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EDFL Women’s Weekend Outlook - Thursday August 1, 2024

Presented by Airport Toyota | By Eric Forman


Maribyrnong Park will face a tough task against Hillside as they look to retain their spot in the four through the final round of action.

A win for the Lions would secure their spot in fourth, while a loss would mean they rely on losses for Moonee Valley and Essendon Doutta Stars.

The Sharks enter this week having dropped their first game against Abers last time out and will no doubt be looking to rectify the loss.

Hillside had to earn the four points the last time they played Marby with a nine-point victory at Walsh Oval.

Tegan Matthews and Caitlin Sargent each kicked two goals for their respective sides that day and will engage in a sub-contest to see who will finish the season atop the goal kicking leaderboard.

Matthews is currently two goals in front of Sargent, and while a win will be the primary focus for both sides, there are shades of 2008 Lance Franklin and Brendan Fevola about this.

Essendon Doutta Stars enter a must-win clash against Westmeadows to give themselves a chance to play finals.

Douttas are arguably best positioned despite sitting sixth with a great opportunity for a win against the winless Westmeadows.

Should they take the four points, Marie Napoli’s side will be hoping the top two sides pick up wins against their competition to put them into fourth.

It was a 46-point win for Douttas the last time they met with Jessie Hulett kicking a season-high three goals, and Yasmin Welsford and Neve Crowley putting up strong performances.

The 2023 premiership captain Crowley returned from VFLW duties last week and will be keen to lift her side back to the finals.

Moonee Valley will round out the three sides fighting for fourth when they take on Oak Park in another must-win clash.

A poor percentage has them in fifth spot at the moment so a win for the Valley and a loss for Maribyrnong Park is their only way into the four.

It was a tough day out the last time they played the Kangaroos losing by 87 points at Ormond Park.

Shanel Camilleri, Mia Briedis, and Rhianna Nunn each kicked three goals for Oak Park, with the inclusion of sharpshooter Alex Quigley this time around a daunting prospect for any opposition defence.

Keilor will take on Aberfeldie at Green Gully Reserve to round out the season in a clash that sees nothing to gain or lose for either side.

Aberfeldie will be buoyant after knocking off the previously undefeated Hillside last week, while Keilor are coming off one of their more competitive performances this season against Maribyrnong Park with returning VFLW talent firing.

The Blues upset Abers and handed them their first loss of 2023 in the final round of last season in a thriller, and would love to disrupt the two blues’ momentum heading into finals.

Aberfeldie won by 56 points the last time these sides met with Amy Trindade leading seven individual goal scorers with three majors.


A clash many have thought to be the grand final matchup will kick off the finals series with Burnside Heights taking on Greenvale.

The Bears have won two of the three matchups this season in comfortable fashion with the Jets handing them their only loss.

In both their wins, the Bears have led the Jets for most of the day before exploding with five unanswered goals in the final quarters.

Three or more players have kicked two goals on both occasions, whereas they struggled to score in their only loss.

Greenvale were the dominant side that day with accuracy an issue for both sides, but the Bears had to wait until the final quarter for their first goal.

The Jets won this exact contest in 2023 thanks to some Talia Motta heroics in the qualifying final.

Burnside Heights have been more convincing across 2024 with the Jets staggering at times, so can the Bears reverse their fortune and book the first spot in the big dance?

Airport West and Keilor Park will face off in the elimination final as they look to keep their seasons alive.

It’ll be the first Division One final for the Eagles having earnt promotion from Division Two, while Keilor Park will return to finals action five years on from last fielding a side.

Many of the players from their 2019 finals run will be donning the green and white tomorrow looking to continue their trend of deep finals campaigns.

Airport West took care of business the first two times these sides met with Natasha Campbell and Georgia O’Donovan proving hard to stop.

The last time they met, however, it was a heartstopping draw with the Devils tying the game in the fourth quarter.

Caitlyn Crameri dominated for Keilor Park with three goals that day, with Alexandra Kilty and Destiny Eustace putting forward strong performances in each contest against the Eagles.

The winner will live to fight another day and face the loser of Burnside Heights and Greenvale for a spot in the decider.


It’ll be a battle of the Lions in the Division Two qualifying final as Sunbury Lions take on Coburg Districts.

The two have been the stand out sides for much of the year with the winner booking their spot in the grand final.

Sunbury Lions and Coburg Districts have split their two contests against each other with Sunbury winning the first, and Districts winning the second.

The winner on both occasions has scored into the 20s with the loser kicking just one goal for the game so no matter the result, a tough contest is set to take place.

League leading goal kicker Natachia Abelia has unsurprisingly been the most prolific in front of goals kicking two goals in their first meeting, and was her side’s lone goal the second time out.

Olivia Cornish, Taylah Brady, and Stella Hoye were named in the best on both occasions for Sunbury and will need more to come along for the ride to ensure victory.

For Districts, Liv Woods and Harmoni Chivell have been strong contributors with their side enjoying multiple avenues to goal.

Who can take the lead in the season series and head to the big dance?

It’s win or go home for Roxburgh Park and Sunbury Kangaroos when they meet in the elimination final.

The Magpies have had the wood over the Kangaroos in two recent meetings winning by 53 and 28 points.

The Kangaroos have struggled to score and simultaneously struggled to stop the prolific scoring of the Magpies.

Nat Dunne has been the lone goal scorer and will need some teammates to pop up for goals if they’re to get a winning score on the board.

Will it be the new kids on the block for season 2024, or a rejuvenated Kangaroos moving on to play the loser of Sunbury Lions and Coburg Districts?


THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES

ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 1:50pm at Buckley Park

KEILOR v ABERFELDIE 
Saturday 1:50pm at Green Gully Reserve

HILLSIDE v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 1:50pm at Hillside Recreation Reserve

OAK PARK v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 1:50pm at Martin Reserve


BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v GREENVALE
Saturday 1:50pm at Lakeside Reserve

AIRPORT WEST v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 1:50pm at John McMahon Recreation Reserve


SUNBURY LIONS v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 11:50am at Lakeside Reserve

ROXBURGH PARK v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 11:50am at John McMahon Recreation Reserve

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