Moonee Valley v Keilor Park
MOONEE Valley were dealt their fifth loss for the season last week. Despite a confident final quarter performance and another dominating display by Josh Covelli, Moonee Valley fell short of Jacana by four points. They looked to have found their form after defeating the Magpies in Round 14 but the loss to Jacana really hurt, especially so close to the finals. Getting back to that winning form is crucial and a win over the Devils will be a morale booster.
The Devils were able to keep the Lions at bay in Round 15, kicking away in the final quarter to a 31-point victory. This was their fourth win in a row and puts them two wins ahead of Coburg Districts, who sit in fifth. The match against Moonee Valley will be a great test for Keilor Park going into the final stages of the season. The Devils are arguably the most spirited team in the division but definitely need to start ironing out their flaws in order to compete and beat the top teams.
This match is huge for both teams as they are both out to prove that they are the real deal.
East Sunbury v Roxburgh Park
East Sunbury have been in the top four race almost all season and last week’s win over Burnside Heights kept the dream alive. Rhys Gardener again stole the show, having a great day out and his side will definitely need him and all of their top players to perform this week. The biggest thing the Thunder need to do is stay consistent throughout the whole game and not drop off.
The Magpies bounced back from their loss to Moonee Valley with a tough-fought win against East Keilor last week. The win put them one game clear on top of the ladder, with the Cougars in second. Harley Short was the best player for his team for the second week in a row, proving to be a match-winner. Roxburgh Park have improved immensely from the beginning of the season and are in a great spot to win the minor premiership.
East Sunbury need to play their best football to win this week, in a match that is do or die for their season.
East Keilor v Jacana
The Cougars lost their first game in six going down by 11 points to Roxburgh Park last week. It was their second loss to the Magpies this season and put them firmly in second spot on the ladder. Vincent Madaffari was the best for his side in the loss as he continued his sparkling form. East Keilor have been stuck in second for most of the season, which is a spot they will be ready to jump out of. They are fit and have the highest points-for statistic in the division, showing that they are definitely a threat going into finals.
Jacana proved that they are still in the hunt for a finals berth after beating Moonee Valley by four points last week. It was their second win in a row and marked Chris Johnson’s return to the side. Michael Evans and Billy Morrison were again outstanding for their team and the win last week will give them plenty of confidence coming into this match. Jacana need to win this match to keep their top four dreams alive.
Last time these two sides met, the Cougars won in a blowout but with so much more on the line, this match will certainly be a thriller.
Coburg Districts v Burnside Heights
The Lions have experienced a massive fall from grace. They have lost their last five matches and now sit seventh on the ladder. Last week, they were able to put in a solid effort to only fall short to Keilor Park by 31 points. The loss almost signified the end of their season. There is still a slim chance that they can finish fourth but everything needs to go right from here.
Burnside Heights broke their 100-point loss streak last week, only losing to East Sunbury by 68. The Bears were competitive in the first half, maybe not on the scoreboard but they definitely made things difficult for East Sunbury. If they can manage to get some more goals on the board this could be their first win of the season.
The Lions are looking diminished and have low morale which could mean that the Bears could finally pounce and steal a win.
