Fiery rematches, battles of the contenders and winless streaks to end. These are all the big things you need to look out for in local footy this weekend.
With the local footy season in now swing, every week presents more exciting storylines to keep an eye on.
Here are the key things to look out for this weekend.
TOP-OF-THE-TABLE MPFNL CLASH
Undefeated Dromana gets the chance to increase its lead atop the MPFNL Division 1 ladder when it meets second-placed Frankston Bombers.
Former Richmond livewire Jake Aarts has been in Dromana’s best players in four of its five wins.
Frankston Bombers will be a tough nut to crack, though, after an excellent 4-1 start.
“We’re really excited by the challenge,” Frankston Bombers coach John Brown said.
“These are the games we really look forward to playing because we want to test ourselves out each week.”
WOORI YALLOCK MIDFIELD BOOST
On a two-game tear, Woori Yallock will regain playmaker Jordy Williams for its crunch game against Olinda Ferny Creek in Outer East’s Premier Division.
Williams, back at the Tigers this season after a stint at South Croydon, got a heap of the ball against Pakenham a fortnight ago before missing last week’s win over Upwey Tecoma, when Luke Boontjes, Robert Allen and Jason Lindgren ran hot.
A BIG WEEKEND OF SOUTHERN LEAGUE FOOTY
Port Melbourne Colts, Cranbourne, Cheltenham and St Paul’s McKinnon have the opportunity to separate themselves from the logjam of sides sitting 3-1 when they meet on Saturday.
St Paul’s McKinnon – which is a formidable outfit at home – welcomes the reigning premier Cranbourne, while Cheltenham hosts Port Melbourne Colts.
Six of 10 sides sit on 12 points in Division 1, with the other four either recording just one win or yet to score.
In Division 2, Doveton’s season is on the line when it travels to Highett as last year’s grand finalist has lost three on the spin and is falling out of touch with the top five.
Winless sides Keysborough and Black Rock are set to face off with the loser falling four points closer to relegation.
MUNDY RETURNS TO LOCAL FOOTY
The town of Linton, near Ballarat, is set to triple in size as former Fremantle player David Mundy comes to town.
Mundy, as part of the Carlton Draft promotion, will play for Carngham Linton in the Central Highlands Football League.
Despite losing 33 games in a row before this year, the Saints have started well, winning all three games so far this year.
The team will be aiming for four in a row for the first time in the competition.
NORTHERN POWERHOUSES COLLIDE
It’s set to be a monster weekend in the Northern league with the Division 1 top four all set to face off.
Hurstbridge will give us an indication of how far it has come so far this season when it welcomes Montmorency while Bundoora hosts Heidelberg.
HUGE BENDIGO BATTLE
South Bendigo and Sandhurst will battle for the Graeme Wright Memorial title this weekend at a new venue.
Usually hosted at Queen Elizabeth Oval, the game will be held at Harry Trott Oval after the Bloods moved there at the start of the year.
Each year both teams play in honour of Graeme Wright who played 144 games for South Bendigo and was a club legend for more than 25 years.
In a big clash, between two top-four teams, the winner will move into the top two on the ladder.
TASTY GRAND FINAL REMATCH
It promises to be a heated contest as Carisbrook and Harcourt face for the first time since last year’s grand final in the Maryborough Castlemaine league.
Harcourt will be looking to extend its winning streak in the competition to 13 matches while Carisbrook is looking to gain some revenge after last year’s loss.
A TASTY EASTERN LEAGUE CLASH
South Belgrave, the current ladder leader in Division 1 of the Eastern league, will travel to take on Mitcham this weekend in what could be a grand final preview.
They’ll meet at Walker Park from 2.20pm.
GOLDEN RIVERS BLOCKBUSTER
Either Ultima or Moulamein will be the team to beat in the Golden Rivers league as the unbeaten sides prepare to face off.
Moulamein, looking to go one better than last year, have won their first four matches while Ultima has done the same but worked their way from the bottom to top.
The Kangaroos have already won double the games they won last year.
The game will be held at Ultima’s home ground at 2.25pm.
LOSING STREAK SET TO END?
Can the barren run of Nilma Darnum end in the Ellinbank District league?
The team will face fellow winless team Catani Blues as both teams look to win for the first time this season.
It’s been two seasons since the Bombers last won with the club on a 25 game losing streak.
CHASING A LONG AWAITED WIN
Moyston Willaura will also look to end their winless streak when the team takes on fellow winless team Caramut.
The Mininera District league team has not won in 27 games, stretching back two years.
BIG WESTERN REGION BATTLES
Four of the best teams in the Western Region league will face off this weekend.
Point Cook will host Werribee Districts in a test of its premiership credentials while Caroline Springs and Altona face off in an intriguing clash.
MILLEWA REDEMPTION THE AIM
The top two teams in the Millewa league will face each other this weekend with the unbeaten Cardross battling Bambill in a replay of last year’s grand final.
Cardross is currently on top after Bambill lost for the first time in two seasons against Gol Gol in round 1.
Was the performance a blip and will we see Bambill return to their form last year?
Or will Cardross become a serious challenger to the title?
We’ll find out this weekend when the two teams face at Cardross at 2.30pm.
Originally published as Everything you need to know ahead of the local footy action