NORTHERN SAINTS v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Charles Mutton Reserve
THIS might not be the game of the round in Strathmore Community Bank Division 2, but it’s probably the most important one.
Both the Northern Saints and Coburg Districts sit at 3-2 and need this win to stay in touch with the top four.
The Saints again found themselves engaged in a close one away to East Sunbury last week, managing to withstand the fast-finishing Thunder and score a 12-point win.
Mark Sabatino combined with the in-form Zakaria Farah, with both booting five goals at John McMahon Reserve.
Coach Brett Kennerley should be happy with his side’s progress so far this year, but at the same time, he needs to find a way to get more out of his playmakers.
The Saints might be the most dangerous team in it when Tamer Abdallah, Bilal Allouch, Eliot Kako and Peter Dispenzeri, among others, are all firing.
A home game against Coburg Districts is the perfect opportunity for the Saints to announce themselves as a true Division 2 contender.
The Lions didn’t put their best foot forward at Moonee Valley last week and the outgoing transfers lodged by Grampsas brothers Con and Paris back to East Keilor earlier this week may be a sign that not all is well at Cole Reserve.
Tom Gleeson’s ongoing absence has added to Districts’ lack of top-end talent across the park and it’s starting to show in their results.
Therefore, you’d expect the Saints to be in the box seat to get up here, but anything can happen in Division 2.
KEILOR PARK v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Reserve
Moonee Valley is in blistering form.
The Fog’s lowest score of the year was an inaccurate 14.15-99 in its first game of the season against Burnside Heights.
They’ve managed to kick 17-plus goals in every game since and have put Jacana, East Sunbury and Coburg Districts to the sword in their last three outings.
Rocky Ferraro (24 goals) and Jordan Faba (13) might be the most dangerous forward tandem in Division 2 and with Braden Padmore also lurking around forward 50, the Fog has the luxury of being able to spread its attacking options forward of centre.
That spells major trouble for Keilor Park.
Last week the Devils allowed Anthony Fawcus and Josh Covelli to boot 23 goals between them.
Even coach John Mangos, who is a realist about where his club is at, will agree that wasn’t acceptable.
The target here should be to try to keep Moonee Valley below 20 goals for the game, but its going to be a tough ask.
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 5:00pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
Round 7 has saved its best match-up for last.
The 5pm start at Tenterfield Drive will hopefully result in a big crowd for what will be the biggest game of Division 2 football we’ve seen so far this year.
This is the ultimate litmus test for Burnside Heights.
The Bears haven’t put a foot wrong in 2019 and it’s because a large majority of their better players are playing consistently good footy.
Aidan Stott has successfully added some flair to Burnside Heights’ attacking game and the result has been rather beneficial for Josh Covelli and Anthony Fawcus, both of whom are in career-best form up forward.
But now comes their biggest test yet against what is arguably the best defensive unit of Division 2.
The Sunbury Kangaroos are averaging less than 50 points-against per game, but you could make an argument their draw has been somewhat kind to start the season.
We haven’t seen Sunbury play Burnside Heights, Moonee Valley or Coburg Districts, so we’re still getting our grip on what this side is actually capable of.
What we do know is the Kangaroos probably have the best ruckman in the division in Brenton Sutherland and their potency forward of centre is hard to quell.
Lachie Baddeley, Josh Burgess and Michael Kilty have been kicking goals for fun and proving to be a nightmare for opposing back lines.
If the midfield battle breaks even here, then you’d perhaps give the edge to the Kangaroos based on their versatility up forward, but the Bears’ engine room hasn’t put a foot wrong so far this season.
