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Strathmore Community Bank Men's Weekend Outlook - Round 8

By Patrick Morrow and Steven Zois


We will be finally playing Round 8 of the Strathmore Community Bank Senior Men's fixture after an extended break away from football.

Avondale Heights will host Strathmore in what will be an interesting encounter at the tricky Canning Reserve.

Mathew Horne’s men have gone about their business nicely since Good Friday with some impressive wins, particularly defeating Greenvale in Round 6.

While for the Heights it has been a great seven rounds for Patrick Byrne's team with an upset win over Keilor which sent shockwaves across the EDFL and have shown their class against Glenroy in the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day, with the Robb brothers standouts in that contest.

The matchups to watch will be the midfield battle with the Robb brothers in the middle against the likes of Jack Condon and Adam Iacobucci.

This match will be a tight one and could go down to the last kick.

If the Heights do win, does it bring them into the conversation with Keilor in being premiership contenders or will the Mores continue their silent march to Windy Hill?

Elsewhere Aberfeldie will host Essendon Doutta Stars at Clifton Park, in what be a must-win for Abers if they want to keep their place in the top four.

As for the Stars it has been a tricky start to 2021 with not much joy but a win over their rivals might be the way to kick start their season.

Not too far from Clifton Park, at Raeburn Reserve, Pascoe Vale face Greenvale in what can be only described as an 8 pointer.

Pascoe Vale has had some time to dwell on their ugly loss to Strathmore and will fire up to go against Greenvale who are also in a spot of bother with a loss to Maribyrnong Park before the break.

With Pascoe Vale sitting in fifth and a game out of the four a win over the Jets is crucial to making another final series, while for the Jets a win over Pascoe Vale puts them back in the mix for finals so a lot is riding on this contest.

Moving down the highway, Keilor will host Glenroy at Joe Brown Oval in what you think should be a straightforwarded win for Mick McGuane's side but nothing has been straightforward for Keilor in 2021 with injuries to star players.

In saying that they sit equal first with Strathmore but don’t rule out Ross Terranova's outfit if Keilor are not up to scratch early on, the Roys may just cause a boil over to the premierships fancies.

Finally, Craigieburn will host Maribyrnong Park at DS Aikten Reserve.

Even though the Eagles have had a shocker 2021 in terms of on-field results it could all change on Saturday.

Maribyrnong Park will be looking for an important percentage boost to keep pace with the top four but you never know the Lions may just slip up and hand Lance Whitnall his first win of 2021.

-Patrick Morrow

In Strathmore Community Bank Division One, East Keilor will finally return to Overland Reserve as they host West Coburg in the division’s highly anticipated top of the table clash.

Each side boasts forward power, with the Cougars’ Dion Hill (34 goals) and Josh Gabrowski (24 goals) leading the goal kicking race, whilst Lynden Dunn (22 goals) and Liam Bowkett (20 goals) follow not far behind for the Burgers.

Both clubs have also come off percentage boosting wins in Round 7, with Pat Christofi’s men making light work of Taylors Lakes, whilst West Coburg took care of Rupertswood at Salesian College.

With no spectators permitted at local football this weekend be sure to catch all the action from 2pm Saturday thanks to Cluch TV and 98.9 North West FM.

Airport West will be looking to strengthen their grip on a top four berth when they face Taylors Lakes on their home deck at Hansen Reserve.

The Eagles have had a decent run of form, and have the potential to make it four wins out of their last five games when they take on the struggling Lions.

Hillside and Rupertswood will be aiming to bounce back after tough losses in Round 7 as they lock horns at Shark Park. Both sides have had slow starts to the season, but have the opportunity to set foundations for the second half of the season as they attempt to go deep into finals.

Lachlan Henson performed well in the Shark’s loss to Tullamarine in Round 7 booting three goals, and the home side will be hoping for more of the same input from him this weekend.

The newcomers from Salesian College have had a fairly solid start in their first EDFL campaign, but will need to win against the Sharks to have any chance of contention.

Tullamarine will look to make it four wins in a row when they take on Roxburgh Park at Leo Dineen Reserve. The Demons will also have the potential to jump back into the top two after the completion of the weekend’s games.

To have any chance of pipping the home side, the Magpies will need to look to stop Cooper Perry. He has had a consistent run of form in the absence of Jacob Osei-Duro who unfortunately injured himself in Round 3.

Perry has kicked 18 goals for the season, and is coming off consecutive four-goal games against Taylors Lakes and Hillside.

Finally, Westmeadows will also be aiming to remain well and truly in the finals hunt when they face off against the Sunbury Kangaroos at Willowbrook Reserve. The Tigers sit below Airport West by percentage, but have the opportunity to win consecutive games and keep the pressure on the Eagles.

This side is no stranger to big wins on their home ground, and with the momentum falling into place, this week should be no different.

Sunbury Kangaroos have had moments of promise so far this season in their wins against Rupertswood and Roxburgh Park, but with the side sitting at 2-5 a victory at Tigerland may prove difficult.

Big losses to West Coburg, East Keilor and Airport West have hurt their percentage.

-Steven Zois

In Strathmore Community Bank Division 2, before lockdown it was looking like Moonee Valley would be running away with it but with a stop in play will the likes of Oak Park and Hadfield rise to the top?

Speaking of Hadfield they will host Moonee Valley at Martin Reserve in what will be an exciting match to watch.

With matchups all around the ground including the interesting ruck contest between Keegan Shrimpton, who was best on the ground in the Nena and Pasadena Match of the Day against Burnside in Round 7, and Moonee Valley big man Bevan Newell.

Moonee Valley hasn’t played a game since Round 6 against Keilor Park in mid-May which resulted in a 100-point victory to the Fog.

So will Moonee Valley be slow out of the blocks at Martin Reserve or will it be business as usual for the Fog?

Another team chasing Moonee Valley is Oak Park where they will make the trip up for the first time to John McMahon Reserve to face the plucky East Sunbury.

It is the battle between second and seventh but don’t be fooled by the ladder because East Sunbury are known to cause an upset or two especially at home and for Oak Park, it is the first time travelling to East Sunbury, so this could be a tasty encounter for all involved.

Elsewhere at Keilor Park Reserve, the Devils will be hosting the Northern Saints in which will be a battle between fourth playing eighth, however only one game separates both sides.

If the Northern Saints want to be in the finals conversation then this is the time to do it while for Keilor Park this is a much-needed win to maintain their top-four position and put a buffer on the teams below them.

Finally, Burnside Heights will host Jacana at the Bear Cave.

If anyone needed a break it was the bears as they have been destroyed by injuries to key players and if want to keep their finals hopes alive then a win over Jacana will be much needed.

You would think Aidan Scott’s message this week will be going for a much-needed percentage boost, while for the Jags it will be a welcome return to the football field for the men in purple and you never know the Jags might just cause an upset.

Coburg Districts have the bye for this week and have to wait another week to return to playing.

-Patrick Morrow

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