Local footy 2021: Best EDFL games to watch in Round 3
Not sure where to go on Saturday? We analyse the Essendon District Football League blockbusters and give our predictions.
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Essendon District Football League supporters will again have plenty of options this weekend as the season heats up.
Two finals contenders will lock horns in Premier Division, while there is a top-of-the table clash in Division 1. The competition’s two newest clubs will also renew their rivalry.
Here’s our pick of the action in Round 3.
Keilor v Pascoe Vale
Saturday, 2.15pm, at Joe Brown Oval
Mick McGuane’s Blues deserve to enter this clash as favourite, but this will be an intriguing match-up between two sides rated as contenders. Pascoe Vale lost to the reigning premier twice in 2019 by a combined margin of 13 points, showing its best is capable. Keilor is 2-0 after victories over Strathmore and Greenvale, extending its remarkable winning run to 22 games in the top flight, while the Panthers edged Avondale Heights in the opening round before going down to Aberfeldie by 13 points on the weekend. It’s only Round 3, but this game is crucial for Digby Morrell’s side as it looks to prove its credentials.
Verdict: Keilor by eight points
Aberfeldie v Avondale Heights
Saturday, 2.15pm, at Clifton Park
This game does not jump off the page a mouth-watering clash given the differing fortunes of the clubs in recent years. But first-year Avondale Heights coach Paddy Byrne said on Sunday: “Abers are as gettable as they have been to be honest since I’ve been around.” The Heights will take plenty of belief into the fixture after a 20-point win over Maribyrnong Park in Round 2. Aberfeldie, which has been bolstered by the likes of Nick Meese, Peter Faulks and David Fahey since the end of the 2019 campaign, has admitted it is short of its best after narrow wins over Greenvale and Pascoe Vale. But the fact Adam Potter’s team have scored two victories over quality opposition away from home can only be viewed as a positive.
Verdict: Aberfeldie by 18 points
Tullamarine v East Keilor
Saturday, 2.15pm, at Leo Dineen Reserve
The star-studded Cougars entered 2021 as the undisputed premiership favourite after a fruitful recruiting campaign, with their signings headlined by ex-AFL star Heath Shaw, while Chris Stewart, Marc Lock, Fabian Brancatisano, Paul Scanlon and Tim Bongetti also signed on. But Tullamarine is rated by many as the main danger to East Keilor’s quest for promotion to Premier Division. The Demons have qualified for Division 1 finals in the past seven seasons, finishing runners-up in 2014, ’16 and ‘18 and dropping three preliminary finals. While their opposition this weekend created most of the talk before Round 1, Tullamarine also recruited impressively. With the two sides undefeated, the stage is set for a must-watch match.
Verdict: East Keilor by 12 points
Sunbury Kangaroos v Rupertswood
Saturday, 7pm, at Eric Boardman Reserve
The former Riddell District league clubs will meet for the first time since 2018 in a special Saturday night fixture. Both clubs claimed premierships in 2019, with the Kangaroos completing an undefeated season in Division 2 to earn promotion, while Rupo won the ultimate prize in the RDFL before opting to switch leagues. Both clubs are fielding new-look line-ups, with the Kangaroos thumping Taylors Lakes in Round 2 to notch its first win of 2021, while the Sharks are 0-2 and in desperate need of a victory. Promises to be a nail-biting encounter.
Verdict: Sunbury Kangaroos by a point
Burnside Heights v Coburg Districts
Saturday, 2.15pm, at Burnside Heights Reserve
These two clubs contested finals in 2019 and last met in the elimination final, with the Bears prevailing. They will enter this clash at 0-2 and with plenty on the line, with a few Division 2 sides showing improvement early in the season. An undermanned Burnside Heights was on the receiving end of a 90-point loss to Moonee Valley in Round 1, while it was beaten by 58 points by Oak Park last week. Coburg Districts, which has also been without some key personnel, has dropped games to Keilor Park (47 points) and the Valley (39 points). The loser will be feeling the heat despite the fact it is early days in the season.
Verdict: Coburg Districts by 11 points
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