A battle between old foes headlines a number of big contests set to take place in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division this weekend.
Aberfeldie will host Keilor at Clifton Park with both of the Premier Division juggernauts currently sitting undefeated in 2022 at 3-0.
Of the two sides, it is Mick McGuane's men with the stronger form line after a Good Friday victory at Strathmore and a last quarter dismantling of Maribyrnong Park on the weekend and while Abers are travelling nicely, they have been tested the past two rounds by Avondale Heights and Essendon Doutta Stars.
Kyle Reimers and Dean Galea, arguably two of the greatest showmen in Premier Division, both missed in Round 3 and all eyes will be on the Friday team submissions to see if either of the mercurial talismen will feature in this contest.
With McGuane's old sparring partner Adam Potter now vacating the role of senior coach, it will be an intriguing watch to see what Adam Marcon can bring up against one of the EDFL's greatest coaches.
There is one other team in Premier Division currently undefeated, the newly promoted East Keilor.
The Cougars have had a picture perfect start to their Premier Division tenure, with a rampaging 127-point victory over Greenvale last week, the cherry on their 3-0 start.
Tim Bongetti will face his biggest test yet as the Cougars travel to Lebanon Reserve to take on reigning champs, Strathmore.
While the Mores are far from full strength, there is still plenty of elite talent running around for Matthew Horne's side.
The ruck battle between Chris Stewart and Andrew Vavra will be one of the showpieces of the match with the likes of Victor Micallef and Adam Iacobucci set to go head-to-head in a star studded midfield contest.
You can never underrate the Mores but with a bit of belief and a truck load of momentum behind the Cougars, this will be a game where the away side will be eyeing off the upset.
At the other end of the ladder, Essendon Doutta Stars and Avondale Heights will be vying for their first win of the 2022 season at Nipper Jordan Oval.
Despite the 0-3 start for both sides, each team has put forward a number of respectable performances against good opposition.
The Stars may just roll out a new recruit with Jarrod Stokes signing with the club after captaining the Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL Premier League.
The versatile midfield product will add some much needed depth to Paul Barnard's roster.
Pascoe Vale bounced back with a victory in Round 3 and will travel to Section Road to take on a Greenvale side that was embarrassed on the weekend.
Don't expect another walkover from the Jets, especially on their home deck, where a player like Jacob Thompson can fill his bag if given the right service on the wide open expanses of Section Road.
The forward stalwart currently leads the goal kicking in Premier with 11 majors to his name so far.
Glenroy put out a valiant effort on Anzac Day against Strathmore and will need more of the same to challenge Maribyrnong Park when they venture to Monk Oval on Saturday.
We will get another good look at Strathmore Community Bank Division One when the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day heads to Leo Dineen Reserve for a massive blockbuster.
Tullamarine will host West Coburg with both sides currently poised at 3-0 on the Division One ladder.
While the two teams currently sport the two stingiest defences in the division, spectators will be hoping for a shootout with two ex-AFL talents at either end of the field.
Shaun McKernan is just finding his groove for the Demons with 10 goals the last two games while Lynden Dunn has helped himself to eight majors to start the year.
It provides the ultimate stage for Dale May's side to prove they are true contenders in season 2022, or for the Demons to stamp their authority on the competition as one of the challengers to premiership glory this year.
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.
Elsewhere in Division One, Craigieburn and the Sunbury Kangaroos will be striving for their first win of season 2022 as they pair go head-to-head at DS Aitken Reserve.
The Eagles fell agonisingly short on the weekend at the hands of Roxburgh Park in what was their strongest performance for the year.
Sam Rexhepi starred at Lakeside Drive with a haul of nine goals but will need the support from his teammates going forward with only three other multiple goal kickers on the books at Craigieburn so far this year.
The Kangaroos are still missing a few from their best side but Cooper McPharlane has been one of the shining lights in a dim start at Eric Boardman Reserve.
The former East Sunbury man has had no problem taking his goal kicking exploits to Division One, having kicked nine goals in his past two games.
Rupertswood have been one of the surprise packets to start 2022 and have a good opportunity to go 3-1 to start the season when Hillside come to Salesian College.
The jury is out on when Hillside's star recruit Josh Covelli will return from an ankle complaint, with the Sharks even trying to poach his old partner in crime, Anthony Fawcus, from Burnside Heights as a potential replacement.
Rupo have turned their forward fortunes around from last season.
After being the second lowest scoring side in 2021, Arron Bray's team now lead the competition for scoring outside of the undefeated trio of Tullamarine, Airport West and West Coburg.
It leaves Rupo prime to take the victory at home come Saturday.
Westmeadows will look to bounce back from a 1-2 start when they welcome Roxburgh Park to Willowbrook Reserve.
It has been a inconsistent start for both teams as the difference between their best and worst football quite glaring.
Both coaches will be desperate to have their teams to put together a four quarter effort to keep the pressure on a top four spot.
The fixture from hell will come to a close on Saturday for Moonee Valley as the Fog host Airport West in a string a games that has seen the promoted side face off against four of last season's top five to start the year.
The Eagles are a well drilled team and despite Ian Denny's former association to Airport West, don't expect Trent Rogers' side to pull any punches in this one.
In true Strathmore Community Bank Division Two fashion, a logjam on the ladder will become even more intriguing with a number of crucial match-ups on the fixture this weekend.
The undefeated Oak Park may well face its toughest test of the 2022 season so far when Taylors Lakes come to JP Fawkner Reserve.
The Lions started the season slowly but have found form the last two rounds, recording back-to-back wins for the first time since 2018.
But the Kangaroos are the current front runners of the competition with established stars Blair Cronin, Danny Rajab and Jack Kennedy all leading the way in season 2022.
The tantalising match-up comes at Cole Reserve with Coburg Districts and Hadfield both teetering at 1-2 after three rounds.
Both these sides would have aspirations to play finals in 2022 and a 1-3 start would see either team well behind the eight-ball.
With Cooper Keogh a potential out for the Districts and Keegan Shrimpton still recovering from a knee injury at the Hawks, we may be denied the opportunity to see the division's two best rucks go at it.
We've seen both teams play some attractive football in the opening rounds but executing their best football across the four quarters is what has eluded both sides to start the season.
Burnside Heights is one of the form teams in Division Two after securing back-to-back wins against good opposition along with a highly competitive effort against Oak Park in Round One.
The Bears have had no issue filling the hole Josh Covelli left at the Den with the likes of Jacob Elia, Theo Sapountzis and Jordan Hughes all hitting the scoreboard to start the year.
There is some conjecture over the future of Team of the Year forward, Anthony Fawcus, after he had multiple clearances to Hillside denied last week.
Aidan Stott's team will go in favourites at Charles Mutton Reserve with the Northern Saints finding the going tough after a big Round One win.
The last game of the round sees Keilor Park travel to Jacana.
The Jags have done well to limit score lines from blowing out compared to their return to the competition in 2021 but after an early slip up, the Devils look primed to take out a win that could see them out for blood.
THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES
ABERFELDIE v KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Clifton Park
STRATHMORE v EAST KEILOR
Saturday 2:15pm at Lebanon Reserve
GREENVALE v PASCOE VALE
Saturday 2:15pm at Greenvale Recreation Reserve
ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS v AVONDALE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Nipper Jordan Oval
MARIBYRNONG PARK v GLENROY
Saturday 2:15pm at Monk Oval
TULLAMARINE v WEST COBURG
🎥 Cluch TV
📻 98.9 North West FM
Saturday 2:15pm at Leo Dineen Reserve
CRAIGIEBURN v SUNBURY KANGAROOS
Saturday 2:15pm at DS Aitken Reserve
MOONEE VALLEY v AIRPORT WEST
Saturday 2:15pm at Ormond Park
RUPERTSWOOD v HILLSIDE
Saturday 2:15pm at Salesian College - Oval 1
WESTMEADOWS v ROXBURGH PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Willowbrook Reserve
NORTHERN SAINTS v BURNSIDE HEIGHTS
Saturday 2:15pm at Charles Mutton Reserve
JACANA v KEILOR PARK
Saturday 2:15pm at Jacana Reserve
OAK PARK v TAYLORS LAKES
Saturday 2:15pm at JP Fawkner Reserve
COBURG DISTRICTS v HADFIELD
Saturday 2:15pm at Cole Reserve
