Hillside is keen to test itself against Aberfeldie this weekend in the Essendon District Football League women’s premier competition.
The two sides are the only undefeated sides left in the competition and have both beaten reigning premiers Oak Park in the first three rounds.
Sharks coach Blaise Ferraro said they had gotten off a really strong start and were hoping that would continue this week.
“We already have our eyes on next week,” he said on Sunday. “We’re just fascinated to see how it turns out.
“Until you play them, you don’t know how it will turn out. The Aberfeldie result against Oak Park caught everyone’s eyes.
“You don’t know whether it was one of those days or the match up really suited them.”
Ferraro said they couldn’t afford to get off to a slow start to the season with match ups against last season’s finals in the first four rounds.
He said a win against Oak Park in round one had really given them confidence after being knocked out of the finals in straight sets.
On Saturday, the Sharks came away with a big win against Essendon Doutta Stars.
Ferraro said it was a weird game being on the smaller oval, but felt that their fitness in the end allowed them to run away with it, 17.9 (111)-1.2 (8).
The Stars only goal of the game came in the first quarter.
Caitlin Sargent kicked five goals for the Sharks. She has 10 goals in two games.
Ferraro said while they would love to have her available against Aberfeldie, he said he didn’t think it would be long before she gets a Victorian Football League women’s call up.
Kiara Rigg, Lisa Parisi and Natasha Campbell were named the Sharks best.
The Sharks received a boost on Saturday with Emily Paterno playing her first game of the season.
Paterno, who was part of North Melbourne’s VFLW premiership last season, is back at the Sharks full time this year.
Ferraro said you can’t buy the sought of experience that she brings. She kicked four goals on Saturday and was named among the best.
“It was good for her to play her first game,” he said. “She’s a former captain of the club and everyone looks up to her.
“She has a presence on the field and teaches others.”
The return of Paterno and the addition of Ash Thorneycroft and Natasha Campbell have helped give the Sharks more depth.
Ferraro said it was a big difference from last season.
“We’ve now got a spread of goals forward, last year we didn’t have a lot of goal scorers,” he said.
“There is so much pressure for spots and no one can take their feet off the pedal. Everyone knows what they are meant to do.”
In other matches, Keilor lost to Oak Park, 12.13 (85)-2.1 (13).
In division 1, Keilor Park beat Tullamarine on Anzac Day and Burnside Heights lost to Tullamarine.
