edfl football returns on Good Friday with an opening slate that features a grand final rematch and a club beginning life in the Premier Division. The day centres on Strathmore v Keilor at Lebanon Reserve and Hillside v Pascoe Vale at Shark Park, with multiple senior fixtures scheduled across the day.
What Happens When Strathmore and Keilor meet again at Lebanon Reserve?
The Good Friday clash is a rematch of last season’s finals meetings and is set to be the first senior game of the day at Lebanon Reserve. This will be the twelfth meeting on the Easter weekend between the two sides, with Keilor holding an 11–0 edge across previous Easter weekend encounters. Last season Strathmore defeated Keilor by 40 points in the semi final and by 20 points in the grand final, despite Keilor finishing on top of the ladder.
Squad changes shape the narrative. Strathmore has added Jack Sammartino, Tristan Borghouts and a group of Under 18. 5 graduates including last year’s best and fairest and grand final best on ground Alex Tonelli. Keilor lists notable ins including Tom McGuane, Jack Brown, Damon Hollow and Andrew Vavra; the Blues will also have access to a number of VFL-listed players including Tom McGuane, Damon Hollow and Nathan Colenso. Keilor has lost Reuben William, Jermarl Daly and Jovan Petric, while Strathmore has lost stalwart Luke Jarrad.
On the match-day schedule, the senior Community Bank Premier Division meeting is set for 2: 15pm ET at Lebanon Reserve, bookended by an Under 18. 5 fixture at 9: 50am ET and Reserves at 11: 40am ET, with an additional Premier Division fixture at 4: 40pm ET.
What If Hillside’s Premier Division debut reshapes the early table?
Hillside begins life in the Premier Division when it hosts Pascoe Vale on Good Friday. The match is listed at 2: 15pm ET at Hillside Recreation Reserve, and context for the fixture notes notable ins for both sides. Hillside’s inclusions include Ade Akintola, Connor Leeflang, Atu Bosenavulagi and Mo Yassine. Pascoe Vale’s notable ins include Todd Goldstein, Jed Anderson, Tyson Scoble, Jack Raines and Liam Ogden.
Hillside’s elevation to Premier Division creates an immediate headline: how the promoted side handles established opposition on opening day. Both teams will present full squads, and the fixture will be a primary early test of where each side stands when the ladder takes shape after the opening round.
What should fans and clubs watch next for Edfl?
- Player turnover: Keilor departures (Reuben William, Jermarl Daly, Jovan Petric) and Strathmore’s loss of Luke Jarrad will influence depth across the season.
- New arrivals and returns: VFL-listed additions and recruits such as Jack Sammartino, Tristan Borghouts, Tom McGuane and Andrew Vavra change matchup dynamics immediately.
- Key matchups: Andrew Vavra versus Sam Hayes in the ruck, and how Strathmore covers the loss of Chris Scerri after his move to a higher pathway as an SSP selection and early appearances at his new club.
- Fixture flow: Four senior fixtures across the day offer momentum signals — early results will frame expectations for finals contention.
Scenarios are straightforward and grounded in the opening-day facts. A best-case outcome for Strathmore would see new recruits and graduates step into roles vacated by departures and maintain the finals form that produced last season’s grand final win. Keilor’s most likely pathway depends on how quickly its VFL-listed players and new recruits integrate and whether the midfield can replace outgoing contributors. For Hillside, the challenge is immediate adaptation to Premier Division standard against a stocked Pascoe Vale list.
Expect attention to centre on match-day performances at Lebanon Reserve and Shark Park, with selection and depth answers arriving live. For readers tracking the edfl season from the first bounce, Good Friday will provide clear early indicators of which clubs have addressed turnover and which will need further adjustment in the rounds to come.
