By RHYS PAYNTING
RADIO GAME | Essendon Doutta Stars v Keilor
THIS is set to be a cracker between two of the top chances in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division this season.
Essendon Doutta Stars have seen some major inclusions over the off-season.
Nathan Karuzo and Jordan Schroder will bulk up the midfield stocks and play important roles in this one.
Fan-favourite Shylo Smith will be back in action for Essendon Doutta Stars and will be a handful for a thinning red, white and blue outfit.
Keilor will no doubt be confident, but it’s a danger game for the reigning premier.
Damien Cavka is fresh from the West Coast Eagles list but missed last week’s practice match and didn’t train with the main group, according to Keilor coach Mick McGuane.
Expect Dylan Joyce and Andrew Browne to bounce out of the blocks, along with Dean Galea off the back of a 101-goal season in 2016.
Jordan Nipper Oval will be jam-packed for this one, so expect both sides to come out firing.
Home ground advantage may play a part, but the talent-crammed Keilor list has the ability to shut that down in a hurry.
Strathmore v Maribyrnong Park
It may be a tough task finding a park at Lebanon Reserve this weekend with Strathmore appearing to be right back in the premiership hunt after some major inclusions during the off-season.
Ex-North Melbourne defender Michael Firrito and ex-Carlton ball-magnet Jaryd Cachia come in alongside Luke Jarrad, who comes straight from the SANFL into a talent-packed Strathmore outfit.
Ex-Bomber Nathan Grima will take the reins as head coach but won’t take the field after a knee injury ended his 2017 campaign last weekend.
The visitors, however, provide a massive danger-game here in Round 1.
Maribyrnong Park have added some raw talent, and a win on the road would be an ideal start to 2017.
Omar Saad and Tom Baravi come over from West Coburg, add Will Martiniello and big-man Panaioti Kokkinakis and suddenly you’ve got an even match-up between two sides who will refuse to back down.
Strathmore will enjoy a Round 1 home game, but Marby will be up to the challenge in what will be an action-filled clash.
Aberfeldie v Greenvale
The Round 1 blockbusters continue as Greenvale travel to Clifton Park to face 2016 runner-up, Aberfeldie.
Paul Chapman takes the reins at the Jets and will be looking for a blistering start.
The Jets lose some scoring power up forward with Trent Shinners moving to Norwood, but gain some valuable AFL experience through ex-Bomber Courtenay Dempsey.
Kyle Reimers should enjoy a little more freedom for Aberfeldie than he is used to against the Jets with ex-Greenvale full-back Daniel Campisano moving to Blackburn, and he will be hoping to start 2017 with an impact on the scoreboard.
Aberfeldie lose the grit of ex-Blue and Demon Brock McLean, and coach Adam Potter says WA recruit Hugo Breakey looks a few weeks away, which will help the Jets’ midfield.
Luke Davis back in the side will help to control things on the ground for Aberfeldie, who will be looking to impress in front of their home fans first-up.
Expect Chapman to have the Jets in a primed mindset heading into Season 2017, with big-match-ups such as this one becoming danger games for high quality opposition sides.
However, Aberfeldie at Clifton Park is nearly as tough as they come.
West Coburg v Pascoe Vale
An intriguing battle to kick off the season for both West Coburg and Pascoe Vale, one which both sides will consider a chance for an early win.
A 49-point Panthers win last time the two sides met is slightly deceiving, with West Coburg winning the second half and showing true grit.
Kyle Hardingham is a huge inclusion to the Panthers forward line and coaches box, but losing Ben Warren hurts.
A Burgers outfit who lost Tom Baravi and Omar Saad during the off-season may find it hard to keep up with the depth of Pascoe Vale who have added ex-Noble Park gun Craig Anderson, but the likes of Jack Yelland and Aaron Kelly will continue to battle hard for the home side.
Expect West Coburg to come out firing in front of their home fans at Coburg City Oval but don’t write off this hard-hitting Pascoe Vale side who will be looking to kick off 2017 with a win following a disappointing finish to Season 2016.
Craigieburn v Avondale Heights
Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division footy is back at DS Aitken Reserve this weekend, with Craigieburn set to play its first game in the top tier since 2012.
This match is intriguing to say the very least.
The Cloke brothers, Cam and Jason have departed from Craigieburn, but some talent still remains.
Jeremy Page (Craigieburn) and Ex-Blue Cam Wood (Avondale Heights) will go head-to-head in a high-quality ruck battle, while it could very well be Aaron Kite that goes to Patrick Rose on the back of Rose’ 84 goals last season.
Avondale Heights 2016 B&F Mathew Cravino remains in the navy blue and white, and should again have a huge impact from the first bounce.
We will see a mysterious Avondale Heights side who could produce any sort of result to kick-start Season 2017.
Both teams will be able to smell a win in this one, with a winning record on offer heading into Round 2.
Expect no love-loss between two of the more wait-and-see sides in Strathmore Community Bank Premier Division.
