Moonee Valley will host Aberfeldie at Ormond Park to kick off the top flight’s action.
The Fog have had a tough three weeks since their last win with an average losing margin of 80 points in that stretch and it won’t get any easier against the two blues.
Abers are looking for three on the trot since losing to Hillside and have started to enjoy some strong performances from recruits like Laura Blue and Emily Smith.
If their performances are indicative of this Aberfeldie side gelling, it’s an ominous sign for all.
A win for Aberfeldie maintains separation inside the top four while Moonee Valley needs a win to remain in touch of getting back to the finals.
Essendon Doutta Stars have another chance to prove their finals credentials against the undefeated Hillside at Shark Park.
Douttas have enjoyed life in the top flight with their only two losses coming against 2023 grand finalists Oak Park and Aberfeldie – games they were largely competitive in.
Hillside have been on a tear this season putting every side to the sword, although Maribyrnong Park provided their biggest challenge last week.
The Sharks were restricted to their lowest score in a tight contest which will give Douttas some confidence after Hillside dismantled Oak Park and Abers in their unbeaten run.
It’ll take a strong offensive effort from Douttas who will need to source goals from outside of Jessie Hulett and Marie Napoli, while simultaneously shutting down Caitlin Sargent up the other end.
Hillside were restricted to three goal scorers last week but have boasted as many as eight goal scorers in two games.
When the Sharks have had five or less goal scorers, Sargent’s kicked a bag.
So it’ll take a strong defensive effort to shut down this Sharks offence as stopping the spread or Sargent might not be enough, it needs to be both.
Oak Park will host a winless Westmeadows as they look for their fourth win in a row.
The reigning premiers have been on fire since their loss to Hillside and will be keen to take momentum into their clash with ABerfeldie next week.
Alex Quigley enjoyed her best return for the season last week and will play game 200 with 450 career goals just one major away.
Nena and Pasadena EDFL Match of the Day will head to Joe Brown Oval to see Keilor take on Maribyrnong Park.
The Lions need a win to keep in touch with the top four while the Blues will be looking to bounce back from a tough outing last week.
Keilor have struggled this season after just scraping into the top four last year but were able to secure a win against Westmeadows.
Marby meanwhile have been quite good despite what the ladder indicates and they’d love a good win for their own confidence.
Their best and worst is a considerable margin apart which will give Keilor some hope, but it’ll still require a big step up.
Keilor Park will play host to Tullamarine on Saturday morning at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve.
Both teams are in search of a win with Keilor Park keen to get back out there after forfeiting last week, and Tulla not taking four points since their Round 1 victory.
The Devils won their first game the last time these sides met on ANZAC Day by 21 points with Emily Laidlaw and Erin Robinson both kicking two goals.
Greenvale will head to Hansen Reserve to play Airport West after missing last week due to a forfeit victory.
The Jets are on a six-game winning streak since dropping their Round 1 clash to Burnside Heights while Airport West are looking for their fourth win in a row.
The Eagles have scored 34 in their last two games and would need to apply more scoreboard pressure against the number one scoring side in the competition in Greenvale if they’re to cause an upset.
Greenvale won by 11 goals the last time they met in Round 3.
Strathmore / Pascoe Vale and Burnside Heights will round out Division One action when they meet at Raeburn Reserve.
The More and Pacco combined outfit have found form over the last couple of weeks picking up their first win and coming close to a second against the third-placed Airport West.
The Bears are on top of the ladder for a reason though and bounced back strongly from their first loss of the season with a 115-point win last time out.
Burnside Heights won by 105 points the last time these sides met.
Coburg Districts will look to halt back-to-back losses when they host Sunbury Kangaroos.
The Kangaroos handed them their first loss of the season the last time they met, and with a bye and a loss to top-of-the-table Sunbury Lions since, Districts will be keen to get one back.
It was a 20-point win for Sunbury Kangaroos that day with Rhiann Leighton and Bailee Said kicking two goals each.
Olivia Woods kicked two goals for Coburg Districts and was immense in their game last week against the Lions.
Former Kangaroo Harmoni Chivell is one to watch for Coburg Districts after playing a shutdown role last week and knowing many of her upcoming opponents well.
A win for Coburg Districts will keep them in touch with the top two while a loss will set the Kangaroos three games clear of the Lions in second spot.
Sunbury Lions will look to continue their unbeaten streak in their second matchup with Roxburgh Park.
The Magpies have only gotten better as the season has gone on with the brand new side looking for three wins in a row.
There were encouraging signs for Roxy the last time these sides met in Round 2 when they held the Lions to their lowest score for the first month of footy.
The Lions still average over 70 points per game while holding the opposition to less than 10 points per game.
Taylors Lakes will host East Sunbury to round out the weekend’s action.
The Thunder are still looking for their first win while Taylors Lakes will be fresh from the bye.
The Lions are well and truly entrenched in the finals race currently in a three-way tie for third, so a win will certainly be welcomed.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
HILLSIDE v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 1:50pm at Hillside Reserve
OAK PARK v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 1:50pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
KEILOR v MARIBYRNONG PARK
🎥 Streamer
Saturday 1:50pm at Joe Brown Oval
MOONEE VALLEY v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 1:50pm at Ormond Park
KEILOR PARK v TULLAMARINE
Saturday 10:00am at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve
AIRPORT WEST v GREENVALE
Saturday 11:50am at Hansen Reserve
STRATHMORE / PASCOE VALE v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 11:50am at Raeburn Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v EAST SUNBURY
Saturday 11:50am at Lionheart Reserve
SUNBURY LIONS v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 11:50am at Clarke Oval
COBURG DISTRICTS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 11:50am at Cole Reserve
