IT always comes with big billing when they meet and as our Nena and Pasadena EDFL Match of the Day game for this Saturday, we’re hoping Greenvale and Aberfeldie give us another serving of quality footy between two great modern-day rivals.
Under new coach Darren Bewick, the Jets will be keen to get 2021 underway with a good start, especially given their Round 2 opponent will be Keilor.
However, with key injuries reportedly suffered by Addam Maric and Courtenay Dempsey, Greenvale may already be on the back foot coming into this one.
We’re all hopeful of getting a top-of-the-class ruck dual between Greenvale’s Fabian Deluca and new Aberfeldie recruit Nick Meese, while the midfield battle will be key up at Section Road.
Be sure to tune in from 2pm on Cluch TV or 98.9 North West FM for this one.
Elsewhere in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division, it is a big day for Craigieburn at home to Essendon Doutta Stars.
Most pundits have the Eagles finishing last and going back down to Division 1 and there is no doubt those sentiments have been taken on board by Lance Whitnall and his men.
The best way to silence the critics would be to get the points over a new-look Douttas side that may take some time to gel.
Glenroy at home to Maribyrnong Park may be the closest game of the round, but the Lions would be a slight favourite going in, while Pascoe Vale should be expecting to win on the road against Avondale Heights, even if that is a danger game for the Panthers.
All four games in Strathmore Community Bank Division 1 are massive.
East Keilor is expecting to roll out Heath Shaw as part of a very new-look Cougars line-up away to Westmeadows, who quietly believe they have a good shot of scoring an upset win at Willowbrook Reserve.
EDFL Teams will make for fascinating reading come 10am on Friday morning, as it will be our first look at what East Keilor’s best 22 looks like under the 47 points cap.
Down the road at Leo Dineen Reserve, Tullamarine will have its hands full against Lynden Dunn and the West Coburg Football Club in a match-up that we could easily see come finals time.
The Demons enter as favourite, but not by much.
Rupertswood’s first foray into EDFL footy comes at home to Airport West in a game that really could go either way.
Both sides look completely different from when we last saw them and if either of them want to be part of the finals action later this year, then this is a must-win game.
Up at Lakeside Drive, a rejuvenated Roxburgh Park could make a big early-season statement by taking care of business against what looks to be a weakened Sunbury Kangaroos outfit, but if the result goes the other way then it’ll be sure to send tongues wagging across the division.
The best story coming into the weekend will be the return of Jacana in Strathmore Community Bank Division 2.
The Jaguars will return to senior EDFL footy with a home game against finals fancy, Oak Park, and while no one is expecting Jacana to win, the very fact we’ll see the famous purple and gold jumper back out on the field once more is a victory in itself.
We’re expecting a much more competitive affair at Martin Reserve, where Hadfield and East Sunbury will both be desperate to make a good impression this Saturday.
The Hawks have recruited very well and have their eyes firmly set on making the finals, while East Sunbury is keen to re-discover the form that saw the Thunder almost go all the way in 2018.
Flip a coin for that one.
Finally, we have what could well be a grand final preview up at Tenterfield Drive on Saturday evening.
Burnside Heights will be looking to avenge for its 2019 prelim final loss to Moonee Valley and by all reports, key forward Josh Covelli, a former Valley player himself, is primed for his biggest season yet.
We know the Fog have plenty of depth and some very good top-enders, but so do the Bears, making this a must-watch under lights on Saturday night.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
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GREENVALE v ABERFELDIE
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
GLENROY v MARIBYRNONG PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Sewell Reserve
AVONDALE HEIGHTS v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Canning Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN v ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
WESTMEADOWS v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
TULLAMARINE v WEST COBURG
Saturday 2:15pm at Leo Dineen Reserve
RUPERTSWOOD v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College
ROXBURGH PARK v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 2:15pm at Lakeside Oval
JACANA v OAK PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Jacana Reserve
HADFIELD v EAST SUNBURY
Saturday 2:15pm at Martin Reserve
BURNSIDE HEIGHTS v MOONEE VALLEY
Saturday 6:00pm at Burnside Heights Recreation Reserve
Northern Saints has the BYE.
