Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division is just starting to heat up as after six rounds of competition, standings in the division start to become clearer.
Pascoe Vale will host Aberfeldie at Raeburn Reserve as the Panthers are presented a massive opportunity to make a statement to the rest of the competition.
They'll have to do it as the underdogs, however, with Aberfeldie the only remaining undefeated team in this division after taking care of East Keilor last weekend.
There will be a watch when EDFL teams are announced Friday as to whether Nick Meese will return after missing last round with a knock.
The key for Pascoe Vale will be finding the support in attack for key forward Matthew Watson.
Watson leads the Panthers' goal kicking with 15 majors with Ben Allen and Will Hoare the next best contributors with five apiece.
With the likes of Luke Davis and Daniel Thompson putting together strong seasons down back for Aberfeldie, it won't be an easy task for Digby Morrell's men.
East Keilor will be looking to bounce back after suffering its first taste of defeat last round by returning to Overland Reserve to play host to Avondale Heights.
The Cougars didn't lose any fans on the back of their loss to Aberfeldie, particularly considering the absence of Chris Stewart, however Tim Bongetti will be keen to get immediately back on the winners list to solidify their spot in the top four.
They'll go in heavy favourites against an Avondale Heights side that has found the going tough to start the year.
While the Heights haven't been blown off the park so far this year, they rank last on offence, making it difficult to keep up with some of the powerhouse forward lines in this competition.
The absence of Aaron Clarke has been stark after the big forward kicked 12 goals in the opening three rounds, but hasn't played since.
Avondale's top end talent is still capable of dragging this team to a few wins this season with the Robb twins, Dinny Cleary and Connor Byrne all playing good football, the Heights just need a bit more from its next tier of players.
Maribyrnong Park and Strathmore will both have good opportunities to put pressure on the top four this weekend as they travel to Section Road and Nipper Jordan Oval respectively.
For Marby, a come from behind win last week against Pascoe Vale helped close the gap on the finals contenders in what could end up being an eight-point game on the ladder.
Brad Swain's side has struggled for a bit of consistency this season going win-loss-win-loss-win-loss in the opening six rounds of the year and this game against Greenvale presents a great chance to buck the trend.
While at Strathmore, as the old adage goes, 'its not a sprint, its a marathon', and the Mores are just doing enough to keep in touch despite an underwhelming start to the year.
Despite a few disappointing losses, Matt Horne's side looked better against the Jets last week, particularly with Floyd Bollinghaus providing a target in a forward line that has struggled thus far.
It will be a good test for Essendon Doutta Stars, who had their colours lowered for the first this year against Keilor, in what has been a respectable and competitive start to the year for the relegation fancies.
And at Sewell Reserve, after securing its first win of season 2022, Glenroy will take on the Keilor powerhouse.
The Roys were finally able to reap reward from its promising start to the season with the returning Aaron Kite and Judd Brewster looking dangerous up forward, while VFL listed pair Mac Hallows and Hayden Clarke featured in the bests.
Mick McGuane's men flexed its muscle last week against Essendon Doutta Stars, proving it will take no prisoners in these kinds of contests.
A first win in Strathmore Community Bank Division One will see Moonee Valley hungry to replicate the result up against Hillside this Saturday on the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day.
There will be plenty on the line come Saturday with a strong connection between both these clubs.
The last time these two faced-off was the 2013 Division Two decider when, now Sharks coach Charlie Denaro, was moving the magnets that day as senior coach of the Fog.
Outside of Denaro, a number of players have also donned the two jumpers over the years.
Hillside star forward Josh Covelli played a large portion of his junior football in the prison bars of Moonee Valley, while last year's Strathmore Community Bank Division Two best-and-fairest winner, Bevan Newell, had stint at the Sharks in 2019 before heading home to Ormond Park.
It shapes up to be a massive contest at Shark Park, so be sure to tune in to the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day from 2pm on Saturday thanks to Cluch TV and 98.9 North West FM to catch all the action.
At the Nest up North, Airport West will travel to Roxburgh Park in an intriguing game.
Roxy have been one of the surprises of the competition, shooting out to a 5-1 form line to start the year.
They'll face their biggest test yet coming up against the benchmark of the competition.
After dismissing Tullamarine last week, the Eagles remain the only undefeated side in the competition after six rounds.
The Eagles are proving that their depth is also some of the best in the division, with the likes of Tyson Young and Lachie Di Sebastiano missing in last week's monumental win.
But with momentum on their side, the Magpies will give themselves a big chance in this game with players like Luke Reichelt and Jack Elliott arguably putting together career-best football.
Rupertswood may well go in favourites against Westmeadows at Salesian College as Arron Bray's side continues to impress in the 2022 season.
However, after back-to-back wins to the Tigers, Mo Kaakour's team will have some fans of their own.
Rupo are undefeated at home so far this season after victories over Roxburgh Park, Sunbury Kangaroos and Hillside, with a couple of admirable away defeats to Airport West and Tullamarine solidifying that they are no easy beats.
Tullamarine will look to get back on the winners list as they host Craigieburn at Leo Dineen Reserve.
Shaun McKernan was influential last week in the loss to the Eagles with a move up the ground seeing the former AFL big man in the thick of the action.
The tall trio of McKernan, Adam Scott and Alessio Gobbo will be sure to give Justin Sherman a few headaches but provides a good test for gun ruckman Billy Morrison to give his team first use of the footy.
And at Eric Boardman Reserve, the Sunbury Kangaroos will be seeking their first victory of the season as West Coburg travel up to the Pouch.
The Burgers have lost their way in recent weeks with three consecutive losses to the current top three on the Strathmore Community Bank Division One ladder.
However, with the Kangaroos struggling with their current lack of personnel, Dale May's team will go into this one as favourites.
After the Round 5 split round in Strathmore Community Bank Division Two, a full slate of fixtures beckons in Round 6.
We'll start at Keilor Park Reserve, where a top of a table clash headlines this weekend's match-ups.
Keilor Park and Oak Park go head-to-head and on form, they are clearly the best two sides in this competition.
The Devils would have enjoyed the week off to prepare for this contest, all while Oak Park had their way with Coburg Districts at Cole Reserve to the tune of 102 points.
The stars will be on show with Robbie Castello, Damien Cavka, Blair Cronin and Danny Rajab all playing great football for their respective teams but it has been Jedd Taylor who has stood out most for Oak Park in the early rounds of the season.
Kangaroo Mitchell Leathers has also been in fine goal kicking form with 20 majors in four games to lead the Strathmore Community Bank Division Two goal kickers.
The winner of this one can take claims on early season premiership favouritism.
Not too far down the ladder you have Burnside Heights taking on Taylors Lakes in a game between third and fifth at Lionheart Reserve.
The Bears have impressed early on this season, especially considering the departures of key personal up forward.
Theodore Sapountzis has been a proven goal kicker early this season in a Burnside Heights forward line which no longer sports former team of the year forwards Josh Covelli and Anthony Fawcus.
Jacob Elia has also hit the scoresheet a number of times this year as a smaller, craftier type when the Bears go into attack.
Taylors Lakes have had an indifferent start to the season as Charles Cuzzupi continues to get a read on the competition after coming down from Strathmore Community Bank Division One.
An agonising one-point loss to Keilor Park a fortnight ago shows the Lions can match it with some of the division's best teams, but a four-quarter performance is still required.
Speaking of four-quarter performances, it is something that has alluded the Northern Saints as the gap between the Saints' best and worst has been caught out a few times this year.
A strong start against a good opposition in Hadfield last week on the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day was extinguished quickly with a nine-goal second quarter from the Hawks quickly taking the game away from Tamer Abdallah's team.
But if the Saints can get their conditioning and consistency right, expect them to take the game up to Coburg Districts at Charles Mutton Reserve.
The Districts languish in seventh place on the Strathmore Community Bank Division Two ladder but could be expecting a number of key ins for Saturday, with last year's leading goal kicker and playing coach Tom Gleeson as well as 2021 Team of the Year ruckman Cooper Keogh both a chance to return.
Finally, at Jacana Reserve, the Jags will return home on the back of one of their strongest performances since the beginning of the 2021 season.
Despite a 134-point loss to Burnside Heights, Jacana's defensive effort saw them concede their lowest score in the last 18 months, all while putting its most scoring shots on the board at 10.
Glenn McIntyre's team was also able to win its first quarter since 2021, taking out the second term 2.4-16 to 2.2-14.
It shows the gradual improvement from the team in purple and gold and more 'little wins' should be the goal against Hadfield this weekend.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v STRATHMORE
Saturday 2:15pm at Nipper Jordan Oval
PASCOE VALE v ABERFELDIE
Saturday 2:15pm at Raeburn Reserve
GREENVALE v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
GLENROY v KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
EAST KEILOR v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Overland Reserve
HILLSIDE v MOONEE VALLEY
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Saturday 2:15pm at Hillside Reserve
TULLAMARINE v CRAIGIEBURN
Saturday 2:15pm at Leo Dineen Reserve
RUPERTSWOOD v WESTMEADOWS
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College - Oval 1
SUNBURY KANGAROOS v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Eric Boardman Reserve - Oval 1
ROXBURGH PARK v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
NORTHERN SAINTS v COBURG DISTRICTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Charles Mutton Reserve
KEILOR PARK v OAK PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Keilor Park Reserve
JACANA v HADFIELD
Saturday 2:15pm at Jacana Reserve
TAYLORS LAKES v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Lionheart Reserve
