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MARIBYRNONG PARK v GREENVALE - Live 2pm on Mixlr.com/edflfooty
IF it weren’t for a Round 5 Greenvale slip up at home to Pascoe Vale, this would have been a huge Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division clash between two undefeated sides looking at bigger things to come later in the year at Windy Hill.
Instead, we have all those ingredients minus an unblemished record for the visitors.
Greenvale’s recent form has been slightly suspect after back-to-back games at Section Road where the Jets lost to the Panthers before struggling to beat West Coburg.
Addam Maric was missing for both games while Jacob Thompson, Jarryd Bonello and Jayden Ranno all missed last week.
If the Jets do come to Monk Oval undermanned then they’re in trouble, because Marby is the benchmark and after welcoming coach Robbie Castello back into the fold last week, the Lions are close to full-strength - Panayioti Kokkinakis aside.
The Lions have numerous avenues to goal with six players that are averaging at least one goal in every game so far this season, and with their high-quality midfield firing on all cylinders, it’s hard to look past them here.
That said so, here’s a chance for Greenvale to put Marby back in its place.
GLENROY v KEILOR
Glenroy had a bit of a letdown against the premiers last week but will be looking at this as a big chance to score win number three for 2018.
Keilor is clinging onto fourth spot after back-to-back losses but is doing well considering those losses came against Aberfeldie and Maribyrnong Park with half of its best 22 out of action.
We know there are some big names on that growing Blues injury list but when you have the likes of Nick O’Kearney, Kane Barbuto, Zak Wunhym and Dean Galea still at your disposal, you’re still going to give many Premier Division sides some headaches.
Given Keilor was able to get closer to Aberfeldie than Glenroy did within the last fortnight, you’d be thinking the Blues should still be the favourite.
But the Roys haven’t been afraid to take it up to sides like Keilor and we could see a similar kind of game to the one played out against Strathmore on Anzac Day, where Glenroy had its chances to win a tight contest.
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v PASCOE VALE
Despite boasting some of the division’s best contested marks, Pascoe Vale isn’t exactly known for its scoring prowess.
But when the Panthers needed to break clear of Essendon Doutta Stars in the final term of a shoot-out last week, they were able to kick away with nine goals.
It was Pacco’s highest score for the year, with Lachie Hansen playing his best game for the year with eight goals and teammate Matthew Watson managing to score a nice bag of five for himself.
Often forgotten about is smaller forward Jacob Polizzi, who’s up to 10 goals for the year and you’ve also got Patty Veszpremi as a fourth option inside 50.
So there’s enough firepower for Pascoe Vale to outscore anyone on its day.
And that’s a big problem for Avondale Heights.
After welcoming gun VFL full forward Dylan Conway into the line-up last week, Avondale Heights could still only muster eight goals in its 42-point loss to Strathmore.
Conway kicked four of those goals.
This game is a maths equation.
Keep Pascoe Vale under 12 goals and Heights is a shot, but if the Panthers’ forwards get off the leash, then it’s a percentage booster for the visitors.
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v ABERFELDIE
Dean Wallis and his men would have seen the way Aberfeldie played itself into form against Glenroy and thought to themselves that this week’s game is probably going to be a long one.
Despite sitting third on the ladder and until we see them play Maribyrnong Park in Round 8, Aberfeldie remains the team to beat in all of Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division.
Last week Aberfeldie put forward its best performance for 2018 and did so without Courtney Johns, Victor Carboni, Rhys Moylan and Kyle Reimers.
Having Daniel Thompson back was a massive boost in defence as well, so the only way is up for the premiers.
We did see better signs from Douttas last week with its highest score for the year at Pascoe Vale and hopefully they can keep it from getting too out of hand here, but Aberfeldie will probably do as it pleases at NJO.
WEST COBURG v STRATHMORE
This could go one of two ways.
Either Strathmore re-asserts itself as a finals contender and easily takes care of West Coburg, or the Burgers target this as a statement game that they’re no longer one of the easy-beats of the division.
Maybe last week’s arm wrestle with the Jets up at Section Road was enough of a statement for some, but they still didn’t come away with the W against an undermanned Greenvale.
Digby Morrel and his recruiting team did well to add in some nice pieces over the summer but its taking time for the side to jell, and the centrepiece of the club’s recruiting haul, Daniel Archer, is only averaging a goal a game as the team’s main tall go-to target up forward.
That’s mainly due to the lack of quality delivery but also the fact that he's often pushing up the ground to get involved in the game.
If Hamish McIntosh returns for the Mores then Strathmore will likely win more centre clearances, so West Coburg needs Archer, as well as Ruairi Cleary, Daniel Johncock and Omar Saad to make the most of their opportunities.
Strathmore should still have enough quality to overcome the Burgers, but an upset wouldn’t be a massive shock.
