The man who engineered Keilor's only home-and-away defeat of the past two seasons is tipping Mick McGuane's men to reverse the result of their semi-final defeat to Pascoe Vale and secure back-to-back premierships on Saturday.
But Airport West coach Brent Taylor, who led his team to a stirring 13-point win over the then-undefeated Blues in Round 16, is expecting a tight contest in what promises to be an enthralling season finale at Windy Hill.
Aberfieldie co-coach Clay Illman is also predicting Keilor will defend its premiership.
The Panthers, who finished the regular rounds two games astern of the Blues, prevailed by 34 points at Coburg City Oval in the opening week of finals to earn a direct passage through to the decider.
Jared Eckersley, Sunny Brazier, Thomas Hofert, Matthew Stillman, and Lachlan Stredwick shone for the winning side in that match, while sharpshooter Ahmed Saad and Joshua Iacobaccio each contributed three goals.
Keilor regained Cody Brand, Nathan Colenso, Mason Thomas, Joseph Ciranna, and Jovan Petric for its preliminary final triumph over Strathmore, with Pascoe Vale having had the more settled line-up in recent weeks.
"I'd lean towards Keilor, the main reason being I just think they've got a bit of class back into their forward line with Brand, Petric, and Colenso. I think they've got a bit of tall timber back," Taylor said.
"Obviously from the last time they met, Pacco were able to win contest and clearance and drive territory and get scoreboard impact. Obviously Keilor need to turn that around in order to do it, but my gut says Keilor in a really tight, close contest."
Taylor said the Blues' vast experience on the big stage was the key reason he favoured them to go all the way.
Keilor is chasing its fourth Premier Division flag since 2016 and also finished runner-up in 2018, while this is Pascoe Vale's first ever top-flight EDFL grand final appearance.
The Panthers have claimed three senior EDFL premierships, the most recent coming in Division One in 2011, with the club preserving its Premier Division status since.
"I think it does account for something on game day, to have been in the big dance, and especially when they (Keilor) were there as recently as last year and they were successful," Taylor said.
"It's probably why I'm leaning that way with a bit of experience coming back into their side last week as well."
It is a view shared by Illman, who steered Abers to a finals berth in his first year at the helm.
"I think experience in big games gets them across the line," he said.
"We saw that on the weekend against Strathmore, and probably just some calm heads in some pretty tight situations got them across the line. I reckon that will probably be the difference between them and Pascoe Vale."
Illman added that "continuity is pretty good at this level," pointing to the fact the Blues have played each week of the finals series, while the Panthers will enter the grand final fresh from a week off.
"I think it's probably worked in Keilor's favour, the (semi-final) loss, and being able to get a bit of form back this week," he said.
Taylor said Keilor "probably needed" the semi-final defeat after a patchy finish to the regular season.
The Blues hammered the Panthers by 133 points in Round 6, restricting them to one goal in a top-of-the-table clash, and also won by 41 points when the pair met in Round 13.
Taylor said taking the field in the preliminary final was crucial for Keilor.
"For them to get that connection and get a couple of guys back, I think playing that week probably benefits Keilor more than Pacco having the week off," he said.
"Pacco had some good continuity, some tight contests late in the season and they were able to flow through. It will be interesting either way."
Taylor said there were similarities between Airport West's home-and-away win and the Panthers' semi-final victory.
"I think Pacco probably replicated similar stats in order to beat Keilor," he said.
"The blueprint there was that you had to win clearance and contest and you had to take territory, get inside 50s and you had to maintain elite pressure. If you give Keilor any time or space, they hold their space extremely well and they'll cut you up with their talented footballers.
"But if you pressure them one on one and you can maintain that pressure, while taking the territory from them, that's the way you can get it done.
"Having a look at our stats compared to Pascoe Vale's stats in the finals, they were quite similar.
"Keilor's challenge will be to overcome that and make sure they can win their fair share of contest and clearance to try to overturn that result."
Illman, an experienced VFL assistant coach, said the Blues' state league-listed talent had been vital in their team's ability to dismantle rivals after half-time this year.
"As blatant as it is, the VFL training standard is a higher level than EDFL training standard," Illman said.
"So just being able to have that fitness base of the VFL guys allows them to continue on in the back half of games when a lot of the local guys start to fatigue. The VFL guys have got that extra gear to go to."
Strathmore coach Nick Ash said he expected "a cracking game".
"The two best teams throughout the year do battle in a grand final... both sides are stacked mid, forward, and back, but I believe the team that can get on top in the midfield battle and can convert their opportunities in front of goal will take the points in a close game," he said.
The Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division grand final kicks off at 2.15pm on Saturday at Windy Hill.
