Keilor times its run home to the finals

Keilor has moved within a game of the Essendon District Football League premier division top four following a thumping 78-point win over West Coburg on Saturday.

With Maribyrnong Park going down to top of the table Greenvale, Keilor took the chance to close the gap on the top teams as they strangled the home side after quarter-time to run away with a 16.8 (104)-4.2 (26) win.

In difficult conditions with a strong wind, the two sides traded blows in the opening stanza as Keilor established a one-goal lead at the first change.

It would be as close as West Coburg would get for the rest of the day, as they managed just one goal in the second term and a solitary behind in the second half.

In contrast, Keilor built slowly to a 27-point lead at three quarter-time before blowing the margin apart with 8.3 to no score in the final term.

As always, Dean Galea was a focal point up forward for the visitors with five goals, but in a good sign for their versatility there were nine players on the scoresheet by the final siren.

With five games to play, Keilor is a game and percentage adrift of Maribyrnong Park in the top four, with the two sides to meet this Saturday in a game which could decide their finals’ fates.

In division one, Taylors Lakes missed a chance to tighten its grip on a finals place, going down to eighth-placed East Keilor.

Despite the difference in their ladder positions, East Keilor looked the better side from the start as they kept the Lions goalless in the opening quarter and built to a 38-point lead by half-time.

That had grown to 45-points by the final change, and while the Lions won the final quarter it was too little too late as the home side had a 12.14 (86)-6.8 (44) win.

The Lions remain in fourth place following the loss, with Airport West’s loss to Oak Park meaning Taylors Lakes is still a game clear inside the finals places.

Hillside kept its chances of finishing on top of the table alive following a smashing 57-point triumph over Westmeadows.

Five goals to Brandon Coletta was the highlight of the day, as the Sharks blew the game open with a 10 goal second quarter to set up the win.

They sit alongside Glenroy and Tullamarine on 10 wins for the season.