Saturday is shaping as one of the most thrilling of the local footy season so far. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the 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.
SWAN GREAT TAKES TO LOCAL STAGE
Former Sydney and Hawthorn midfielder Josh Kennedy will run out for Murrabit this weekend in the Golden Rivers league.
Kennedy becomes the fourth player as part of the Carlton Draft to play this season and he will be looking to help the team win their first match this season.
The club has wasted no time picking where he will play, putting him in the midfield for the clash against Wandella.The games will start at 2.25pm at the Murrabit Recreation Reserve.
BALLARAT LADDER SET FOR A SHAKE
It could be a pivotal weekend in the makeup of the top six in Ballarat with six of the top seven teams set to face each other.
The headline clash is Melton taking on Darley in the top of the table clash.
Both teams are unbeaten, with seven and six wins respectively, with Darley to play their seventh straight game away from home with their home ground unavailable at the moment due to work on their clubrooms.
A win would put either team at the top.
In other games, last year’s grand finalists Sebastopol (3rd) takes on surprise packets East Point (7th) with Sunbury (4th) to battle Redan (6th).
The ladder is set for a shake up.
CONTENDERS FACE ANOTHER TEST
Springvale Districts will host Port Melbourne Colts and Dingley welcomes St Paul’s McKinnon in important Southern league Division 1 bouts.
Springvale Districts has missed each of its opportunities to knock off a bona fide unit this season, while the Colts too have struggled in big matches.
Dingley, meanwhile, is six from its past six after losing its opening round fixture with Cheltenham.
In Division 4, Jason Akermanis will make an appearance for South Mornington in the stand-alone night match.
TRIBUTE FOR DALLAS
Bendigo clubs and the league will come together to pay tribute to Castlemaine footballer Dallas Keogh-Frankling who died last week after a football match against Kyneton in under-18.
All teams will wear armbands and a minute’s silence will be held before matches take place on Saturday.
At this stage all matches will go ahead but a day-time decision will be made by the Bendigo league in relation to the under-18 matches involving Castlemaine and Kyneton against Golden Square and Eaglehawk.
FOR ONE LAST TIME
Maryborough Rovers and Royal Park will play each other for the last time before both clubs merge at the end of the season.
The Maryborough Castlemaine sides earlier this season made the decision to amalgamate to form a new club, which is likely to be called the Maryborough Giants.
Royal Park has had the wood over their new friends, not losing to the Rovers since 2015.
It promises to be a fierce battle as the ultimate bragging rights go on the line.
EDFL DOUBLE CHANCE BATTLE
Sitting at 6-1, East Keilor welcomes Pascoe Vale in a massive Essendon District league Premier Division battle.With Keilor sitting pretty on top, the Cougars and Panthers are locked in a battle to earn second spot which could mean a double chance later in the year.
MOUTHWATERING VAFA CLASH
The two best teams in VAFA Premier B so far in 2023 will face off on Saturday afternoon.St Bernard’s will welcome Fitzroy in a battle of two sides sitting at 7-0 heading into the weekend’s fixture.Fitzroy passed a key test last weekend when it got the better of Beaumaris.
EASTERN CRUNCH-GAME
Rowville takes on Norwood in the Eastern league‘s Premier Division, with both sides holding a 4-3 record after coming off upset victories. The Hawks knocked over Doncaster East while the Norsemen turfed East Ringwood from the top of the ladder; and Saturday presents an opportunity to set the season up as we turn for the halfway point. Plenty at stake here.
EFNL TOP-FOUR BATTLE
Heathmont hosts Templestowe in a 3 v. 4 clash at HE Parker Reserve in the Eastern league‘s Division 2, in what shapes as a mouth-watering contest. The Jets boast the division’s stingiest defence, conceding just 398 points this season, while the Dockers have been buoyed by the recent inclusion of one of local footy’s most prolific spearheads – Dean Limbach – who debuted with a bag of seven for his new club last weekend.
A NOBLE RETURN
Former North Melbourne coach David Noble will be welcomed back with open arms by Upwey Tecoma on Saturday.
Nearly 30 years ago, Noble left an indelible mark on the Tigers when he coached the club to back-to-back premierships in the Yarra Valley Mountain Football League.
The 1993-94 flags were the first steps in his coaching career.
Those teams will gather for a reunion on Saturday as part of the Tigers’ past players day and Noble will be guest speaker.
On the field, Upwey Tecoma will tackle the undefeated Wandin in the Outer East league match of the day.
AN ENORMOUS CHALLENGE AWAITS
Euroa will take on the unbeaten Echuca in a replay of last year‘s grand final in the Goulburn Valley league.
It‘s been a big week for the club with the announcement their coach Scott Rowan will step down at the end of the season.
Despite sitting in fifth so far this season the team has only lost twice and could cause an upset of the unbeaten Echuca.
EX-AFL DEMON BACK FOR MORE
Former Melbourne skipper Nathan Jones will pull on the boots again for Mt Eliza on Saturday.
Jones was super impressive for the Redlegs a fortnight ago.
Mt Eliza officials are quietly hoping the champ will qualify for finals in the MPFNL.
A WIN IS AROUND THE CORNER
Violet Town and Girgarre will take on each other looking for their first win in the Kyabram league.
It’s been a tough year for both sides who played finals last season.
Both teams have lost six straight games this season and on Saturday one will win for the first time.
BRANDER HOLDS KEY IN REPLAY
Wentworth and Irymple will play against each other for the first time since last year‘s grand final in the Sunraysia league.
In what could be a pivotal battle for both teams‘ finals chances both are currently third and fourth after four wins this season.
If Irymple is to win it will need to shut down former West Coast and GWS player Jarrod Brander who has kicked 31 goals in six matches for Wentworth.
Originally published as Key talking points ahead of weekend local footy