Little separating top six sides as race to finals heats up in Essendon District Football League

IN WEEK 4 of Local Footy’s countdown to finals, we look at what is still to come in a very even Essendon District Football Leauge. Who will make the cut?

Strathmore’s Matthew Knight fires out a handball against Keilor earlier this season. Photo: Richard Serong

IN Week 4 of our Local Footy special, The Finals Countdown, Chris Cavanagh runs the rule over the Essendon District Football League. In one of the most even competitions we’ve seen in recent years, little separates the top-six sides heading into the final weeks of the season. Strathmore sits on top of the table but the premiership cup is really anyone’s to win.

Strathmore’s Matthew Knight fires out a handball against Keilor earlier this season. Photo: Richard Serong

Premier Division

HOME AND HOSED

Strathmore (11-2)

With five rounds remaining in the regular season and a tough run home, finals are not a lock just yet for Strathmore but you could not see them missing the cut now. Three games clear inside the top-four, two more wins would guarantee a finals ticket. It is not an easy run home, the Mores still having to play four of the top-six sides. But having missed finals last year, the club is determined to not only make the four but make an impact come finals and given its impressive list and recent form, the side is certainly a genuine contender.

Matches to come: Greenvale (6th), Avondale Heights (2nd), Airport West (5th), Northern Saints (9th), Aberfeldie (4th)

Avondale Heights (11-2)

The Heights had not been beaten three weeks ago, sitting on top of the ladder with 11 straight wins. Since then, things have gone downhill. Coach Saade Ghazi said he did not expect his side to win every game this season but he certainly would not have expected two losses in a row to Aberfeldie (81 points) and Airport West (36 points) after the sizzling first 11 rounds of the year. It seems to just be a flat patch the Heights are going through, though, with a talented squad still being put on the park. Given they play three of the bottom four sides in the run home, a finals appearance is almost certain but Ghazi will be hoping his side can quickly snap out of the slump.

Matches to come: Northern Saints (9th), Strathmore (1st), Essendon Doutta Stars (10th), Pascoe Vale (7th), Keilor (3rd).

Former Richmond ruckman Andrew Browne is continuing to impress for Keilor this season. Photo: Richard Serong

LOOMING LARGE

Keilor (9-4)

The Blues have been a genuine bolter this season. They finished seventh on the ladder last season with a record of 8-10 and did not have overly high expectations going into season 2014. But improvement has been rapid this year, the side pulling off some big results in an impressive year. Keilor still has bottom-four sides Pascoe Vale and Maribyrnong Park to play in the run home which should ensure at least another two wins. But currently just one game clear of fifth-placed Airport West, Keilor is probably going to have to knock off at least one of the better sides in the run home to ensure it makes the cut.

Matches to come: Pascoe Vale (7th), Aberfeldie (4th), Maribyrnong Park (8th), Greenvale (6th), Avondale Heights (2nd).

Aberfeldie (8-5)

After such a stunning 81-point win over a previously unbeaten Avondale Height in Round 12, Aberfeldie really let one slip last weekend. Looking to hold on to a one-game buffer over fifth-placed Airport West, Mal Michael’s side fell to seventh-placed Pascoe Vale in a result which leaves its finals prospects hanging in the balance. A clash with Airport West this week now looms as a real eight-point game which could potentially decide which of the two teams makes the top-four.

Matches to come: Airport West (5th), Keilor (3rd), Northern Saints (9th), Maribyrnong Park (8th), Strathmore (1st).

Airport West (8-5)

Five weeks ago Airport West looked very much an outside chance to make finals after, by its own admission, barely firing a shot in the first half of the season. Since then the side has won three of four matches including claiming the big scalp of Avondale Heights last weekend to get itself right back in mix. With three of the bottom four sides still to play, the Eagles are very much looming large but the result of this weekend’s match with Aberfeldie could ultimately decide their fate.

Matches to come: Aberfeldie (4th), Northern Saints (9th), Strathmore (1st), Essendon Doutta Stars (10th), Pascoe Vale (7th).

Greenvale's Jarryd Bonello looks for a teammate during his side’s match with Avondale Heights last month. Photo: Josie Hayden

Greenvale (7-6)

After winning the last two premierships, few would have expected the Jets would find themselves in serious danger of missing the top-four this season. But one game and almost 20 per cent outside the top-four with just five rounds remaining, missing the cut is looking an increasingly likely prospect. Should Greenvale be able to knock off ladder-leader Strathmore this weekend, a third-straight premiership could still be achievable. But a loss would mean it would have to win its last four games by healthy margins to remain any chance of sneaking in.

Matches to come: Strathmore (1st), Essendon Doutta Stars (10th), Pascoe Vale (7th), Keilor (3rd), Maribyrnong Park (8th).

Out of the race: Pascoe Vale, Maribyrnong Park, Northern Saints, Essendon Doutta Stars.

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PREDICTED FINISH

Strathmore

Avondale Heights

Aberfeldie

Keilor

Greenvale

Airport West

Pascoe Vale

Maribyrnong Park

Northern Saints

Essendon Doutta Stars

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West Coburg and Tullamarine players battle for the ball in a match earlier this month. Photo: Josie Hayden

DIVISION 1

After Glenroy suffered another disappointing loss at the weekend, the top-four is all-but locked in. Baring anything extrodinary happening in the final four rounds, West Coburg, Tullamarine, Taylors Lakes and Westmeadows will all play finals. West Coburg remains the hot premiership, still unbeaten from 12 outings this season.

DIVISION 2

Top-three sides Roxburgh Park, East Keilor and Coburg Districts are all almost certain of making finals. The battle for fourth position will be played out between Keilor Park, Jacana and Moonee Valley over the final four rounds, with just one game separating those three sides.