Keilor Park took care of business in its last game out before the week off with a 43-point win over finals fancy Westmeadows.
Strathmore was one of two teams in action in this division last week and was dominant against Tullamarine in its 97-point win.
The only blemish on Keilor Park's record came at the hands of the Mores in Round 1 with 18 points separating the sides at the final siren.
It could've been a bigger margin with Strathmore kicking 2.9 while dominating defensively.
The Devils have kicked into gear offensively since that game with Georgia O'Donovan (10 goals), Caitlyn Crameri (eight goals), and Maddison Cooper (six goals) among the top goal kickers in the competition.
They will need a strong forward half performance from those three with Strathmore able to find plenty of avenues to goal up the other end.
Seventeen Mores players have scored goals this season, whereas only eight players have scored for the Devils.
This should be a cracking contest with both sides in form and looking to make a statement.
Tullamarine and Coburg Districts will face off at Leo Dineen Reserve in a battle between the bottom two sides.
The Demons picked up their first win of the season the last time these sides met in Round 4.
It was a comfortable 31-point margin on the day with Tulla's five goals coming from five individual goal kickers.
Coburg Districts were in it at half time before adding just one point to its score in the final term, whereas Tulla stretched away with a further 26 points in the second half.
Both sides will be looking to respond after heavy defeats last time out, with Districts wanting to pick up their first win, and Tulla their second.
Twilight footy at Willowbrook Reserve will round out the weekend's action as Westmeadows takes on Burnside Heights.
It'll be third against fourth as Westmeadows aim to bounce back from consecutive losses, and Burnside Heights look to claim a win against a current top four side.
The Tigers won by 14 points the last time they played the Bears in Round 3 in a tight contest.
Krissy Trang was a notable absentee in that matchup and will be one to watch for Westy.
A win for the Tigers will keep them in touch with the top two, while a win for the Bears will solidify their position in the four.
By Evan Tudor
It’s Round 6 of Airport Toyota Division Two and all six teams are back in action following the split round.
Friday night lights will take centre stage to open the round when Sunbury Kangaroos host East Sunbury at Eric Broadman Reserve.
The Kangaroos entered their break following their worst loss to the season so far, an 83-point defeat at the hands of Gisborne.
Despite the loss, sibling duo Lisa and Lauren Kirby were named among the side’s best.
They will hope to return to the likes of the serious form that we saw in Round 1.
It was an 83-point win for the side in that match, coincidently against East Sunbury, with the sides set to rematch tomorrow.
East Sunbury will be hoping for an improvement in its form after a substantial loss last weekend against Taylors Lakes.
It’s a clash of third and sixth in the second Friday Night game for the season.
Saturday football kicks off when Roxburgh Park takes on the undefeated Gisborne.
Roxy looks to bounce back from its loss against the Sunbury Lions, the side going down by 33.
Jameson Best and Kiara Croxford were the goal scorers for Roxy last weekend, hoping to cause a stir among the Gisborne defensive line.
Gisborne continued its undefeated run two weeks ago, heading into the break following a dominant 83-point spectacle over the Sunbury Kangaroos.
Kareena Jacobsen-Logan put on a show as always, kicking three to take her total to 13.
She’ll be hard to stop in this one and will look to kick yet another bag of goals.
The Dogs are stamping authority into the division and look poised for yet another win.
The battle of the lions will close out Round 6 football when Taylors Lakes takes on Sunbury Lions at Lionheart Reserve.
Following a loss to the ladder leaders Gisborne, Taylors Lakes redeemed themselves with a 132-point showcase over East Sunbury.
Charlie Goodwin will be one of Taylors Lakes' key players to threaten Sunbury’s defence.
She now leads the competition’s goal scoring ladder after kicking six last weekend.
The Sunbury Lions will look to go three on-the-trot and equal their 2-3 record with a win in this match.
Samantha Burnside scored five out of six goals on senior debut for Sunbury against Roxy last weekend.
It’ll certainly be an interesting game between these sides positioned second and fourth.
With players like Goodwin and Burnside at either end, the battle of the lions will be one to watch.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
GREENVALE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 1:50pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
KEILOR v HILLSIDE
Saturday 1:50pm at Green Gully Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v MARIBYRNONG PARK
🎥 Streamer
Saturday 1:50pm at Ormond Park
OAK PARK v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 4:50pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
KEILOR PARK v STRATHMORE
Saturday 10:00am at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
TULLAMARINE v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 11:50am at Leo Dineen Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 4:50pm at Willowbrook Reserve
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v EAST SUNBURY
Friday 7:30pm at Eric Boardman Reserve
ROXBURGH PARK v GISBORNE
Saturday 11:50am at Lakeside Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v SUNBURY LIONS
Saturday 11:50am at Lionheart Reserve
