A seven-goal haul from David Gourdis led Keilor to a vital Essendon District Football League win against Maribyrnong Park at the weekend.
On the back of the 19-point victory, Keilor is now a game clear inside the top four and is in the box seat to secure a finals berth.
Knowing how much was on the line, the Blues dominated the contest in the first quarter, streaking out to a 30-point lead.
But, in front of home fans, the Lions rallied, chipping away at the margin across the next two quarters to trail by just 11 at the final break.
It was then the class of Keilor shone through, with the Blues booting three final-quarter goals to seal the 10.19 (79) – 8.12 (60) win.
Gourdis’ haul of seven goals is his best for the year, with the key forward now having booted 11 majors in the past two weeks.
After 11 rounds, Keilor is in fourth spot on the premier division ladder, four points clear of its nearest rival, Strathmore.
The Blues also hold a considerably better percentage than any side below it on the table.
There will be no break from the pressure, though, with Keilor set to take on the second- placed Pascoe Vale this weekend.
Elsewhere in EDFL, Hillside’s hopes of remaining in division 1 received a huge boost at the weekend, with the Sharks securing a vital win against East Keilor.
Despite playing away from home, Hillside dominated the contest, enjoying 11 more scoring shots than its opponent in the 15.15 (105) – 5.14 (44) win.
Young gun Jackson Volpato was at his best for the Sharks, booting a game-high five goals, while Rocky Ferraro kicked three.
The win moved Hillside from ninth to seventh on the division 1 ladder, with the Sharks also leapfrogging Glenroy.
The burden of relegation pressure now falls on East Keilor, which sits at the bottom of the table, holding a division-low percentage of just 56.33.
