EDFL 2021 Division 2 preview: Oak Park and Moonee Valley to face off
Oak Park and Moonee Valley will collide this weekend after producing dominant performance in the opening three rounds of the EDFL Division 2 season.
Essendon
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Oak Park coach Todd Clark has tagged Moonee Valley as premiership favourite as the two undefeated teams in Essendon District Football League Division 2 prepare to lock horns this weekend.
The ladder-leading Kangaroos have beaten all three opponents convincingly since they were relegated from Division 2 at the end of 2019, hammering Jacana (333 points), Burnside Heights (58 points) and Keilor Park (50 points).
The Fog, who finished runners-up two years ago, have been equally impressive in disposing of Burnside Heights (90 points), Coburg Districts (39 points) and Northern Saints (142 points).
While little more than early-season bragging rights are on the line, both sides will know a lot more about where they sit by 5pm on Saturday after proving a class above their rivals in the opening three rounds.
“I see it as just giving us a good indication of where we’re at, and I assume it’s the same for those guys as well,” first-year coach Clark said.
“There’s been a couple of big scores from both sides, but I think they go about it sort of the way we try and go about it as well.
“They’ve certainly got some firepower and it was an amazing result for them (against Northern Saints in Round 3).
“It’s early in the season, it (the result) doesn’t change anything, but it’s just good to know where you stand against the favourite in the competition.”
Oak Park is hopeful of regaining skipper Daniel Rajab for the blockbuster clash at Ormond Park.
Jordan Faba (48 goals in 2019) and Rocky Ferraro (40) are also yet to take the field for Moonee Valley this season, underlining its bevy of attacking options.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge,” Fog assistant coach Cory McGrath said.
“Any team that’s come down from Div 1 wants to get back up there pretty quick, and that’s where we want to get to.
“It’ll be a good measuring stick for us for the year. It’s going to be a good tussle.”
McGrath, Zac Di Giuseppe and recruits Bevan Newell and Billy Hansen have been among Moonee Valley’s leading performers in 2021.
The Kangaroos have been well-served by returning pair Blair Cronin and Travis Anderson, along with Ryan Smith, Zac Taylor and Taylor Hotchkin, while Justin Palanechka has also impressed after missing the 2018 and 2019 seasons because of a knee injury.
“Probably both of us are trying to make sure this weekend isn’t a shootout, but we haven’t been too successful at that so far,” Clark said.
“They’ve got a lot of quality across all the lines, so it’s going to be a really great challenge for us.”
Oak Park will be without Bailey Taylor and Dale Powell (both broken collarbone) for the remainder of the campaign.
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