Ahead of a full fixture of local footy, we’ve dived into the Yarra Valley Water Vault and taken a quick look at a bit of history behind a few match-up’s taking place this weekend.
Noble Park v Rowville
Head to Head
Noble Park: 11
Rowville: 6
Draws: 0
Noble Park had the wood on the Hawks, winning ten of their first thirteen encounters against Rowville before the two sides met four time in 2022. Rowville won the first three times, which included a Semi Final before the result was reversed in the Grand Final.
They’ve come along away from their first meeting back in 2013 when Rowville were promoted to the highest for the first time in their club’s history. Three years later, in Rowville’s second finals series appearance in Premier, they were knocked out in straight sets with a loss to Balwyn and then a 71-point thumping from the Bulls.
The Hawks Semi Final win over the Bulls last year was their first ever finals win in the top division of the league.
The two south-east sides have built a nice rivalry and they’ll add another chapter to that in Round One this weekend.
Croydon v Mooroolbark
Head to Head
Croydon: 20
Mooroolbark: 16
Draws: 0
The Blues and Mustangs have also had an interesting rivalry over the years, playing 36 games against each other.
The first time the two clubs met was back in 1989, in Division Two after Mooroolbark’s first ever premiership win, a year prior in Division Three saw the club promoted. Their first ever clash held at Heights Reserve saw Mooroolbark win in a tight contest by just three points. Eight years later, the two clubs went head-to-head throughout the season, finishing first and second on the ladder.
They played two finals that year, Croydon winning both the Semi Final and Grand Final convincingly, their last ever premiership in the Eastern Football Netball League. The sides didn’t meet again until 2013 where they’ve been in the same division ever since.
Kilsyth v Forest Hill
Head to Head
Kilsyth: 18
Forest Hill: 31
Draws: 0
Two big Division Four rivals will go head-to-head for another year.
Saturday’s clash will be the 50th time that these two teams have played one another. Both clubs are very familiar with one another, having been in the same division together for 19 of the last 20 seasons.
This weekend will be an important one for both. Forest Hill and Kilsyth will be looking at their match up’s against one another this season as eight-point games, hoping to be there at the pointy end of the season.
